Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/381

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LAWTON


LAWTON



president of the Augusta and Sa%-annah railroad, 1849-5-1; was appointed colonel of the 1st regi- ment, Georgia volunteer militia, in 1852; was a representative in the Georgia legislature, 1854-60; president of the Democratic state convention in 1860, and state sena- tor, 1860-61. As col- onel of the 1st Georgia regiment, he seized Fort Pulaski bj^ or- der of Gov. Joseph E. Brown, and com- manded that post un- til April, 1861, wlieu he was made briga- dier-general in the Confederate army and placed in com- mand of the Atlantic coast, with headquar- ters at Savannah. He joined the army of Gen. T. J. Jackson in the Valley of Virginia, June, 1862, with 6U00 men from Georgia, forming the 4th brigade in Jackson's division, Army of Northern Virginia. He took part in the battles of Beaver Dam Creek, June 26; Gaines's Mill, June 27; Savage's Station, June 29; Frayser's Farm, June 30, and Malvern Hill. July 1, 1802. At Gaines's Mill his brigade, with that of General Winder, formed the detachment of Jackson's division that led the successful advance on the Federal line near Old Cold Harbor that decided that battle. At the second battle of BuH Run, Aug. 26-27, 1862, his brigade formed a part of General Ewell's division, and when Ewell was wounded he succeeded to the command of the division. He took part in the capture of Harper's Ferry, Sept. 15, 1862, and commanded Ewell's division in tiie battle of Sharpsburg, Md., where he was severely wounded and was suc- ceeded by Gen. Jubal A, Early. He was quar- termaster-general of the Confederate army in the war department from Aug. 10, 1863. until the close of the war. He resumed practice in Savannah; was a state representative in 1874; a delegate and vice-president of the state constitu- tional convention of 1877, and was chairman of its judiciary committee. He was a presidential elector on the Tilden ticket in 1876; chairman of the Democratic national conventions of 1880 and 1884; was appointed U.S. minister to Russia by President Cleveland in 1885, but the appointment was not confirmed by the senate, owing to disa- bilities arising from his service in the Confeder- ate army not having been removed. The Presi- dent then pardoned him, and appointed him U.S. minister to Austria, and he served 1887-89. He died in Clifton Springs, N.Y., July 2, 1896.


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LAWTON, Henry Ware, soldier, was born in Manhattan, Lucas county, Ohio, March 17, 1843; son of George and Catherine (Daley) Lawton. He attended the Methodist Episcopal college. Fort Wayne, Ind., 1854-61, aad enlisted for three months' service in the 9th Indiana in- fanUy, April 18, 1861. He re-enlisted, Sept. 24, 1H61. and was com- missioned 1st lieu- tenant, oOtli Indiana regiment, to date from Aug. 20, 1861, with which regiment he served through- out the civil war. He was promoted cap- tain. May 17, 1862; lieutenant - colonel, Feb. 10, 1865, to date from Nov. 15, 1864; was Ijievetted colonel, March 13, 1865, for gal- lant and meritorious service during the war, and was mustered out and honorablj- discharged, Nov. 25, 1865. He was awarded a medal of honor, June 24, 1893, " for distinguished gallantry in the battle at Atlanta. Ga., Aug. 3, 1864." He also distinguished himself at the battle of Nashville, Tenn., Deo. 15-16, 1864, where he commanded his regiment. He studied law in Fort Wayne, 1865-66, and at Harvard, 186G-67, in the class of 1868, leaving Harvard Law school, May 4, 1867, to accept the commission of 2d lieutenant in the 41st U.S. infantry, his appointment dating July 28, 1866. He was promoted 1st lieutenant. Juh' 31,1867; transferred to the 24th infantr}-, Nov. 11, 1869, and to the 4th U.S. cavalry, Jan. 1. 1871, and served as quartermaster and in other impor- tant positions under Gen. Ronald S, Mackenzie, with whom he participated in some of the most arduous and successful Indian wars in the noith- west and south. He was promoted captain, March 20, 1879; was appointed inspector-general with the rank of major, Sept. 17, 1888, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel, Feb. 12, 1889, and colonel, July 7, 1898. On March 4. 1898, he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers for service in the war with Spain, and was promoted major-general of volunteers, July 8, 1898. In the Indian campaigns of 1886, he served under Gen- eral Miles against Geronimo, the Apache chief, and he received the surrender of the leader and his starving men after pursuing them on foot over the lava beds and mountains for weeks. On the outbreak of the war with Spain he was assigned to the command of the 2d division of the 5th corps, and on the day after the battle of El Caney, July 1, 1868, he was recommended for promotion to