Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-12-24
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GARFIELD IN BATTLE.
The Contest with Humphrey Marshall
1T Middle Creek, Kentucky.

The Contest with Humphrey Marshall
1t Middle Creek, Kentucky.
General Garfield was at this time a
man of thirty years and a soldier OF six
months. He had never seen an armed
enemy or a bayOnet charge, or heard a
cannon fired in the field, or known the
deadly danger of line OF battle. Yet
he found himself at the head of fOua reg
iments of infantry and eight companies
of cavalry, and not only responsible for
their lives and conduct. but also for the
salvation of state. Marshall, cOmpe-
tent commander, had with him some
5000 men, well drilled, supplied and
equipped, and eager for brush with the
Yankees. The Union general had two
things to do without delay-namely,
open communication with his LOO men
under Colonel CranOr, and form an i'm
mediate junction with that body in the
presence of q strong and superior army,
perfectly cOgnizant of his object and its
vital dSsirability and possessing every
facility for preventing its attainment.
A trustworthy scout must first be pro-
cured. Consultation with Col. Moore, of
the Fourteenth Kentucky, resulted in the
selection of faithful ScOtchman named
Jordan. The colonel commanding read
him over carefully. will you die rath-
or than let this dispatch be taken 7" Il
will" answered the man. VERY well"
said the student of men as we'll as books.
If will trust YOU" At midnight of the
second day thereafter the message was
handed safely to Col. CranOr, who had
gone forward as far as McCOrmick's gap.
II was dated Midnight, December 24th,"
and OrdeBed him to march his column at
once to PrestOnburg. At dawn next day
CranOr's, force was In motion for the
front, with every nerve strained. On the
way il was to pick up about 800 cavalry
under Lieut.. Col. WOOdfOrd, stationed at
Stamford, the whole number OF the little
army then amounting to only 1.4OO men.
but all fighters.
The Big Sandy, muddy, sh0al river
running into the Ohio through the Cum
berland spurs, Is only nayigable to Lou
lisa, except for small, shallow scOws.
which may be pushed or pulled along as
far as PiketOn. In mid-winter this
stream Is low and marrow, and the poor
roads of that country are next to impass-
able from mire. Garfield decided to rest
mainly on mud-scOws or fiat-bOats for
transportation of camp supplies and his
scant army train of mules, horses and
wagons, for cannon he had none. Pre-
pairing ten days ratiOns and filling his
cartridge boxes, Colonel Garfield placed
part of his little force on board OF all the
and fiat-bOats he could muster and scOws
impress, and set of in search OfHumphrey
Marshall. 1t was New Years day, 1862.
What q contrast the scene there to that
of the civil social life in cities at the
same hour, where safe and happy callers
Were exchanging visits and the compli-
ments of the season in cosy, fire-lit par
lOrs
The march through the mud of the
rough roads alongside the ice-lined
stream was slow and painful, an average
DAYS rate of travel being but five or six
miles, 80 that it was the 9Th of January
when the Union army reached point
seven miles distant from Paintville, near
where il was reported Marshall had
made stand. At midnight of that day
Col. Garfield was aroused from a heavy
sleep, after the fatigues and exhaustion
of the journey, in q wretched log hut
whore he lay, by sentry, who stated
that q man wanted to see him on urgent
business. He babe him to be admitted.
It was Jordan. Back safe I" asked the
colonel, at once awake and alert. II am"
"Hsye you seen CranOr 7" Eyes, Colonel"
"Well." HE can't DO more than two
DAYS march behind me-" "YOu have
done us great seevice. Jordan" said
Garfield, warmly grasping hand. THAT
is more pay than expected y exclaim-
ed the mud-stained and weary but de-
lighted scout.
Presently picket came in with news
that the enemy several thousand strong,
was certainly encamped at PaiHtville
and impatiently expecting an attack on
the following morning. sure of speedy