# John A. Rawlins — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant character guide

> John A. Rawlins in Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Rawlins, John, John A. Rawlins

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

A Galena lawyer who abandoned a major's commission to serve on Grant's staff, becoming the aide who could say no and mean it.

## Who they are

Rawlins joins Grant as assistant adjutant-general, one of three staff appointments Grant makes early, and the only one who lasts. Where Hillyer and Lagow lack the soldier's temperament, Rawlins brings firmness and a refusal Grant comes to rely on, an officer who can shut down a request with a single emphatic word. He remains at Grant's side through the war, and his steady presence becomes the quiet counterweight to Grant's own looseness about discipline.

## In the story

### [Army Life—Causes of the Mexican War—Camp Salubrity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/iii)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

### [VII The Mexican War—The Battle of Palo Alto—The Battle of Resaca De La Palma—Army of Invasion—General Taylor—Movement on Camargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/vii)

Not mentioned in the excerpts; omitted.

### [The Battle of Monterey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/viii)

Not mentioned in this chapter.

### [San Francisco—Early California Experiences—Life on the Pacific Coast—Promoted Captain—Flush Times in California](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xv)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

### [Resignation—Private Life—Life at Galena—The Coming Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xvi)

Not mentioned in excerpts.

### [Outbreak of the Rebellion — Presiding at a Union Meeting — Mustering Officer of State Troops — Lyon at Camp Jackson — Services Tendered to the Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xvii)

Delivers a speech at the Galena Union meeting as a Douglas elector.

### [Commissioned Brigadier-General — Command at Ironton, Mo. — Jefferson City — Cape Girardeau — General Prentiss — Seizure of Paducah — Headquarters at Cairo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xix)

Appointed by Grant as assistant adjutant-general with rank of captain; later becomes brigadier-general and chief-of-staff.

### [Siege of Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Grant's chief of staff; mentioned as a graduate who assists in engineering work.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlii)

Not directly mentioned in the excerpts; excluded from active check-in.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/john_a_rawlins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters