Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-11
Nafrlman d Journal
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IL, 1880.
Garfield on His Muscle.


Sentinel, relates the following interesting an
ecdote, in which General Garfield played
prominent part " After the sanguinary bat
tie of Chickamauga | was bound north on a
twenty-days' furough, and at Louisville
met Generals Garfield and Steedman. Gar
field was going to congress and Steedman
north on business We happened to go
down to the ferry-boat in the same bus, on
negro servants. 1t appears that, as the
emancipation proclamation was not general
and did not at that time apply to Kentucky,
her legislature had taken advantage of it,
and passed laws regarding the kidnapping
and confscating of every stray negro the
gangs of civil officers and citizens could lay
their hands upon. Officers with passes were
stationed at the levees, to seize all negroes
attempting to cross the river on the boats,
no matter where they were from. When we
went on the boat we were in ignorance of
this state law, and of the fact that a strong
force of men were on the boat to seize any
unlucky darkey who might be going north
with the Union officers. My attention was
first called to the fact by hearing General
Garfield ask pompous-looking man, What
do you want with that boy ?" | looked out
of the bus window and noticed that the
man, in company with others, was ordering
the two boys to get down from the bus and
go ashore with them. The man, who claimed
to be the sheriff, said the boys could not go
across the river; that he should take pos
session of them, etc., and proceeded to force
them off the boat. At this, Garfield and
Steedman jumped out of the bus. Garfield
was mad he told these insolent men that
he had been fighting rebels in the field for
two years, that he would now do some fight
ing on the water, and that if they did not
leave the boat at once they would get hurt.
He stood between the negroes and the Of
ficers and shook his fist in their faces, and
dared them to touch the black boys who had
so faithfully stood by him in the camp and
on the battle-ground of Stone river and
Chickamauga. General Steedman was also
mad he pulled off his coat and marched
into the crowd, saying he could fight such a
white-livered set of rascals with good relish ;
Chickamauga had had no terrors for him,
neither had kidnappers. 1t was an exciting
time for them. While Garfield aud Steed-
man were getting the negroes away from
the sheriff and his deputies, us fellows in
the bus were getting our revolvers out of
our valises, and we soon were out aud form
ing line of battle, one deep and far apart,
in the rear of Garfield and Steedman. The
sheriff finally exhibited disposition to take
the negroes at any risk. Garfield, followed
by us blue-coats, moved on the enemy in
force. They retreated Fright smart to the
shore. The sheriff, from his safe place on
the shore, ordered the captain Of the boat
not to move the boat with the negroes OH
board. The captain then came to Garfield,
and told him that he, the captain, could not
take the boys across the river without in
curing heavy fine, and therefore would
not move the boat. General Garfield said he
would relieve him of responsibility, so he an
nonnced that he would pilot the boat across
if some one would volunteer to run the en-
gine. Upon several of the soldiers agreeing
to do it, the captain caved and ordered the
boat united, saying that he would take the
crowd across, and stop the 'tarnal FUSS