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Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: Gabriel James Rains State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1803 Death Date: 1881 Birth Place: Craven County, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: Brigadier-General Gabriel J. Rains was born in Craven county, N. C., June, 1803, the son of Gabriel M. Rains, and was educated at West Point, with graduation in the class of 1827, of which Leonidas Polk was a member. He was given a lieutenancy in the Seventh infantry, and during his service in the West, mainly in Indian Territory, won promotion to captain by the close of 1837. Participating in the Florida war against the Seminole Indians, he defeated a large body of the savages near Fort King, April 28, 1840, but was so severely wounded that an announcement of his death was widely published. He received the brevet of major for his gallantry on this field. Returning to duty, he served at the Louisiana and Florida posts and in the military occupation of Texas. At Fort Brown in 1846 he gave the deciding vote in the council of officers against capitulation to General Ampudia and took an active part in the defense. He was at the battle of Resaca de la Palma, and immediately after was detailed on recruiting service, in which he was quite successful. In March, 1851, he was promoted to major, and in the following year was sent by sea to California. On the Pacific coast he made a fine reputation as an Indian fighter, and in 1860 was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. Upon the organization of the Confederate States he resigned from the United States service and was commissioned colonel of infantry in the regular army. In September he was commissioned brigadier-general and assigned by General Magruder to command of one of the brigades on the Yorktown, Va., lines. Soon afterward he was given charge of the first division of Magruder's army, the second being under General McLaws. He took a prominent part in the defense of Yorktown, and in command of a brigade of Alabama and Georgia regiments participated in the battles of Williamsburg and Seven Pines. In the latter conflict he made an opportune flank movement under great difficulties through a swamp and attacked the enemy. He was subsequently put in charge of the bureau of conscription at Richmond, and during his service in this capacity he began the organization of a plan of torpedo protection for the Southern harbors, which he subsequently put in successful operation at Charleston, Mobile, Savannah and other ports, also invented an explosive sub-terra shell, which was an effective weapon of defense. He was appointed chief of the torpedo bureau, June 17, 1864. At the close of the war he made his home at Augusta, GA, and subsequently removed to South Carolina. From 1877 to 1880 he was connected with the quartermaster's department, United States army, at Charleston. He died at Aiken, S. C., August 6, 1881. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 339 |