The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-10-30
Brigadier.G Ger eral ]. A. Garfield

Iu the Army Of ,he Cumberland no one
will End II difficult to recognise as among
its leading spirits Gen. Rosecrans' Chief
Of S,aH, Brigadier Gep. J. A. Gas6elj.
/ The character and extent OF his influence
are well known. 1t is universally known
10 be benefcient as il is great. NJ one
J understanding The element of his character
is surprised at this. Sterling honesty,
unbending integrity. sound common sense
strong moi al and religious convictions and
answering patriotism, are bis prominent.
characi erstics.
Even the brieiest sketch Of his career
presents much tha. is encouraging 10
young men, who, in comm eciny life, re-
solve to hold honor above temporary ad.
vantage. and du'y above selfish pleasure.
! He was born in Orange, Cuyahoga
! county, Ohio, on the 19lh OF November,
/ l>32. Of parents from whom he inherited
the qualities Of an excellent ancestry; his
father belonging 10 an old Massachusetts
family. and his mother being blood rela.
tive o. Rev. Hosea Ballou, the eminent
/ UUiversalist. g,
The future 8rigadier and Congressman
began the ac'ive du les Of life in an hum
BILE sphere. working first upon farm and
7 aiterward learning the trade Of n carpen-
ter. There are mauv who will still re-
member him as a boa'nian upon the Ohio
/ and Pennsylvania canal, in l849.
In whatever he engaged, however. lie
must have manifested industry, tact and
economy, for although receiving 10 prcu,
mary assistance from any one, we 6nd
him 'nler'ng an academy in Grauya c"un
j ty, Ohio. early in tie year 1852. The
same year he began u teach; and thus
worked his way through school, until. in
1854. he became menibt o. The Junior
CIas, OF Williams College. Mass. and
graduated in 1856 The following year
he WAS chosen President Of the Eclectic
lns,i'u'e. Portage county. Ohio.
ln 1859 he WAS elected State Senator
from The Senatorial District composed OF
} Summit and Portage counties, and served
ia tina, capacity two years.
Al The breaking out Of the war. he
, threw himself with his wlo,e soul ih'o tie
con'es.. and on ;he Ia h Of MAY, 1864
received from Gov .Dennison a commis,iur
M Lieutenant Colonel. Ou The 18Th o
September he was promoted to a Colo
n''c,, and raised the larger por ion of the
42' y v. L.. one company being com.
pose wholly Of his students.
Leaving z mp Chase on the II OF
Dec-mhr lie was placed in mmand OF
tour regiments o. infantry and i've hun.
drtd cssalry. ~ tie head OF which force
he reached C,lieltshurg. at the mouth Of
Big Sandy. on the 25a Of the same month.
; Moving at once into Eastern Kentucky,
he drove Humphrey Marshalrs cavalry
out oi Painlsviie, on the 9th OF January,
1912. killing aud woundiug 25 of them.
D On the same night the fat rebel. alarmed
al this display Of energy, abandoueJ his
lor.iica.ions back Of Paintsvil-, an,. Aei
Gn field pursued ct the head Of I. 100 met
overIo ook the rebels nj Middle Greek, real
Ptesionburg. and comblelely de'ea,ed
them with loss OF 800 killed aud wounded
while the Union loss was only 25. In a
letter 10 his vile which was found upon
the field. Marshall ack wle,lged his force
to be 4 SOD strong. Considering this fact
and also that t;a, field had no artillery,
the victory OF Prrs,onburg must rank as
one OF The finest achievements Of the
r war.
Marching forward, Garfield took pos.
session oi Piketon. On the l6,h Of March
he reached Pound Gap wmh 600 men.
drove $40 Iehels from that position, and
burnt their camp and stores. This com
, ple,ed the liberation Of Eastern Kentucky,
and the 20h of March, he was ordered
to Join Gen. Buel Commissioned Briga.
dier General about this lime, every one
acknowledged The fitness OF the appoint
ment. In The grea, conflict OF Shiloh, he
commanded with skill aud credit the Goth
brigade.
The following summer, without any
previous knowledge on his part, he was
proposed as a candidate Tor Congress.
from the l9.h Congressional district Of
Ohio. was nominated and afterwards elect
ed by about 5000 majority.
Alter long and important court martial
sevce. he was ordere! TO report 10 Gen.
Rosecrans Tor duy, and reached the De.
par,ment of The Cumberland shortly after
the battle of Stone river. He WAS imme-
dfately selected by Gen. Rosecrans as his
chief of staff, position lett vacant by the
death OF the lsmented Garesche.
Since that time his career is fresh in
, the memory of the public. Our cores
pomdent in Gen. Rosecrans' army has had
lreduent occasion to refer tc his excellent
syelem Of administration and its beneficial
! results. A thorough maslership oi details
/ foe general educusion, compe,en,
know dge Of law. combined with unliring
, industry and quencnless zeal. have made
him one of lhe most tlicenl staff cficers
in the service, OF the Uo'ed States.
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 he; but we ieei assured lhel, in
} bis civil capacity, the Government will
gain in him An able and earnest sup.
porIer. and the country an Intelligent aud
faithful servant Gin. Gus.
PAT. you have dated your letter weel
, ahead. Il is not so late in the mon,h bv U
, week. sou spa'reeu." "Troth, boy, iodadt
;,a 10