The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-03

took high rank in the Ohio Legisja
ture, as man unusually we'll in
formed on the subjects Of legislation
aud effective and powerful in debate
He seemed always prepared to speak
and always spoke fluently and we'll
w hen the secession Of the Southern
States began Mr.. Gnrfield's course was
manly aud oatspoken, and he was
among the foremost to maintain the
right Of National Government ~
coerce seeded States.
Gen. Garfield,s military career was
not OF nature to subject him to trials
On large scale. He was appointed
Colonel of the Forty second OIiiu
Regiment, August IA, 1861, but it was
not until Dec. IA, that orders for the
field were received. The regiment was
then semitic Catlettebnrg, KY, and Col.
Garfield was ordered to report to Gen.
Buell. in person. That officer ordered
him TO drive the forces apder Hum
'phFoy alssslsaIl sssts st,l f1lis Sau0y VII.
ley, in eastern Kentucky. The un-
tried colonel of the raw Forty second
Ohio undertook this task, aud on his
success the whole army Of the depart
lnent depended. Marshall had under
his command nearly 5000 men, and to
attack him Col. Garfield had four reQi-
'nents OF Infantry and eight companies
Of cavalry. The enemy were sta
toned at the Village of Paintville. 60
miles up the Sandy Valley, but Mar.
shall, hearing Of the advance of Gar
field, fell back to Prestonl,urg, leav.
ing small body of cavalry near his
old position to protect his trains. On
the 9th If January 1862, Col. Garfield
advanced on Marshall's new position.
and his troops were rapidly pushing
forward in the fast gathering darkness,
when MARSHALL abandoDlel his posi-
tlon, fired his camp eqnipage and
stores. and began a retreat which was
not ended until he reached Abingdon.
Va. This operation 10 the Sandy VAL
was conducted with such energy and
skill as to receive the special COM
meDdation Of the commanding geuer-
al and the government, and Col. Gar
field was made Brigadier- General 10
acknowledgment of bis services. On
his arrival at Louisville, the army of
the Ohio was already beyond Nash
willie, on its march to aid G,aut at
Pittsbnrg Landing. Gen. Garfield
fastened after it, assumed command
OF tue Twentieth Brigade, and reached
the field Of Pittsburg Landing on the
second day Of the battle, participating
IN its closing scenes. His brigade
bore its full share in the tedious siege
operations before Corinth, aud was
among the earliest in entering the
town after Gen. Beauregard,s eyacu-
alton.
His old malady, fever and agae,
in the days of his tow. path
service, was aggravated in the mala-
rious climate Of the South, and Gen.
Garfield was sent home ON sick leave
about the LIST Of August, 1862, remain-
ng until January, 1863, when he was |
ordered to join Gen. Rosecrans 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 Chicamaa-
"a. Sept. 10 and 20, 1863, and for his |
bravery and genera!ship in that en-
sagement he was promoted to the
'ank Of Major General.
At this point the military career of
Zen. Garfield practically came to an
md. In 1862, while absent With the |
lrmy, and without solicitation on his !
'art, he had been elected to Congress
rom the old Giddings district (the
9th), in which he resided, and believ-
ng that his path of usefulness lay in /
he direction to which his constitu-
'nts pointed, be resigned his commits.
ion Dec. S, 1863, and entered upon
he duties of = statesman's life. In
congress- he at once took high rank,
md from bis admission t. the House
# Representatives to the present
ime he has been an active, energetic,
'ard worker. His party renomi0ated
'im by acclamation on the expiration
+ his term, and on his return to the
House was given a leading place on
ts leading committee Ways and
deans. Here he coon rose to great
influence.
He studied the whale range Of e.
'ancial Questions with the asaidaity
t his college days, 90 that he is looked
pom to-day as one Of the ablest Of
'nr National financiers. He stood by
'is party, and his party stood by him,