The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-10

took high rank III the Ohio Legisla-
ture, as a man unusually wei! in
formed on the subjects oE,legislation
and effective and powerful in debate.
He seemed always prepared TO speak
and always spoke fuently and we'll.
When the secession Of the Southern
States began Mr.. Garfeld's course was
manly and ontspoken, and he was
among the foremost to maintain the
right of National Government to
coerce seeded States.
Gen. Garfield's military career was
not OF nature to subject hin, to trials
on a large scale. He was appointed
Colonel of the Forty second Ohio
Regiment, August IA, 1861, but it was
not until Dec. IA, that orders for the
field were received. The regiment was
then senttp Catlettsburg, KY, and Col.
Garfield was ordered to report to Gen.
Buell. in person. That officer ordered
him to drive the forces under Hum
plle2 Mals!lall ont of the Sandy Val.
ley, N eastern Kentucky. Tie un-
tried colonel of the raw Forty second
Ohio undertook this task, and on his
success the whole army of the DEPART
ment depended. Marshall had under
his command nearly 5000 men, and 10
attack him Col. Garfield had four regi-
nents of infantry and eight companies
OF cavalry. The enemy were sta
toned at the Village of Paiutville, 60
miles up TIE Sandy Valley, bu. Mar
shall, hearing of the advance Of Gar
field, fell back to Prestonbure. leav-
ing small body of cavalry near his
old position to protect his trains. On
the 9Th Of January 1862, Col. Garfield
advanced on Marshalps new position.
and his troops were rapidly pushing
forward in the fast gathering darkness,
when Marshall abandonded his posi-
ton, fired his camp equipage and
stores. and began retreat which was
not ended until he reached Abingdon.
Va. This operation in the Sandy Val
was conducted with sucl, energy and
skill as to receive the special com
mendation of the commanding gener-
al and the government, and Col. Gar
field was made Brigadier- General in
acknowledgment Of his services On
his arrival at Louisville, the army of
the Ohio was already beyond Nash
vile, on its march to aid Grant at
pittsbnrg Landing. Gen. Garfield
fastened after it, assumed command
of the Twentieth Brigade, and reached
the field Of Pitteburg Landing on the
second day of the battle, participating
I'D Its closing scenes. His brigade
bore Its full share in the tedious siege
operations before Corinth, and was
among the earliest in entering the
town after Gen. Beauregard's evacu-
alton.
His o. malady, fever and ague,
contracted in the days of his tow path
service, was aggravated in the mala-
rlous climate of the South, and Gen.
Garfield was sent home on sick leave
about the lst of August, 1862, remain
ing until January, 1868, when he was
ordered to join Gen. Rosecraus as
Chief of Staff. In this position he re-
NAMED until his military career
closed. His last conspicuous military
service was at the battle of Chicamau-
ga. Sept. l9 and 30, 1863, and for his
bravery aud genera!ship in that en-
gagenent he was promoted to the
rank of Major General.
At this point the military career of
Gen. Garfield practically came to an
end. In 1862, while absent with the
army, and without solicitation on his
part, he had been elected to Congress
from the old Giddiugs district 1.-THE
l9th), in which he resided, and believ-=
ing that his path of usefulness lay in
the direction to which his constitu-
ents pointed, he resigned his commits
sion Dec. 5, 1863, and entered upon
the duties of a statesman's life. In
Congress he at once took high rank,
and from his admission to the. House
of Representatives to the present
time he has been an active, energetic,
hard worker. His party renominated
him by acclamation on the expiration
of his term, and on his return to the
House was given leading place on
its leading committee on Ways and
Means. Here he soon rose to great
influence.
He studied the whole range of f.
nancial questions with the assidaity
of his college days, SO that be is looked
upon to-day as one of the abiest of
our National financiers. He stood by
his party, and his party stood by him,