George Washington Rains

George Washington Rains
George Washington Rains
	George W. Rains during the Civil War
Nickname	Chief Chemist of the Confederacy
Born	1817; Craven County, North Carolina
Died	March 21, 1898 (aged 80–81); Newburgh, New York
Buried	Saint George's Cemetery, Newburgh
Allegiance	United States of America; Confederate States of America
Branch	United States Army; Confederate States Army; Georgia Militia
Service years	1842–1856; 1861–1865
Rank	Captain (USA); Colonel (CSA); Brigadier General (not confirmed)
Unit	4th U.S. Artillery; Bureau of Nitre and Mining
Commands	Augusta Powderworks; 1st Regiment, Georgia Local Defense
Conflicts	Mexican–American War Siege of Vera Cruz (1847); Battle of Cerro Gordo (1847); Battle of Contreras (1847); Battle of Churubusco (1847); Battle of Molino del Rey (1847); Battle of Chapultepec (1847); ; American Civil War Savannah Campaign (1864); ;
Relations	Brig. Gen. Gabriel J. Rains (brother)
Other work	College professor, author, inventor

George Washington Rains (1817 – March 21, 1898) was a United States Army and later Confederate States Army officer. A skilled engineer and inventor; he was instrumental in providing the Confederacy with much-needed gunpowder throughout the American Civil War. He also was the younger brother of fellow Confederate general Gabriel J. Rains.