CSA Bios: Randolph, Ramseur, JE Rains, GJ Rains

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. George W. Randolph, CSA (b. 1818, d. 1867) The grandson of Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe Randolph served as a youngster in the U.S. Navy before a brief role as a Confederate officer. Randolph was born at “Monticello,” home of his maternal grandfather, near Charlottesville, Va., March 10, 1818. At the age of 13, Randolph was appointed as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy and served for the next six years. Returning to land, Randolph entered the University of Virginia in 1837. He resigned his Navy commission in 1839. Studying law, Randolph started a practice in Albermarle County, Va. He moved to Richmond, Va., in 1850. He organized the Richmond Howitzers after John Brown’s raid. He was a Virginia commissioner to the 1861 Peace Convention in Washington, D.C. But when that didn’t work, he commanded his unit on the Virginia Peninsula. He was Gen. Magruder’s chief of artillery at Big Bethel. Randolph was promoted to brigadier general Feb. 12, 1862, but was appointed as secretary of war in March of the same year. Randolph came up with the idea of conscription, which won approval and was used through the end of the war. He also campaigned for better organizational command for the Western theaters. He resigned that post Nov. 15, 1862. Soon after that, the disease which ultimately shortened his life, was discovered. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, Randolph took leave to go to France for treatment. He ended up resigning his commission Dec. 18, 1864. Following the war, Randolph returned to Virginia, but never recovered. He died at “Edgemont,” another family estate near Charlottesville, Va., April 3, 1867. He is buried at “Monticello.”

Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur, CSA (b. 1837, d. 1864) North Carolina’s Stephen Dodson Ramseur was the youngest U.S. Military Academy graduate to be promoted to major general in the Confederate army. Always at the head of North Carolina troops, Ramseur was a rising star in the Army of Northern Virginia’s Second Corps before he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Born in Lincolntown, N.C., May 31, 1837, Ramseur originally attended Davidson College before he secured an 1855 appointment to West Point. He was a member of the West Point Class of 1860 (graduated 14th). He served as a second lieutenant of artillery in the U.S. Army before resigning April 6, 1861. Through much of 1861, he commanded the Ellis Light Artillery of Raleigh, N.C., as the unit’s captain. That unit served in Yorktown, Va., with Gen. Magruder. Ramseur’s career took a shift in April, 1862, when he was elected colonel of the 49th North Carolina Infantry. He took that unit to Virginia, fighting during the Seven Days Campaign. Severely wounded in the right arm at Malvern Hill, Ramseur was recovering when he was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1862, to replace Gen. George B. Anderson, who was killed at Sharpsburg. His first brigade command (in the division of Gen. D.H. Hill, who had taught Ramseur) came during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Ramseur personally led his men in a charge that ruptured the Federal lines west of the town. Ramseur once again was wounded. He was back for the Gettysburg Campaign, commanding his brigade in the division of Gen. Robert Rodes. While Rodes’ division stumbled in its initial combat north of town July 1, Ramseur’s men stood out. Joined by Cullen Battle’s Third Alabama, Ramseur’s brigade smashed Federal lines, routing the enemy into the town of Gettysburg. Ramseur’s brigade was ordered to move on Cemetery Hill, but ran into strong Federal opposition. During July 3, the brigade was involved in heavy skirmishes. For the battle, the brigade lost 23 killed and 177 total casualties. Ramseur fought at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. He was again wounded at the latter fight while leading a counterattack to throw back a Federal charge. For this, Ramseur received the personal thanks of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Promoted to major general to rank from June 1, 1864 (the day after his 27th birthday) Ramseur commanded his new division on Early’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign. When Rodes was killed at the Battle of Winchester, Ramseur was moved to command that division. He led familiar troops at Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek. Just prior to Cedar Creek, Ramseur learned he was a father. At Cedar Creek, Ramseur was shot through both lungs while trying to rally troops against Gen. Sheridan’s attack. He fell into enemy hands and was taken to Sheridan’s headquarters at “Belle Grove” near Meadow Mills. Surrounded by friends and former West Point classmates who were in Federal service, Ramseur died Oct. 20, 1864.

