Rufus R. Dawes (July 4, 1838 – August 1, 1899) was a military officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

He was a post-war businessman, Congressman, and author, and the father of four nationally known sons, one of whom, Charles G. Dawes, won the Nobel Peace Prize and served as Vice President of the United States, and of two daughters.

[1] Having migrated to Wisconsin prior to the outbreak of the Civil War,[2] Dawes organized a volunteer company from Juneau County in May, was elected Captain, and appointed as such by the State on May 5, and on July 16, 1861, his Company K was mustered into the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry for three years service.

[3] During the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Dawes led a counterattack on Confederate Brigadier General Joseph R. Davis's brigade of the 2nd, 11th and 42nd Mississippi Infantry Regiments and the 55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, many of whom were sheltered in an unfinished railroad cut west of town, and forced the surrender of more than 200 of the Confederate soldiers.

Returning to the Army of the Potomac, he served at the Battle of the Wilderness and the Siege of Petersburg In July 1864, Dawes was offered the full rank of colonel, but declined the promotion.

[4][5] After the war, Dawes became a Companion of the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

In August of that year, his son Charles Gates Dawes was born, a future vice president of the United States.