in Saint Louis and Chicago and soon became the president of the Saint Louis and Big Muddy Coal Company, one among the biggest mining companies in Illinois. Historical research and writings As a veteran who had witnessed many battles during the Civil War, Dawes was inherently interested in its history and became involved in the research and writing about the many episodes that occurred during that war, publishing and often speaking at various organizations about the many Civil War subjects. Though Dawes had received a serious wound to his jaw during the Civil War, he was a gifted speaker and was in constant demand for speaking at local and political campaigns. His speeches and addresses, most notably at a banquet of the Army of the Tennessee in 1879, and at Memorial Day Exercises at Cincinnati in 1880, brought him great notoriety as a public speaker. He was keenly interested in almost everything associated with that War, and was also interested in some of the other wars in America that came before it. Subsequently, he devoted the remainder of his life in obtaining all the publications, letters and manuscripts of historical value that he could acquire on the subject. In his effort he amassed a sizeable and significant collection of these things, always making sure that his writing and reference work reflected both the Union and Confederate points of view. He became an avid collector of Civil War manuscripts, books, and pamphlets. Dawes collection of books and papers covering the history of Civil War was only equaled by one other in the United States. Dawes's works include: " The Beginnings of the Ohio Company," and "Sketch of William P. Cutler." He was a contributing author to " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," and also to other magazines. In 1885 he published in book form, the 'Biographical Sketch of Gen. Rufus Putnam." Among his most noted works is his account of his experiences at the Battle of Shiloh, entitled Sketches of War History, My First Day Under Fire at Shiloh, published in 1896. Dawes was a trustee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. He was also a member of the University Club of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Literary Society and the Cincinnati Historical Society He was a corresponding member of Massachusetts Military Historical Society and an honorary member of Wisconsin State Historical Society. In Buffalo, New York he belonged to