George Washington Rains

George Washington Rains
George W. Rains during the Civil War
Nickname(s)	Chief Chemist of the Confederacy
Born	1817 Craven County, North Carolina
Died	March 21, 1898 Newburgh, New York
Buried	Saint George's Cemetery, Newburgh
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army  Confederate States Army Georgia Militia
Years of service	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
Battles/wars	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.