The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-08-19
GarieId's Bravery.

George Q. Gardner in the Monroe Sentinel.
After the great and sanguinary bat
tie Of Chickamauga was bound n orth
on a twenty days furlough. At Lou
isville | met Generals Garfield and
Steedman. Garfield was going to Con-
gress and Steedman North ON business.
We happened to go down to the fer
ryboat in the same bus, on top of
which were Garfeld's and Steedman's
negro servants. 1t appears that, ow-
ing to the fact that the emancipation
proclamation was not general, and did
not at time apply to Kentucky, that
States Legislature had taken advan-
tage of it and passed laws regarding
the kidnapping and confiscatlng OF
every stray negro the gangs OF civil
officers add citizens could lay their
hands upon. Officers with posses were
stationed at the levees, instructed and
authorized to seize all negroes attempt
ing to cross the river on the boats, no
matter where they were from. When
we went on the boat we were all IN
ignorance of this State law, and of the
fact that strong force Of men were
on the boat for the purpose of seizing
any unlucky darkey who might be
going North with the Union officers.
Ny attention was first called to the
fact by hearing General Garfield ask
a 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 possession 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 fighting 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 officers,
and shook his fist in their faces, and
dared them to touch the black boys
who had faithfully stood by him in
the camp and on the battle grounds
of Stone River and Chickamauga-
General Steedman was mad; he pull
ed 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 ter
rors for him, neither had kidnappers.
It was an exciting time for them.
While Garfield and Steedman 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 were soon
out and forming a 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 sher-
iff, from his safe place on the shore,
ordered the captain of the boat not to
move the boat, with the negroes on
board. The captain then came to
Garfield, and told him, that he, the
captain, could not take the boys
across the river without incurring a
heavy fine, and therefore would not
move the boat. General Garfield said
he would relieve him Of responsibility
so he announced he would pilot the
boat across if some one would volun-
teer to run the engine. Upon several
Of the soldiers agreeing TO do it, the
captain cayed and ordered the boat un-
tied, saying he would take the crowd
across, and stop the 'tarnal fuss. The
boat started and the row ended.