Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-07-22
GARFIELD'S BRAVERY.
A Soldiers Testimony.

Monroe (Mich.) Sentinel.-The follow
Ing Is from George Q. Gardner, Cap
tain Of the Fifth Wisconsin Battery,
of Rosecrans' Army of the Cumber-
land:
DEBORAH, IA, June IS, 1880.
DEAR CHARLKY-Your postal card of
the l4th inst, asking me to refresh
your mind as to the dates, facts, &C., of
an incident which occurred during the
war of 1851, and I'm which General Gar
field was an actor and 1 spectator.
was duly received, and l herewith at
tempt to comply with your request:
After the great and sanguinary battle
of Chickamauga Il think In the latter
part of October, 1863, l was bound
north on a twenty days furlough. At
Louisville met Generals Garfield and
Steedman. Garfield was going 60
Congress and Steedman North on busi-
ness. Garfield had been our command
ing Generals Chief-Of-staf, and Steed-
man commanded fine division In the
same army. We happened to go down
to the ferryboat In the samc bus, on
top of which were Garfield's and Steed-
mans negro servants. 1t appears that,
owing to the fact that the Emancipa-
tion Proclamation was not general, and
did not at that time apply to Kentucky,
that States Legislature bad taken adj
vantage of it and passed laws suthoriz-
Ing the kidnapping and contscating of
every stray negro the gang of civil
officers and citizens could lay hands
upon. Officers with posses were
stationed at the levees, instructed and
authorized to seize sli negroes attempts
ing to cross the river on the boats, no
matter where they were from. When
we went on to the boat we were all In
ignorance of this State law, and of the
fact that a strong force Of men were
on the boat for che purpose Of seizing
any unlucky darkey who might be
going North with Union Officers. NY
attention was first called to the fact bv
hearing General Garfield ask pomp-
ous looking man: "What do YOU want
with that boy9" l looked out of the
bus window and noticed that the man,
in company with others, were 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 60 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 those insolent men that /
he had been fighting rebels In the field |
Tor two years, that he would now do |
some lighting on the water, and that If |
they did not leave the boat at once they
would get hurt. He stood between the |
negroe5 and the officers, and shook his
nst IN their faces, and dared them to
touch the black boys who had so faith
fully stood by him In the camp and on
the battle grounds OF Stone River and |
Chickamauga. General Steedman was
mad; he pulled off his coat, and
marched into the crowd, saving he |
could fight such a white-l;yered set of |
rascals with good relish; Chickamauga |
had had no terrors for him, neither
had kidnappcrs. It was an exciting |
time then. While Garfield and Steed. |
mxn were getting the negroes away |
from the Sheriff and his deputies, US |
fellows In the bus were getting our |
revolyers out Of our valises, and we
were soon out and forming line of [
battle, one deep and far apart. In rear |
OF 0arheld and Sfeedman. The Sheriff
nnaiiy exhibited q disposition to take |
.ns negroes at any risk. Garfield. fol- |
lowed py rs blue-ccats, moved on the |
enemy en- iorco. They retreated fright |
smart. to the shore. The sheriff. from
nS safe place on the shore, ordered ~