Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-10-28
Your Friend,
j. d. BURNETT

t. scribe myself as ever.
Your Friend,
j. D. BURNETT.
al
Brigadler General j. A. Garfield.
In the Army of the Cumberland no on
!; will 6nd it difficult to recognize as anon
its leading spirits Gen. Rosecrans' Chic
of-Staff. Brigadier-General J. A. Garfield
The character and extent of his infiuenc
: are well known. 1t is universally &C
knowledged 10 be bene6cent as it is great
: No one understanding the elements O
his character is surprised at this Ster
ling honesty, unbending integrity. sount
common sense, strong moral and religion
convictions and answering patriotism
are his prominent characteristics.
Even the briefest sketch of his caree
presents much that is encouraging Il
young men, who, in commencing life. re
solve to hold honor above temporary ad
vantage, and duty above selfish pleasure
He was born in Orange, Cuyahoga, coun
ty, Ohio. on the 18th November, 1882. o
parents from whom he inherited the quail
tiles of an excellent ancestry; his father
belonging to an cid and respectable Mass
achusetts family, and his mother being a
blood relative of Rev. Hosea B4llou. the
eminent Universalist.
The future Brigadier and Congressman
began the active duties of life in hum
bic sphere, working first upon farm and
afterward learning the trade of carpen-
ter. There are many who will still remem
Der HIM as a bostmsn upon the Ohio and
Pennsylvania canal, in lS49.
In whatever he engaged, however, he
must have manifested industry, tact and
economy, for although receiving no pecu-
mary assistance from any one, we find
him entering an academy in Geauga coun-
ty, Ohio, early in the year of 1850. The
same year he began to teach; and thus
worked his way through school, until, in
1853, he became membsr of the Junior
Class Of Williams College, Mass, and grad
uated in 1856. The following year he was
chosen President of the Electic Institute,
Portage county, Ohio.
In 1859 he was elected State Senator
from the Senatorial District composed of
Summit and Portage counties, and served
in that capacity two years.
At the breaking out of the war, he
threw himself with his whole soul into
the contest, and on the l4th of May 1861,
received from Governor Dennison COM
mission as Lieutenant Colonel. On the
18th of September he was promoted To
Coloneley, and raised the larger portion
of the AID D. v. l., one company being
composed wholly of his students.
Leaving Camp Chase on the I7th of De-
cember, he was placed in command of
four regiments of infantry and FIVE hun
dred cavalry, at the head of which force
he reached Catlettsburg, at the mouth of
the Big Sandy, on the ODD of the same
month. Moving at once into Eastern
Kentucky, he drove Humphrey MARSHALL
cavalry out of Paintsville on the 5th of
January. 1862, killing and wounding
twenty-five of them. On the same night
the fat rebel, alarmed at this display of
energy, abandoned his Notifications back
of Paintsville, and fed. Garfield pursued
at the head of l, 100 men, overlook the
rebels at Middle Creek, near Prestonburg
and completely defeated them with aloss
of 300 killed and wounded, while the Un
ion loss was only 25. In letter to his
wife which was found upon the field Mar
shall acknowledged his force to be 4,500
strong Considering this fact. and also
that Garfield had no artillery, the victo-
ry of Prestonburg must rank As one of
the finest achievements of the war.
Marching forward Garfield took pos
session of Piketon. On the 10th of March
he reached Pound Gap with 600 men,
drove 500 rebels from that position. and
burnt their camp and stores. This com
pleted the liberation of Eastern Kentuf I,
and, on the Goth of March, he was order
ed to join Gen. Buell.. Commissioned
Brigadier General about this time, every
one acknowledged the fitness of the ap-
pointment. In the great conflict of Shi-
loh, he commanded with skill and credit
the Goth brigade. a. !
The following summer. without any
previous knowledge on lis part, he was
proposed as q candidate for Congress. from
the 18th Congressional District of Ohio.
was nominated, and afterwards elected by !
about 5000 majority.
After long and important court martial
service, he was ordered to report to Gen.
Rosecrans for duty, and reached the De-
partment of the Cumberland shortly af-
ter the battle of Stone River. He was
selected by Gen. Rosecrans
as his Chief-of staff, a position left vacant
by the death of the lamented Garesche.
Since that time his career is fresh in the
memory of the public. Our correspond
cut III 0cn hoSeCTans army nds ndu iio-
quent occasion to refer to his excellent
system of administration and its benef-
cial results. A thorough mastership of
details, fine general education, COM
petent knowledge of law, combined with
untiring industry and quenchless zeal,
have made him one of the most efficient
staff officers in the service of the United
States. 1-.- .rr--
As he will take his seat in Congress the
coming December, his services will be lost
to the army, which can lily spare such as
be; but we feel assured that, in his.ciyil
the Government will gain in
him an able and earnest supporter, and
the country an intelligent and faithful
Gaz.