Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-07-22
SOLDIER "REMINISCENCES.
General Garfield and the Germans i'm
the Army.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean, June 26
Many of my old comrades of the for
mer Army of the Cumberland will re-
member General Garfield, the nominee
of the Republican party for the Presi-
dency who became chief of staff to Gen
eral RoSecranz, after the gallant Colonel
GarrescIe, of st. Louis, had been killed
by cannon ball in the sanguinary bat
tie of Stone river, December 31st, 1862
Those who had, as it was my fortune,
the opportunity to visit army headquar-
tiers quite frequently on official business,
will remember General Garfield as an af-
fable and obliging officer, always ready
to assist, and never showing that haught-
iness toward interiors that characterized
so many otherwise excellent officers.
Sometimes he would address an officer
or soldier in the German language,
which he speaks quite well, if he knew
the addressed was German.
held at that time the position of a.
4. A. g., second brigade, Sheridan's di-
vision, which was then encamped about
three miles from Murfreesboro, on the
Shelbyville pike. One day the mail
! brought several letters to members of
my company, containing the news that
my brother, who had lost his leg at the
battle of Perryville, KY, was lying at
the point of death in a hospital at St.
Louis, having been given up by the sur
geon in charge. This was terrible news
to me. He was my only and younger
brother. Mother and sisters were yet in
Germany; and l was hundreds of miles
away from him, unable to be with him
in his last moments. There was no
prospect of an advance of the army at
that time, and my brigade commander
advised me to apply Immediately for
leave of absence, and gave me permis-
sion to carry the paper forward myself,
strongly endorsed by him, Gen. Sheri-
dan gave my application a splendid re-
cemmendation, but our temporary corps
commander, Gen. r. w. johnson, abrupt
ly ordered its disapproval, Returning
sndly to my quarters, General Sheridan
called me. l handed him the applica-
ton; he looked at it moment, then he
said: Garry it to Rosecranz's headquar-
ters; tell him l sent your saluted,
turned, and in moment 1 was on my
way to town at full gallop.
Arrived at headquarters, met Gener-
al Garfield, handed him the application,
and told him that General Sheridan had
sent me. He glanced over it. "That is
bad, Captain, the disapproval Of your
corps commander makes it impossible
for me to grant your application" l
told him in as few words as possible the
circumstances. He looked at me for a
moment full in the face, his features be-
came milder and expressed his sympa-
thy, then he said: "COme with me to the
general commanding" We entered an
other room. General Rosecranz was
writing. A moment after he arose and
General Garfield handed him my appli-
cation, with the remark: General, re-
commend this paper to your Kindness
ROsecranz noticed the "disapproval."
had to tell him the story; then he asked:
You acted as adjutant general to Col.
Schaefer's brigade at Stone river?"
"Yes, General"
"You belong to the Second Missouri ?"
"Yes, General"
"Brave regiment. General Garfield, |
the application of the captain is grant |
ed"
A few minutes later General Garfield
handed me my leave, shaking my hand
warmly, and expressing his hope that
might find my brother alive. Two days
after 1 arrived at st. Louis. They joy of |
seeing me again, and good nourishment
had wonderful effect upon my brother.
so that at the end of my leave of alb
sence he was out of danger. He lives
now near Nashville, Tennessee, and is
the head of large family.
SoRe time later the German Glee
Club of the Second brigade, Sheridan's
Division, composed mostly of former
members of glee clubs in st. Louis and
Chicago, took occasion to serenade Cen
eral Rosecranz at his headquarters at
After the last sounds
had died away we extinguished the
lights and were ready to return to our
camp, when somebody stepped out from
the building upon the veranda and in
vited US in General Rosecranz's name, in
a very nice little German speech, to come
in and spend short time with the COM
general. 1t was General Gar
field who answered our German songs
with remarks in the same language. We
accepted the Invitation, General Rose
cranz shook hands with all of US, and
then introduced to US his BROTHER, the
late Bishop Rosecranz, of Columbus,
Ohio, who expressed his surprise to hear
such good singing in the field. During
our stay at headquarters, General Gar
field spoke to most of the visitors, the
majority of whom were private soldiers.
At Chickamauga more than half the
members of that club fell to rise no
more; but to their surviving comrades,
some of them who are to-day residing
in this city, that evening and General
Garfield will ever be remembered.
Cured Of Drinking.