JONES, George R. G.

JONES, George R. G. (Sinsinawa, WI, May 4, 1837--Minneapolis, MN, Jan. 2, 1905). George spent his childhood at the family estate "Alta Vista" in Dubuque. He followed his older brother Charles Scott Dodge JONES by entering the Western Military Institute. In 1855 this school, modeled on the Virginia Military Institute, moved its campus with 150 students and seven professors from Georgetown, Kentucky where it had been since 1847 to Nashville, Tennessee.

He remained in Tennessee after graduating. When the CIVIL WAR began, he applied to the governor for a drill instructor's position in the army.

Jones rose to the rank of captain and served at Fort Henry in western middle Tennessee. On February 5, 1862, the Confederates in charge of the fort were attacked by the Union ironclad Essex. Despite disabling the ironclad, the southern troops surrendered on February 6th. They were greatly outnumbered by General U.S. Grant's infantry and the rising waters of the Tennessee River had flooded their powder magazines and forced a number of guns out of action.

On February 14, 1862 Captain Edward Van Duzee of Dubuque who was serving with the 12th Iowa Infantry wrote to the DUBUQUE TIMES:

              We took over sixty prisoners, and among them were Brig. General
              Lloyd Tilghman and Captain George R. Jones, Jr., a son of General
              George Wallace JONES, Senator from Iowa,
              lately, and now a denizen of Fort Lafayette. I saw and conversed
              with him sometime.  He said he was a citizen of Tennessee and had
              been for several years. He was quite cheerful, and I think he was
              quite willing to be taken prisoner...

Jones was sent to Johnson's Island near Sandusky, Ohio and was exchanged about five months later.

On April 17, 1862 the Times ran an article entitled:

                           Captured Correspondence

              A couple of letters have been sent to us, which were found at
              Fort Henry among the effects of the young rebel and traitor
              General R. G. Jones, son of ex-Senator Jones, of this city.
              One of the letters...shows that Jones wanted to be a drill
              instructor among the rebel troops. The money that educated him
              was gotten from the Federal Government, and this is the return
              he makes...

General Tilghman had been exchanged earlier than Jones. When he found that Jones had been released, Tilghman wrote to Confederate Secretary of War Randolph:

              This will introduce to your especial consideration G.R.G.
              Jones, a son of the Hon. George Jones of Iowa (a late
              Senator in the Federal Congress)...

              Captain Jones was recommended by several officers and members
              of Congress for a Commission, which he was informed was given
              him and sent to Fort Henry. This commission did not reach him
              before his capture at Fort Henry. He now visits Richmond for
              the purpose of securing an appointment and I must cordially
              unite with him in asking that his great merit may be thus
              rewarded.  I deem him one of the most valuable men we have.
              Joining out cause early in the beginning of the war. 
              Sacrificing him property and friends. He has proven himself an
              able and zealous soldier and I beg that his application may
              meet with a cordial response.

Confederate President Jefferson DAVIS added a note of his own:

              Secretary of War: Capt. Jones as the son of my early and
              valued friend has to me special interest and I rejoice to
              find his merit as a soldier has proved equal to his zeal for
              our cause. He desires to be assigned to duty as ordinance
              officer of General Tilghman's Brigade and I hope it may be
              consistent to comply. JD

This was the last record in Jones' file. Nothing has been found to record his activity after his appointment in December 1862.

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Source:

1. Seymour, Ron. "Capt. Charles Jones & Capt. George R. G. Jones Sons of Gen. George Jones," Online: http://iagenweb.org/dubuque/military/Rebel_Jones.htm

2. "The Jones Family of Dubuque," Online: http://civilwarnotebook.webs.com/The%20Jones%20Family%20of%20Dubuque%20Iowa.pdf

3. Fergus' Historical Series 31-34, p. 135. Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=7WwUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=Charles+Scott+Dodge+Jones+%28dubuque%29&source=bl&ots=kvoqh2kJJO&sig=Wk985bnc25BKf5Q5VpLIY3ftOwM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2d2gU-_POMqGyASnvoD4BQ&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Scott%20Dodge%20Jones%20%28dubuque%29&f=false