Rush C. Hawkins
| Rush Hawkins | |
|---|---|
Colonel Rush Hawkins
|
|
| Born |
September 14, 1831 Pomfret, Vermont |
| Died | October 25, 1920 (aged 89) New York City, New York |
| Place of burial | Brown University Providence, Rhode Island |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1846 – 1847 1861 – 1863 |
| Rank |
 Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
|
| Commands held | 9th New York Infantry |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | politics |
Rush Christopher Hawkins (September 14, 1831 – October 25, 1920) was a lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, politician, book collector, and art patron.
Hawkins was born in Pomfret, Vermont to Lorenzo Dow Hawkins and Maria Louisa (Hutchinson) Hawkins. At age 15, Hawkins enlisted in the 2nd United States Dragoons for service in the Mexican-American War. After the war, he settled in New York City where he studied law.
Hawkins married Annmary Brown in 1860; she died in January 1903 of pneumonia.
In 1861, Hawkins helped raise the 9th New York Infantry, a Zouave-styled regiment, popularly known as "Hawkins Zouaves" for service in the Civil War. Hawkins was appointed colonel of the regiment on May 4, 1861 and served with distinction in North Carolina early in the war. He was part of Benjamin F. Butler's expedition to capture Fort Hatteras in 1861. Expecting to win a promotion to brigadier general for his service at Fort Hatteras he was instead relieved of command for insubordination. On October 8, 1861 a disgruntled Hawkins wrote "brigadier generals are made of such queer stuff nowadays, that I should not esteem it any great honor to be made one." Hawkins would in fact receive a brevet promotion to brigadier general in 1865. Despite his belligerence an early dispatch of Hawkins' caught the attention of President Abraham Lincoln. Hawkins was invited to the White House to confer with the President and General-in-Chief George B. McClellan. There he was instrumental in convincing the Union high command of the possibility of a combined operation against Pamlico Sound in North Carolina.
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