William R. Rowley

William Ruben Rowley (February 8, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a lieutenant colonel and Military Secretary on the staff of General Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War later being brevetted a brigadier general. After moving from New York to Galena, Illinois, he taught in the local school, while also becoming involved in local politics. While living in Galena, Rowley was a neighbor and good friends with Ulysses Grant and John Rawlins before and at the time the Civil War broke out. Under General Grant he fought in the Battle of Shiloh and during the siege at Vicksburg. He was one of nine Civil War generals that came from Galena. After serving in the Union Army he returned to Galena and service in political life. Rowley was among several officers who wrote letters for and rigorously defended Grant against accusations from rivals and reporters that Grant was drinking at the Battle of Shiloh, a battle that he brought to victory. On other occasions during his military and political career Rowley stood by Grant during times of controversy.

Early life William Rowley was born on February 8, 1824, in Gouverneur, New York, in St. Lawrence County, in northernmost New York. He came to Galena, in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, in 1843, and taught school in Brown County, Ohio, and in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Rowley married Elizabeth Miller in 1847, with their marriage producing four children.

In 1849 Rowley was appointed assessor and collector for Jo Daviess County. Between 1847 and 1861, Rowley held several other positions for the county government, including deputy circuit clerk and sheriff.

Civil War When the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, and the news reached Galena the day after, Rowley was among the roused gathering that assembled in town. Also among them was future generals Ulysses S. Grant, and John Rawlins. Rawlins later became Secretary of War when Grant was elected president in 1869. After Rawlins' inspiring speech Grant confided in Rowley, saying that the speech "stirred my patriotism" and had rekindled his military ardor. As the crowd dispersed Rowley said to Grant, "Well Captain Grant, it was a fine meeting after all", where Grant replied quietly, "Yes: we're about to do something now."

On November 13, 1861, Rowley was appointed first lieutenant of Company D of the 45th Illinois Infantry Regiment, attached to the Army of the Tennessee, and officially joined the war effort on November 20, 1861, in Colonel John E. Smith's 45th Illinois, commonly known among soldiers as the Washburne Lead Mine Regiment. At that time Rowley represented Grant's strongest tie with his Republican supporters in Galena, especially Elihu B. Washburne. As Rowley was constantly with Grant, he was well informed of Grant's affairs and whereabouts. Grant at times would use Rowley to communicate information or for forwarding requests to Washington After service at Fort Donelson, Rowley was moved to and was stationed at Savannah from March 4–11.

Battle of Shiloh Rowley also fought in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. Due to the surprise of his army and the consequent heavy loss of life at Shiloh, General Grant was strongly criticized in many Northern newspapers. Grant had placed much of the blame on General Lew Wallace, whom he had sent verbal orders to, accusing Wallace of failing to following those orders, which he believed resulted in the delay of Wallace in moving up his troops to the front during the first day of the battle, nearly resulting in a Union defeat. After learning that Wallace refused to obey anything but written orders, an angry General Grant asserted that a division general ought to take his troops to wherever the firing may be, even without orders", and first sent Rowley, ordering him to "tell him to come up at once" and that "if he should require a written order of you, you will give it to him at once", while also instructing Rowley to make sure he brought writing materials.

Rowley finally caught up to where Wallace and one brigade of his division last were, only to find a supply wagon departing the scene. He rode on further and found General Wallace at the head of his column near Clear Creek, positioned on high ground. Rowley pulled Wallace off to the side and warned him of the danger that lay just ahead, exclaiming, "I've been sent to hurry you up. Don't you know that Sherman has been driven back? Why, the whole (Confederate) army is within half a mile of the river, and it's a question if we are not all going to be driven into it." Actually, Wallace had received an order from Grant that had passed through two other staffers, directing him to the right of the army, which Grant denied was Wallace's destination. Wallace stunned by the news, said that was the second such message he received and immediately sent his cavalry ahead to assess the situation. Upon their return they had confirmed Rowley's claim, and Wallace countermarched to reach the battlefield. Later, in his Autobiography, Wallace wrote about his encounter with Rowley, how he realized he was at the rear of the entire Confederate army, and how he was stunned by the news. In the aftermath of the costly battle, rumors also emerged that Grant was delayed at Savannah because he had been drinking.

Rowley and other officers that were with Grant gave a starkly different account of his capacity, and performance, than those of disgruntled or enterprising newspaper reporters who were far away from Grant during the battle. Answering a letter of inquiry about newspaper reports, Rowley maintained Grant's innocence. The letter below is addressed to Edward Hempstead, and was copied by him and forwarded to Washburne. has such an interest in lying about Gen Grant. When he was at Donelson he made himself so obnoxious that Gen Grant issued a special order, directing him to be removed outside of our lines, and to remain there. Rowley was soon promoted to Major General of Volunteers and later served on a detail as Provost Marshal General of Departments of Tennessee and Cumberland, in 1863.

Vicksburg campaign Rowley was also present during the Vicksburg Campaign during the late spring of 1863. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Military Secretary on Grant's Staff when Grant assumed the rank of lieutenant general on March 2, 1864. He remained in that position until his health began to fail in October of that year, after the Wilderness campaign, forcing him to resign from the army. (The other eight generals from Galena were : Ulysses Simpson Grant, Augustus Louis Chetlain, John Oliver Duerr, Jasper Adalmorn Maltby, Ely Samuel Parker, John Aaron Rawlins, John Corson Smith and John Eugene Smith.)

In June 1880, while the Republican Convention was in session in Chicago, former general and president Grant and his family were living in Galena. After being persuaded by his wife and political friends to stand for a nomination and run for office a third time, he finally consented. Grant would come down town in the morning on a daily basis and would spend an hour or two with Judge Rowley, now an old friend and former comrade, at his office, and would often talk about his recent tour around the world. During the convention Rowley's office would receive many telegrams, and while Rowley and others would receive them with great interest, Grant showed little, until one arrived with some descending news about an old trusted friend, Elihu B. Washburne, also on the list of presidential nominations. Washburne, now a competitor of Grant, was withdrawing his support and making disparaging statements about Grant, which ultimately ended their long friendship. While Grant received the news in his usual calm manner, Rowley and others, however, were very outspoken with their denunciation of Washburne.

Rowley spent his final years in Galena and died on February 9, 1886, at the age of 62, and is buried in Galena's Greenwood Cemetery.