New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-21
GENERAL GARFIELD.
HIS YOUTH AND EARLY MANlioop'
mn ATOM BEFORE TIRE ARMY OF TIE Cu"Dh"A"->'
BY GENERAL JACOB d. COX.

~.
ar Society of the Army of the Cumberland TINS
evening. an grafton on the youtn anu
.arlv manhood of General James a. Uarheio was
Seliyered by General J. d. Cox. Following are
some of the most interesting portions;
Nv theme this evening will be the youth ana
o,,lv manhood Of GarGcld-his growth in mind ana
hodv I'M he was fitted to do mans work in the world
and his career until the time when he left the Army OF
The Cumberland take his place in the National egs
ature his earlier life there il nothing with when
any member of this society could lack sympathy IL
eliminated i'm the performance OF soldiers duty In
which YOU bis associates In his preparation ior
This many Of YOU viii recall the counterpart in your own
exneriencc In its performance. all OF you shared MS
sca his sodicrly pride and and his devotion To
the National cause II IS the Garfield you knew whom
We shall try to recall tonight our inquiry will be how
he grew to he the man he was at Chckamauga and
thereby fit for the longer # not more Important
career that followed
GARFIELD'S BOYHOOD.
Garfield himself, frequently exhibited his dislike OF
The sensational way in which his youth was depicted TO
tho Country. He modestly claimed TO he, what he was
literally educated man, to whom after the usual prepare
,orv studies college Of high rank among the educational
institutions Of the country had given the best intellectual
discipline which young Americans may ordinarily procure
bcfor assuming the responsibilities of life The circum-
stances which made his education dependent upon his
own cxcons involved what il is the fashion to speak OF
rs hardship. hut il never appeared so TO him. II the
earliest discipline somewhat Spartan in its character
il had the best features of the spartan training in culti
waiting manly self reliance and decision in the boy with
out crushing his hope or abatirg his confidence Of
sccess As to his moral and religious training he had
the advantage Of being bred in community snguary
earnest AMI intelligent in its religions convictions aud
where the temptations 10 vice were. doubtless far below
tie average.
lean think 81 few more healthy places for the growth
In, fliaV,1
Ohio fifty years ago The community itself was one in
which republican simplicity and equality at their
best None rch but nearly all were thrifty and
INTELLIGENT None could live in idleness, and although
one farmer might have more acres or larger barn than
mother the boys and girls Of all alike worked upon the
farm or IN the house. attended the school and the
same lnel1y-uakings, and none could he supported III
i1leness The Young men who felt thirst for better
education than they could get III the three months
winter term thought they happy II their fathers
would give them their time" rs 1t was called when
they were allowed TO leave home and apply their own
earnings to the expense of the academy or the college
Under such circumstances, poverty had none OF the
degradation which too often accompanies il in old and
populous communities Here no ,sqnalor no vice,
no OF its necessary accompaniment In
volvcd closing OF any to boy who had health
and courage brain and will IL may even he questioned
whether the obstacles were not Ovcranced by the In
elements To effort ana whether the suIroundi1gs were
not such might be wisely chosen for the develop
came of good race and that for much. Taking It
mn i'm al doubt If the world offers happier lot, CON
tdns "a approach to the model community, than
in such colony, where those who have had the advan-
taces OF older civilization are separated from Its
frugay. industry and equality, make tie beginnings OF
new and prosperous state
have thus enlarged little upon the characteristics OF
such ne IhhorhOod because AZ superficial glance we
are apt reckon its simplicity its apparent rudeness
aud lis comparative poverty tending 10 prevent the
glo~tn OF man HG 1n" 5c Will ne mst
I. 10
that We have here complct" application OF the law ot
were iu.f the place for the growth OF such man rs he
He knew and felt this and never thanked any man for
pity .yupathy account of the supposed hardships
Of his early life.
DRIVEN FROM THE ARMY BY nL-HEALrn.
believe nothing would have induced Garfield TO ac-
sept nomination and election to Congress in 1862 but
the conviction that his health would not endure the VI
cissitudes Of life the field This has frequently been
matter of surprise those who have heard of his atl
,tic STRENGTH and massive frame he discovered in
the of 1862 that while he seemed aDle 20 pS'
any fatigue aud any ply steal burden so olg ~ -. eee
was regular his constitution very susceptible 10 Tue
irregularities and changes OF 1000 ana OF water so IN
cdent TO camp ne Inc Wearing ;lis i VI v o6
finn that here foe before which he must lerfOIce
retreat Recovering his strength in the winter, he
eagerly tried the experiment again in sos. but twice IN
succession he again reduced 10 his bed III the sum
OF that year. and IN the adynnce 10 stevenson was
witt the difficulty transported in an anpnance so weak
had he become. The experiment had been Thoroughly
tried aud his constitutional Htn! 10 he class oi az
inelts referred To-. al unwclcome it ilTcVocabe
exclusion from further participates M the campaigns OF
the ariuv 10 which ne had hccOmc dcyOtcdy attached
General Ro,ccrns did not invite CARRIED 70 lake the
position of chief OF stan III warm intimacy had grown
up between them Garhcd was ms sHSl I0i solne uie
after reaching Murfreeshoro and on the ldi OF t'D-
ng ne VS. cnsid,Ting he nroposai 10 take the rtaii
position and told OF his admiration for the commanding
general after weeks OF close aS~ocinon say ing 81
have never become more acquainted with the interior
life Of any in the same length OF time in my life For
We understand what these weeks OF unesaned i'll
tercoursc in the same household had been. Who was
genial and social II not ROsccTaus Who more active
minded fond of conversational discussions brighter
IN suggestion or reader in criticism Clarified was fnii
OF enthusiasm, of wide reading, broad mind, and ur-
,ve,, hndIcss interest They included the campaign
before them aud the whole scope of the war from the
military and the political points Of view. Not lew
possible candidate for the Presidency who might offset
The tendency in other quarters TO support McCleah us
enter Congress aud already regarded as one sure TO
WELD an important influence on the affairs OF the
country. When we think of these things, we do not
wonder that Jude such favorable circumstances, the
intimacy grew apace ana we Wonder a. h,, III a9'
the zeal. the power of work and OF system which Car
nrd possessed he coveted tle employment OF al these
Talents the duties OF the stan near his person
SERVICES AS CHIEF OF STAFF.
NJ ono has questioned the fact that Garelds influence
In Lis stan position good one. assisting his chief IN
maturing wiSe plan Of campaisn aiding in bringing the
organization of the army greater efficiency systematic
Ing the routine Of 50 complicated iiac ana hhally
il. advocating action, early and decisive The EFFORT
which has sometimes been made to app9ition the credit
due Ia the commanding General and 10 his principal
officer for the campaign seems To me necessarily
futile Tho commander has the responsibility OF
what occurs and whether his ideas the suggestion OF
his corps division commanders, or those more
closely around him. il is good military rule which holds
That ne who takes the blame OF i'll advised movements
I'D have also the credit Of those that turn out well In
ta no candid person can deny that Garieds presence
headquarters OF the Army Of the Cunberland was
valuable in suggestion and criticism and that in plan
and energy of execution the campaign OF 1863 owed
mach 10 him.
IiIr CORRESPONDENCE WITH SECRETARY CHASE.
Since his DEATH of the very few hostile criticisms
which Jared upon the general harmony OF admira
lion and kindly good will which has marked the treatment
o. his character has laid hold upon his correspondence
with Secretary Chase in the summer OF 1868 as basis
Tor attacking him in his relations To General Rosecras
Assuming the authenticity of the correspondence (Wmch
is ylO