James S. Rains
Encyclopedia
James Spencer Rains was a brigadier general
of the Missouri State Guard
during the American Civil War
.
to Asahel and Malvina (Duncan) Rains of Warren County. By 1840 Rains had moved to the vicinity of Sarcoxie, Missouri
. He served as prewar general of the miltia, as Newton County, Missouri judge from 1840 to 1842, was elected to the state house by Newton County in 1844, and in the state senate from 1854 to 1861. Between 1845 and 1852 Rains served as an agent for Indian affairs in various locations, and ventured to California
as a "forty-niner"
where he served as a general in the California state militia. In 1860 Rains was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Congress for the Southwest Missouri District.
Rains led his command ineptly at the Battle of Carthage
. (It is a matter of historical contention as to whether he may have been in command of the whole MSG on the field, but if he was he seems to have provided no direction beyond his own 8th Division.) Here the cavalry failed to cut off the retreat of a small Union force over open prairie.
His standing did not improve when his cavalry panicked and routed in a skirmish south of Springfield at Dug Springs. At Wilson's Creek his force was surprised and driven in by the initial attack of Lyon's advancing infantry. He served in the major battles of the Missouri State Guard in 1861 and 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Pea Ridge
and ran afoul of the commander, Earl Van Dorn
, during the retreat.
Rains did not accompany the Missouri forces across the river into Mississippi in April 1862. He remained behind with other Missouri State Guard forces who did not wish to leave the Trans-Mississippi.
Major General Thomas Hindman placed Rains in command of the mixed guard and Confederate forces in Northwest Arkansas. Hindman relieved Rains of command in October 1862 for "incompetence and insobriety."
Rains moved to Texas to recover his health. In 1864 he returned to Missouri at the command of Confederate Governor Thomas C. Reynolds
to recruit during Price's Missouri Raid. With the end of the raid, Rains withdrew.
and later Kaufman County, Texas
where he became a farmer, railroad promoter, lawyer, and political organizer/candidate. He failed in his run for lieutenant governor in 1878. He died on May 19, 1880 at his home and is buried at Lee Cemetery in Seagoville
, Dallas County.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of the Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life and career
James Spencer Rains was born in TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
to Asahel and Malvina (Duncan) Rains of Warren County. By 1840 Rains had moved to the vicinity of Sarcoxie, Missouri
Sarcoxie, Missouri
Sarcoxie is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. He served as prewar general of the miltia, as Newton County, Missouri judge from 1840 to 1842, was elected to the state house by Newton County in 1844, and in the state senate from 1854 to 1861. Between 1845 and 1852 Rains served as an agent for Indian affairs in various locations, and ventured to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a "forty-niner"
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
where he served as a general in the California state militia. In 1860 Rains was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Congress for the Southwest Missouri District.
Civil War
On May 18, 1861, Governor Claiborne Jackson of Missouri appointed Rains brigadier general of the 8th Division of the Missouri State Guard. While he was an excellent recruiter, the new brigadier was completely unfit for military command. His failure to instill organization and discipline led to derisive nicknames such as "Rains' Blackberry Cavalry" and routs referred to as "Rains' Scares."Rains led his command ineptly at the Battle of Carthage
Battle of Carthage (1861)
-References:* Lee, Guy Carlton, and Francis Newtun Thorpe, editors. The History of North America. Philadelphia: George Barrie and Sons, 1905.* Monhegan, Jay. Civil War on the Western Border: 1854-1865. Boston: Little, Brown, 1956.*...
. (It is a matter of historical contention as to whether he may have been in command of the whole MSG on the field, but if he was he seems to have provided no direction beyond his own 8th Division.) Here the cavalry failed to cut off the retreat of a small Union force over open prairie.
His standing did not improve when his cavalry panicked and routed in a skirmish south of Springfield at Dug Springs. At Wilson's Creek his force was surprised and driven in by the initial attack of Lyon's advancing infantry. He served in the major battles of the Missouri State Guard in 1861 and 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
and ran afoul of the commander, Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn was a career United States Army officer, fighting with distinction during the Mexican-American War and against several tribes of Native Americans...
, during the retreat.
Rains did not accompany the Missouri forces across the river into Mississippi in April 1862. He remained behind with other Missouri State Guard forces who did not wish to leave the Trans-Mississippi.
Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
The Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War was the major military and naval operations west of the Mississippi River. The area excluded the states and territories bordering the Pacific Ocean, which formed the Pacific Coast Theater of the American Civil War.The campaign classification...
Major General Thomas Hindman placed Rains in command of the mixed guard and Confederate forces in Northwest Arkansas. Hindman relieved Rains of command in October 1862 for "incompetence and insobriety."
Rains moved to Texas to recover his health. In 1864 he returned to Missouri at the command of Confederate Governor Thomas C. Reynolds
Thomas Caute Reynolds
Thomas Caute Reynolds was a lawyer and politician. He was Lieutenant Governor of Missouri as the state considered secession and then was the second Confederate Governor of Missouri...
to recruit during Price's Missouri Raid. With the end of the raid, Rains withdrew.
Post-war Career and Death
After the war Rains settled in Wood County, TexasWood County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,752 people, 14,583 households, and 10,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 17,939 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and later Kaufman County, Texas
Kaufman County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 71,313 people, 24,367 households, and 19,225 families residing in the county. The population density was 91/sq mi . There were 26,133 housing units at an average density of 33/sq mi...
where he became a farmer, railroad promoter, lawyer, and political organizer/candidate. He failed in his run for lieutenant governor in 1878. He died on May 19, 1880 at his home and is buried at Lee Cemetery in Seagoville
Seagoville, Texas
Seagoville is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Dallas. A small portion of Seagoville extends into Kaufman County. The population was 10,823 as of the 2000 census. The city is located along U.S. Highway 175 and the Southern Pacific Railroad ten miles from Downtown...
, Dallas County.