Brig. Gen. James E. Rains, CSA (b. 1833, d. 1862) “Forward my brave boys, forward!” is what Brig. Gen. James Edwards Rains is reported to have said to his troops just prior to being killed by a minie ball while leading his unit against a Federal battery at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862. Rains had an active life after being born in Nashville, Tenn., April 10, 1833. He graduated from Yale Law School and started a practice in Nashville at the age of 21. He was one of the city’s noted citizens, being elected city attorney in 1858 and serving as an associate editor of the Nashville Banner. In 1860, his law career took another step when he was elected district attorney for the counties of Davidson, Williamson and Sumner in Tennessee. He enlisted as a private in the 11th Tennessee Infantry at the start of the war, but soon was elevated to colonel and was commissioned at that rank May 10, 1861. During the winter of 1861-62, Rains and his men occupied the Cumberland Gap before being flanked out of his position in June 1862. During Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith’s Kentucky Invasion, Rains commanded a brigade under Gen. Stevenson at Cumberland Gap. His unit helped to force Federal Gen. Morgan north and for that action, Rains was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 4, 1862. His brigade was in the division of John P. McCown and the corps of Lt. Gen. Hardee. At Murfreesboro, Rains was at the extreme left of the Confederate line. After being killed, he originally was buried on the battlefield. His body was moved to Nashville in 1888.

Brig. Gen. Gabriel J. Rains, CSA (b. 1803, d. 1881) The father of the antipersonnel mine and a decorated U.S. Army officer, Gabriel J. Rains failed to live up to expectations as a field commander but was up to the task in ordnance. That was part of the family’s contributions to the war effort. His brother, Maj. George Washington Rains, an expert in chemistry, founded the Nitre and Mining Bureau working within ordnance. Gabriel Rains was born in Craven County, N.C., June 4, 1803. After education in common schools as a youth, Rains received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy and was a member of the Class of 1827. He received a brevet to major for gallantry during the Seminole War. He served in the Mexican War and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Fifth Infantry when he resigned his U.S. Army commission July 31, 1861. Experimenting with explosives for the U.S. Army, Rains was appointed a brigadier general in the Provisional Confederate Army Sept. 23, 1861, and given a brigade in D.H. Hill’s Division in the Department of the Peninsula. While retreating from Yorktown, Rains had his men sow roads with the first antipersonnel mine by burying 8-inch or 10-inch Columbiad artillery shells a few inches below the earth, meant to explode when stepped on or moved. This brought protests from both sides. Gen. Longsteet forbade its use as “not proper.” Yet, by the end of the war, mines were in use by both sides. At the Battle of Seven Pines, Rains did not attack and he was castigated by his division commander, Hill. He was reassigned to become the superintendent of the volunteer and conscript bureau in December 1862. He was relieved of this duty in May 1863. For the remainder of the war, Rains worked in a defensive capacity, working on mine and torpedo defenses for threatened points such as Richmond, Charleston and Mobile. After the war, Rains moved to Atlanta and served as clerk in the U.S. Quartermaster Department at Charleston from 1877-80. Rains died in Aiken, S.C., Aug. 6, 1881.

[Gil R.]

Thanks!

[General Quarters]

I'm really enjoying reading these bios, not just Battleline's but all of them.

[christof139]

Yeah, they're quite good. Chris
 

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Gabriel J. Rains, CSA (b. 1803, d. 1881) The father of the antipersonnel mine and a decorated U.S. Army officer, Gabriel J. Rains failed to live up to expectations as a field commander but was up to the task in ordnance. That was part of the family’s contributions to the war effort. His brother, Maj. George Washington Rains, an expert in chemistry, founded the Nitre and Mining Bureau working within ordnance. Gabriel Rains was born in Craven County, N.C., June 4, 1803. After education in common schools as a youth, Rains received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy and was a member of the Class of 1827. He received a brevet to major for gallantry during the Seminole War. He served in the Mexican War and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Fifth Infantry when he resigned his U.S. Army commission July 31, 1861. Experimenting with explosives for the U.S. Army, Rains was appointed a brigadier general in the Provisional Confederate Army Sept. 23, 1861, and given a brigade in D.H. Hill’s Division in the Department of the Peninsula. While retreating from Yorktown, Rains had his men sow roads with the first antipersonnel mine by burying 8-inch or 10-inch Columbiad artillery shells a few inches below the earth, meant to explode when stepped on or moved. This brought protests from both sides. Gen. Longsteet forbade its use as “not proper.” Yet, by the end of the war, mines were in use by both sides. At the Battle of Seven Pines, Rains did not attack and he was castigated by his division commander, Hill. He was reassigned to become the superintendent of the volunteer and conscript bureau in December 1862. He was relieved of this duty in May 1863. For the remainder of the war, Rains worked in a defensive capacity, working on mine and torpedo defenses for threatened points such as Richmond, Charleston and Mobile. After the war, Rains moved to Atlanta and served as clerk in the U.S. Quartermaster Department at Charleston from 1877-80. Rains died in Aiken, S.C., Aug. 6, 1881.

