Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-28
GARFIELD.
Continued from FTrst Phgc.

Continued from First Pdgc.
GarfcId'S early opportunities TOR secur-
iu- an education were extremely LIMITED,
and yet we're sufficient to develop an intense
desire 20 learn. He couldre q at three years
OF are. and each winter he had the adyan-
tage of the district school. He read ali the
bGoSS TO be found within the circle OF his
scg~uaintance; some of them he got by
heart While vet in childhood he was a
constant student of the Bible, and became
familiar with its literature. The dignity
and earneStneSS OF his speech in his matur-
er life gave evidence of this early training.
At Is wears Of age ne was able 10 teach
school. and thencefOrward his ambition
was To obtain a college education. To thr5
end ne bent all his efforts, working IN the
harvest field, at the carpenters bench, and
in the winter season teaching the cOnmon
schools of the neighborhoOd. While thus
labOriOuSly occupied he found time TO
prosecute his studies; and was so success
iul that AT 30 years of age he was able to
enter the Junior class at Williams College,
then under the presidency of the venerable
and honOred Mark Hopkins, who, in the
tullneSS of his powers, survives the emf
inent pupil to whom he was OF inestimable
service.
Garfeld'S Army Life
was begun with no other military knOwl-
e1oe rhan such as he had hastily gained
from books IN the few months preceding
his march to the field. Stepping from
civil life to the head of 4 regiment. the
first order he received when ready to cross
the Ohio was TO assume command Of a
brigade. and to operate as au independent
force i'm Eastern Eentcky. His immediate
duty was to check the advance OF Hum
phrey Marshall, who was marching down
the Zig Sandy with the intention OF occu-
pying in connection with other Confederate
forces the entire territory of Kentucky,
and of preCipitating the State into SeCes-
sion.-This was at the close of the year
ISL. seldom. il ever, has 3 young college
professor been thrown into 4 more embar-
| RAISING and diScOuraging position. lie
I knew lust enough of military science, as
he expressed il himself, to measure the
extent of his ignorance. and with a hand
iul of men he was marching, in rough win
ter weather, into q strange country, among
Ia hostile population, to confront a largely
superiOr force under the command OF a
distinguished graduate q West Point, who
had seen active and important service In
two preceding wars.
lat .G~NAN W AAAN NAAAAEANA - - ~ "a
history. The skill, the endurance. the ex-
t~raordinarv energy show by Garfield, the
courage he impaired tOhiS men, raw and
untried aS himself. the MEASURES he adopted
10 increase his force and create in the en-
emv's mind exaggerated estimates of his
numbers. bore perfect 1uit in the rout-
ing nj Marshall. the capure of his camp,
the dispersion OF his force and the emanci-
patton OF an important territory from the
control Of the rebclliom Coming at the
close OF 4 long series oidiSaSterS to the
Union arms. Carfeld's vitory had an un-
usual and eXtraneOuS imortauce, and in
the popular Judgment eleated the young
commander 10 the rank OF military hero.
With possibly a single reception, Gar
field Was the youngest nAmber in the
House when ne entered. un'wa but seven
wears from his college gradution. But he
had not been in his seat sity days before
his ability was recognize and his place
conceded. He stepped To ne front with
the confidence OF one who alOnged there.
The HeuSe was crowded vil strong men
OF both parties; nineteen 81 Item have been
since transferred 10 the SeIte, and many
OF them have served with dis notion in the
G~ubcrna;Orial chairs of thr respective
States, and on foreign misSioi of great con-
sequence: but among them il none grew
% rapidly. none so firmly % arfield.
The great measure of Gar1ei'S fame was
filed BY his service in the Hose oflRspre-
sentatiyeS. His military III illustrated
bv honorable performance, Eld rich in
promise. was, aS he himself felt prema-
turely terminated. and necessity incom-
plete. Speculation II to whs he might
have done in Il field. where the,reat prizes
are 20 few. cannot be prottabl 1t is suf-
icient To say that rs . SOldierhe did his
duty brayely: he did il ~intelgeItiy; he
won an enviahle fame, and lie tired from
the service without blot or brtth against
him. As n lawyer. though admirably
equipped for the profession, bean SARGE
" be said to have entered Jpn its prac-
tive. The few efforts he madeat IT,. bar
were distinguished by the Sap high order
Of talent which he exhibited o every field
where he was put to the test% nd If q man
may be accepted as a cumpetet judge of
his own capacities and adapItionS, the
law was the profession to With Garfield
should have devoted himself. But fate or
dained otherwise, and his routatiOn in
history will rest largely upon his service
in the House of Representatives. That
service vas exceptionally lOnI lie was
nine times c~onSecutiyely chsen to the
House. an honor enjoyed by D more than
six other Representatives OF TIE more than
five thousand who have BEEN tected from
the organization Of the Government to this
hour.