Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-10-08
Sketch of Gen. James A. Garfield.

~
o FIELD as a distinguished officer in the a
"a my of the Union, and as Union cand
: date for Congress in the XIXth Congress
~ ional District of Ohio, creates, natural
and properly, on the part of the people,
desire to know more of his early histor,
Gen. Garfield is yet a young man. II
struggled successfully with early obstacle
and disadvantages, exhibiting an energ
and ability rarely shown. In every pos
ton IN which he has been called to act
! he has exhibited an industry, capacit
and a capability which have elected ger
% eral commentator and admiration
General Garfield is an effective and elo
quent public speaker. ready and power
tul debater, and rapidly possesses himsel
of full knowledge Of every subject /,
which he turns his attention.
He is of pure and spotless private repu
j tation. presenting, in all the adornment
. of high-toned morality. one of the mos
attractive samples of a christian gentle
man.
As friend, he is candid, faithful anC
sincere, and always reliable-as General
Officer, he is clear, prompt and iudicious
in decision, and energetic and effective in
action-aS q legislator, he is comprehen.
sive and elevated in his views, and is faI
above the petty schemes and strategies OF
subtle managers brilliant in natural en-
dowments, his intellect is broad and COM
prehnsiye, and his attainments of the
highest order.
1t need not surprise any one that such
man should rise rapidly in public esti-
nation, or that he should become the idol
of the people-for manly virtue, integrity
and uprightness, coupled with abilities of
high order, will always secure public re-
! gard and confidence.
In speaking of the high qualities which
Gen. Garfield has exhibited, we have not
exaggerated or overdrawn the picture
and we hesitate not to predict for him, ifhis
/ life is spared. future at once brilliant
and useful.
Gen. James A. Garfield was born in
! Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Nov. 10Th.
| 1881, making him now nearly 81 years of
age. His early life was spent in laboring
wherever opportunity offered, and du-
ring one summer, that of 1913, was a boat
man on the Ohio Canal. His parents be-
ing poor, lac was obliged to labor from his
earliest years. His father died when he
was ayear and half old. At the age of l9,
after having taught district school for two
at Hiram, Portage county. He assisted
himself the first term by ringing the
bell" .tt.
He soon gave evidenceof more than Or
binary powers for the acquisition and
Communication of knowledge, and was
chosen to fill vacancy among the assist
ant teachers He was rapidly promoted,
until he became one of the main reliances.
In the meantime, in addition to his daily
labors, he prepared himself for college
In the Summer of 1854 he went to Will |
Jams College. Notwithstanding the
last term Of the Sophomore year. In 1856
be graduated In all colleges there are
occasionally men TO whom succeed |
ing classes look back almost with ven
Grafton There are men to.whom an i'm
portant future is unhesitatingly conceded
by professors and students Gen. Garfield |
was of that number; and of his entire |
class of sixty, he has taken the lead. In |
the fall of 1886 he returned 10 Hiram, and |
was made Teacher of Ancient Languages
and Literature.
In 1857. on the signatiOn of the for
mer Principal, Rev A. S. HAYDEN, he was
made Chairman of the Board of Instruct
ion. In 1858. he was made Principal.
In the fall of 1859 he was elected to the
State Senate, where he served with great
success, and acquired a State wide repu-
tation as an able legislator. During the
session of lS60-62 he labored zeaIously to
prepare the State for the coming storm,
and become one of the principal advisers
of the Governor.
In January. 1851, having for several
years previously studied with an eye to the
future practice of law, he was admitted TO
the bar by the Supreme Court of the
State. -...--.
In September, 1861, he accepted the
position of Lieutenant Colonel of the 42d
o. V. II. lie was shortly after promoted
to the Colonelcy. The rebels. led by
Humphrey Marshall, had driven out all
the Union men, and were threatening to
take to take possession of the Blue Grass
Col Garfield, with portion of
his brigade, proceededup the Big Sandy
In twenty days after leaving Camp Chase
he had penetrated about one hundred
miles into the mountain fastnesses of East
ern Kentucky. On the 9th of January,
1862, with 100 picked men, he advanced
upon Marshall, feeling every inch of his
way by scouts Through the dreariest
mud the heaviest rains, and the darkness, ,
ne proceeded. On the 10th, at the forks ,
IF Middle Creek, Floyd Co., Kentucky, J
ne met the gallant Humphrey, posted
With 1000 men on a range of hills. Mar
hall was routed after fight of four and
half hours, Garfield's 100 being. at that |.
ime reinforced by 200 more, whom he had i.
,rdered out. The Louisville journal at the =,
ime said There has been no more !
brilliant movement since the rebellion :
,roke out For .well-coneerted strategy, ;
elerity of movement and recklessness of
opposing odds, Col Garfield certainly 7
ears the PALM" For this brilliant ;
he and his brave soldiers =
Tere warmly complimented in the follow >
ng General Order: :
HEAD QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TIE OHIO,
LOUISVILLE, KY, January Goth, 1862. 6
The General Commanding takes occas- /.
on TO thank Colonel Garfield and his :.
roops for their successful campaign =
gainst the rebel force under Gen. Mar -
hall on the Big Sandy, and their gallant =
onduct in battle. They have overcome
Ormidable difficulties in the character of r
he country, and the condition of the Il
Dads, and inclemency of the season and,
-ithout artillery, have in several engage 9
lents terminating with the battle on Mill II
reek on the llth inst, driven the ene- =,
ny from his entrenched positions, and ~
breed him back into the mountains with =,
be loss of large amount of baggage ~
nd stores, and many of his men killed or :,
aptured. ....... :, :,
These services have called into action D
ne highest qualities of soldier-forti- :
lde, perseverance, courage. =,