Rawlins was a self-made man who overcame an impoverished family background, scanty education, and an absentee father who was prone to drink.

He was a Douglas Democrat at the outbreak of the Civil War; a noted public speaker, he gave a notable pro-Union speech at the start of hostilities, and he soon became close friends with Ulysses S. Grant, a Galena resident, United States Military Academy graduate, and Mexican–American War veteran who had served in the Army for 11 years.

Rawlins persuaded Grant to drill and muster a local volunteer militia company and send them to the state capital in Springfield so they could be inducted into federal service.

Rawlins supported insurrection against Spanish rule in Cuba, established an anti-Mormon policy for the Utah Territory, and reduced the authority of General William Tecumseh Sherman, Grant's successor as commander of the Army.

[2] Rawlins blamed his father James' carefree lifestyle and lack of attention to his family on strong drinks.

[3] Rawlins attracted notice locally as a "self-made man"[4] by going through a period of self-directed study to make up for his lack of formal education.

[9] After Fort Sumter fell, at the outbreak of the American Civil War, Galena's residents held a town meeting; the featured speakers were U.S.

Rawlins accepted and on August 30 he was appointed a captain in the regular Army and Assistant Adjutant-General of Volunteers.

[3] Like most men at the beginning of the Civil War, Rawlins was not formally military trained, however, he was naturally suited for his position.

[8] In the fall of 1862, Rawlins' law partner David Sheean, an outspoken critic of Lincoln's war policy, was arrested; he was an outspoken Democrat, and because habeas corpus had been suspended by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, Sheean's Republican political enemies worked to have him detained without charges at Fort Lafayette, New York.

[12] Rawlins took a leave of absence to aid Sheean, and petitioned in person to both Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and Congressman Elihu B.

Grant refused to take Rawlins' advice concerning the order and told him: "Well, they can countermand this from Washington if they like, but we will issue it anyhow."

[15] Rawlins arrived in Washington, D.C., on July 30 and talked with General-In-Chief Henry W. Halleck at the War Department and the Army's assistant adjutant general, Colonel J.C.

[16] Special observer Charles A. Dana and Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles gave Rawlins high praise for his industrious nature and his intelligence.

Welles stated that he was pleased by Rawlins' "frank, intelligent, and interesting description of men and of army operations.

[19] In 1867, during Reconstruction, Rawlins accompanied the military escort that traveled with Grenville M. Dodge's expedition to explore the proposed route of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Rawlins had accompanied Dodge as far as Salt Lake City, Utah, in hopes that the dry air of the plains would help cure his tuberculosis.

[8][a] When Grant became president, Rawlins' doctors recommended that he go to Arizona, where they believed the dry desert climate would allow him to live longer.

On the question of dealing with the Mormons located primarily in Utah Territory, Rawlins convinced Grant to adopt a confrontational approach to ending their practice of polygamy, including the use of the military if necessary.

[21] During this time General John M. Schofield was Grant's interim Secretary of War, a carry-over from the Andrew Johnson administration.

[21] In 1869, Grant sent Rawlins to Utah Territory in hopes he would recover from his declining health and in part to observe the condition of Mormons there.

[23] Many Americans rallied behind the rebellion and began to sell war bonds in support of the recognition of Cuban belligerency.

By late August 1869, Rawlins' "consumption" had progressed, and while he was staying at his home in Danbury, Connecticut with his wife and children, he hemorrhaged.

[30] Rawlins was left alone without wife or family in Washington, but another close wartime friend, Ely Parker, cared for him.

[31] The following day, Sunday, September 5, Grant was informed of Rawlins' declining health, and he set back to Washington determined to see his friend before he died, but his trip was delayed.

[8] After his death, Grant served as guardian to Rawlins' two children, who lived with their maternal grandparents in Goshen, New York.

In this letter, made public in 1891—several years after Grant's death—Rawlins wrote, "I find you where the wine bottle has been emptied, in company with those who drink, and urge you not to do likewise."

Rawlins noted that this advice was "heeded, and all went well", thus proving that Grant was not impaired by drink when his decision-making was critical.

[37] When Rawlins died, only his temporary successor as Secretary of War, General William Tecumseh Sherman, was at his bedside.

In his memoirs, written shortly before his death, Grant only mentioned Rawlins a few times, and essentially ignored their professional and personal relationship.