A Civil War Biography

Green Berry Raum

Raum was born 3 December 1829 in Golconda, Illinois. He attended the common schools then studied the law. He was admitted to the bar in 1853 and began a law practice in Golconda. In 1856 he moved his practice to Kansas and affiliated himself with the Free-state party. Due to the unsettled climate in Kansas Raum returned to Illinois with his family in 1858 and settled in Harrisburg where he continued his practice of the law.

Raum's military career began in September 1861 when he became a major in the 56th Illinois Volunteer infantry regiment. He served under William S. Rosecrans during the 1862 Mississippi campaign. By August 1862 Raum had been promoted to lieutenant colonel and colonel. He commanded the 2nd Brigade/ 7th Division/ XVII Corps during the Vicksburg campaign. He commanded the 2nd Brigade/ 2nd Division / XVII Corps at Chattanooga and was wounded during the assault on Missionary Ridge. During the Atlanta campaign he held a line of communications from Dalton to Acworth and from Kingston to Rome, Georgia. He was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers on 19 September 1864. In October of 1864 he reinforced Resaca, Georgia and held it against John B. Hood. Raum commanded the 2nd Brigade/ 3rd Division/ XV Corps during the Carolina campaign. He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on 15 February 1865. He resigned his commission on 6 May 1865.

Following the war Raum returned to Illinois. In 1866 he obtained a charter for the Cairo and Vincennes railroad company, saw to its construction, and became its first president. In November 1866 he was elected as a Republican to represent Illinois's 13th district in the US Congress. He served one term from 4 March 1867 until 3 March 1869, failing in a reelection bid in 1868. In 1876 he was president of the Illinois Republican convention and a delegate to the party's national convention in Cincinnati. He was appointed commissioner of internal revenue on 2 August 1876 and served until 31 May 1883. He authored "The Existing Conflict between Republican Government and Southern Oligarchy" which was published in 1884. He served as United States Commissioner of Pensions from 1889 until 1893. He then practiced law in Chicago, Illinois, until he died there on 18 December 1909. Raum is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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