Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/659

Rh of quartermaster-general, and notwithstanding Lawton’s earnest request to be returned to the field, the president persisted in appointing him as quartermaster-general. Lawton s judicious and thorough administration fully justified Mr. Davis, notwithstanding the army was deprived of a valuable general officer. The soldiers experienced an immediate relief in their supplies and the general transportation was remarkably improved. The one instance of the transportation of Longstreet s corps from the front of Richmond to make the important and victorious assault at Chickamauga is noted as one of the most famous achievements of official talent in any department during the Confederate war. General Lawton often sought the privilege of again fighting in the field, but his important department, in which he had won the grateful regards of the army, required his retention to the close. At the close of hostilities General Lawton resumed at Savannah the law practice in which he had established a high reputation as a clear and profound jurist. His services as a public officer were also required by the people of his State in resistance to the hurtful schemes of reconstruction, and in organizing a good State government. He was a member of the Georgia legislature from 1870 to 1875; vice president of the Georgia constitutional convention of 1877; chairman of the State electoral college of 1876; chairman of the State s delegations to the Democratic national conventions of 1880 and 1884. In 1885 he was nominated minister to Russia, but, as his political disabilities were not removed he urged the withdrawal of the nomination, but soon afterward, in December, all these disabilities by reason of his Confederate service were removed by unanimous vote of Congress, and in April, 1887, he was appointed minister to Austria. On his return from this mission he continued his residence at Savannah until his death in 1896.