No one succeeds alone, and Ulysses S. Grant was no exception. From the earliest days of the Civil War to the heights of Grant's power in the White House, John A. Rawlins was ever at Grant's side. Yet Rawlins's role in Grant's career is often overlooked, and he barely received mention in Grant's own two-volume Memoirs. General John A. Rawlins: No Ordinary Man by Allen J. Ottens is the first major biography of Rawlins in over a century and traces his rise to assistant adjutant general and ultimately Grant's secretary of war. Ottens presents the portrait of a man who teamed with Grant, who submerged his needs and ambition in the service of Grant, and who at times served as the doubter who questioned whether Grant possessed the background to tackle the great responsibilities of the job.

Anxious to "Strike a Lead" --"He Ought to Get Out of the Woods" -- "Speeches That Would Have Done Credit to a Statesman" -- "He Was a Powerful and Earnest Talker and Masterful in All His Efforts at the Bar" -- "The ‘Coal Boy’s’ Grape Shot Puts the Republicans to Flight" -- "We Will Stand by the Flag of Our Country, and Appeal to the God of Battles!" -- "A Good Looking Set, Aint They?" -- "Collect Your Men at Once; We Must Get Out of This" -- "His Eye and Intellect Are as Clear and Active as Can Be" -- "[A] Silent And Determined Purpose to Strike Swiftly" -- t "Rawlins Is a Maj. and Ought to Be a Brig. Gen." -- "[A] Strong Partisan, but Not a Traitor" -- "You Countermanded Such an Order Two Weeks Ago" -- "I Am Surprised, Col. Duff, at Your Discourteous and Unmilitary Remarks" -- "You Have Full Control of Your Appetite" -- "Rawlins Especially Is No Ordina[ry] Man" -- "I Am the Only One Here . . . Who Can Stay It in That Direction" -- "I . . . Tremble at the Great Responsibility about to Devolve on Him" -- "Smash ’Em Up! Smash ’Em Up!" -- "The Nomination of General Rawlins Will Be Sent in Immediately and with Great Pleasure" -- "I Think That Will Do" -- "Rather Late in the Day, but Better Than Not at All" -- "It Is Unquestionably the Platform of General Grant" -- "This Will Not Do. It Is Not Enough" -- "And You Are Still My Adjutant" -- "Sweet and Serene Be Your Slumber!"