16 Facts About Rush Hawkins

Rush Christopher Hawkins was a lawyer, Union colonel in the American Civil War, politician, book collector, and art patron.

Rush Hawkins was mustered out of the Union Army in 1863 but served in the New York Militia in 1865.

Rush Hawkins married Annmary Brown in 1860; she died in January 1903 of pneumonia.

In 1861, Rush Hawkins helped raise the 9th New York Infantry, a Zouave-styled regiment, popularly known as "Rush Hawkins Zouaves" for service in the Civil War.

Rush Hawkins was appointed colonel of the regiment on May 4,1861, and served with distinction in North Carolina early in the war.

Rush Hawkins was part of Benjamin F Butler's expedition to capture Fort Hatteras in 1861.

Rush Hawkins was again conspicuous at the battles of Roanoke Island and New Bern in 1862.

Rush Hawkins was not present with the brigade during the Maryland Campaign but resumed command during the battle of Fredericksburg.

Rush Hawkins led his brigade during the siege of Suffolk.

Just two days before the siege was lifted, Rush Hawkins turned over command of his brigade and on May 20,1863, was mustered out of the volunteer service with his old regiment.

Rush Hawkins remained active in the New York Militia receiving a brevet promotion to brigadier general of New York Militia in 1865.

Rush Hawkins amassed a collection of 225 incunabula; his goal was to have the first and second books from every European printer before 1501.

Rush Hawkins was appointed Assistant to the Commissioner General for the United States Commission to the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris, France.

Rush Hawkins was "Commissaire Expert des Beaux Arts" and was responsible for selecting and organizing American art works for the exhibition.

Rush Hawkins feuded with James McNeill Whistler, who removed all of his work in protest and later wrote The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, which in-part details his experiences with Rush Hawkins.

Rush Hawkins is buried with his wife in a crypt at the Annmary Brown Memorial on the Brown University campus in Providence, Rhode Island.