The boldfaced portion is the original text based upon Warner's Generals in Gray. Warner cited Douglas Southall Freeman's Lee's Lieutenants, Vol. 1. Freeman stated that Rains was "at heart a scientist and was more interested in explosives than field command." Heidler's indicates that Rains did attack at Seven Pines and was praised by Hill. I would tend to agree with Warner, Freeman and the Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia, three sources to one, in this case.

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. George W. Randolph, CSA (b. 1818, d. 1867) The grandson of Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe Randolph served as a youngster in the U.S. Navy before a brief role as a Confederate officer. Randolph was born at “Monticello,” home of his maternal grandfather, near Charlottesville, Va., March 10, 1818. At the age of 13, Randolph was appointed as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy and served for the next six years. Returning to land, Randolph entered the University of Virginia in 1837. He resigned his Navy commission in 1839. Studying law, Randolph started a practice in Albermarle County, Va. He moved to Richmond, Va., in 1850. He organized the Richmond Howitzers after John Brown’s raid. He was a Virginia commissioner to the 1861 Peace Convention in Washington, D.C. But when that didn’t work, he commanded his unit on the Virginia Peninsula. He was Gen. Magruder’s chief of artillery at Big Bethel. Between that time and his promotion to brigadier general Feb. 12, 1862, Randolph went on sick leave with the first signs of tuberculosis and served in the Virginia constitutional convention. He returned to military service with a command at Suffolk, Virginia, but was appointed as secretary of war in March of the same year, just in time to help oppose Gen. McClellan's Peninsular Campaign. He worked closely with Gen. Robert E. Lee and Joseph Johnston. Randolph came up with the idea of conscription, which won approval and was used through the end of the war. He also campaigned for better organizational command for the Western theaters. He resigned that post Nov. 15, 1862. Soon after that, the disease which ultimately shortened his life, was discovered. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, Randolph took leave to go to France for treatment. He ended up resigning his commission Dec. 18, 1864. Following the war, Randolph returned to Virginia, but never recovered. He died at “Edgemont,” another family estate near Charlottesville, Va., April 3, 1867. He is buried at “Monticello.”

[Gil R.]

Thanks.

[Gil R.]

I was reading “Gates of Richmond” again and found the passage about the torpedoes at Yorktown, which prompted me to edit this bio and add some additional info on that episode. As for Seven Pines, Sears says almost nothing, but does indicate that Rains made one successful flanking attack but then failed to perform another, leaving Hill unsupported. Heidler is probably referring to that first attack. I changed that sentence accordingly – is it acceptable?

