Class of 1842

George Washington Rains: Born 1817, Craven County, NC.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1838, to July 1, 1842, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers, July 1, 1842.

Served: as Asst. Engineer in the construction of Ft. Warren, Boston harbor, Mas., 1842‑43; in garrison at Ft. Monroe, Va., 1843‑44; at the

(Transferred to 4th Artillery, July 7, 1843)

Military Academy, as Asst. Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology, Oct. 22, 1844, to May 19, 1846; in the War with Mexico, 1846‑48, being engaged in charge of the Quartermaster's Depot at Point

(First Lieut., 4th Artillery, Mar. 3, 1847)

Isabel, Tex., 1846, — Siege of Vera Cruz, Mar. 9‑29, 1847, — Battle of Cerro Gordo, Apr. 17‑18, 1847, — Battle of Contreras, Aug. 19‑20, 1847, — Battle of Churubusco, Aug. 20, 1847, — Battle of Molino del Rey,

(Bvt. Capt., Aug. 20, 1847, for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct
in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco, Mex.)

Capture of the City of Mexico, Sep. 13‑14, 1847, — and as Aide-de‑Camp to Brig.‑General Pillow, Feb. 20, 1847, to July 20, 1848; at West Point, N. Y., arranging model of Valencia Silver Mine, 1848; in garrison at New Orleans Barracks, La., 1848‑49; on Recruiting service, 1849‑50; in garrison at Ft. Lafayette, N. Y., 1850‑51, — and Ft. Columbus, N. Y., 1851‑52; on Recruiting service, 1852; and in garrison at Ft. Mackinac, Mich., 1852‑54, — Ft. Independence, Mas., 1854, — and Recruiting Depot at Ft. Columbus, N. Y., 1854‑56.

Captain, 4th Artillery, Feb. 14, 1856.

Resigned, Oct. 31, 1856.

Civil History. — A Proprietor of Washington Iron Works, at Newburg, N. Y., 1856‑61. Author of several scientific papers on Electricity, Geology, etc., 1845‑48.

Joined in the Rebellion of 1861‑66 against the United States.​a

Civil History. — Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medical Department of the University of Georgia, Augusta, Ga., since 18–––.