Brig. Gen. Gabriel J. James Rains (b. 1803, d. 1881). The father of the antipersonnel mine and a decorated U.S. Army officer, Rains failed to live up to expectations as a field commander – but was up to the task in ordnance. This was just part of the family’s contributions to the war effort: his brother, Maj. George Washington Rains, an expert in chemistry, founded the Nitre and Mining Bureau working within ordnance. Gabriel Rains was born in Craven County, North Carolina, on June 4, 1803. After education in common schools as a youth, Rains received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy and was a member of the Class of 1827. He received a brevet to major for gallantry during the Seminole War. He later served in the Mexican War and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 5th Infantry when he resigned his U.S. Army commission on July 31, 1861. Experimenting with explosives for the U.S. Army (Should this be Confederate Army? Something’s not right here. Perhaps his promotion was due to his explosives work in the old army?), Rains was appointed a brigadier general in the Provisional Confederate Army on September 23, 1861, and given a brigade in D.H. Hill’s Division in the Department of the Peninsula. While retreating from Yorktown the following May at the end of the month-long siege, Rains had his men sow roads with the first antipersonnel mine by burying 8-inch or 10-inch Columbiad artillery shells a few inches below the earth, using pressure-sensitive percussion fuses and hidden tripwires to detonate them, with the intention of slowing down the advance of the pursuing Union columns. This brought protests from both sides, especially since some of Rains’s men had exceeded their orders and hidden these “torpedoes” in houses, around wells, inside flour barrels, and other places that offended the sensibilities of other officers. Gen. George McClellan termed their use “most murderous & barbarous conduct” (and forced Confederate prisoners to disarm the mines), while Gen. James Longstreet forbade its use as “not proper.” Yet, by the end of the war, mines were in use by both sides. At the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31, after making one successful flanking attack on Union positions he failed to do so again later in the battle, and was castigated by his division commander, Hill. He was reassigned to become the superintendent of the volunteer and conscript bureau that December, but was relieved of this duty in May 1863. For the remainder of the war, Rains worked in a defensive capacity, working on mine and torpedo defenses for threatened points such as Richmond, Charleston and Mobile. After the war, Rains moved to Atlanta and served as clerk in the U.S. Quartermaster Department at Charleston from 1877-80. Rains died in Aiken, South Carolina on August 6, 1881. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactics: 2
Initiative: 2
Command: 2
Cavalry:

Start date: 17

[Battleline]

Gil,
If I remember my sources properly, Rains worked on explosives before he left the U.S. Army, which helped him gain his rank in the Confederate Army.
I will double check with my sources though. Been nine months since I wrote that one.
Thanks,
Battleline

[Battleline]

As suspected, Warner confirms that he experimented with explosives while in the U.S. Army.
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Okay, thanks. I changed the bio to read:

Brig. Gen. Gabriel James Rains (b. 1803, d. 1881). The father of the antipersonnel mine and a decorated U.S. Army officer, Rains failed to live up to expectations as a field commander – but was up to the task in ordnance. This was just part of the family’s contributions to the war effort: his brother, Maj. George Washington Rains, an expert in chemistry, founded the Nitre and Mining Bureau working within ordnance. Gabriel Rains was born in Craven County, North Carolina, on June 4, 1803. After education in common schools as a youth, Rains received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy and was a member of the Class of 1827. He received a brevet to major for gallantry during the Seminole War. He later served in the Mexican War and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 5th Infantry when he resigned his U.S. Army commission on July 31, 1861. Having experimented with explosives for the U.S. Army, his experience helped Rains to be appointed a brigadier general in the Provisional Confederate Army on September 23, 1861, and given a brigade in D.H. Hill’s Division in the Department of the Peninsula. While retreating from Yorktown the following May at the end of the month-long siege, Rains had his men sow roads with the first antipersonnel mine by burying 8-inch or 10-inch Columbiad artillery shells a few inches below the earth, using pressure-sensitive percussion fuses and hidden tripwires to detonate them, with the intention of slowing down the advance of the pursuing Union columns. This brought protests from both sides, especially since some of Rains’s men had exceeded their orders and hidden these “torpedoes” in houses, around wells, inside flour barrels, and other places that offended the sensibilities of other officers. Gen. George McClellan termed their use “most murderous & barbarous conduct” (and forced Confederate prisoners to disarm the mines), while Gen. James Longstreet forbade its use as “not proper.” Yet, by the end of the war, mines were in use by both sides. At the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31, after making one successful flanking attack on Union positions he failed to do so again later in the battle, and was castigated by his division commander, Hill. He was reassigned to become the superintendent of the volunteer and conscript bureau that December, but was relieved of this duty in May 1863. For the remainder of the war, Rains worked in a defensive capacity, working on mine and torpedo defenses for threatened points such as Richmond, Charleston and Mobile. After the war, Rains moved to Atlanta and served as clerk in the U.S. Quartermaster Department at Charleston from 1877-80. Rains died in Aiken, South Carolina on August 6, 1881. (Bio by Bill Battle)