The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-01

the early life OF Garfield was one OF privation
but It's poverty has been made indelicateiy and
unjustly prominent. Thousands of readers have
imagined him as the ragged. starving child whose
reality often greets the eve in the Squalid
tions of our large cities. General Garheld's in
fancy and youth had none OF their deStitutlou,
none OF their pitiful features appealing TO the
tender heart and To the open hand OF charity. lie
was a poor boy in the same sense that Henry Clay
was a poor boy: i'm which Andrew Jackson was
poor boy: in which Daniel Webster was poor
boy; in the sense in which large majority OF the
eminent men of America in all generations have
been poor boys. Before great multitude of men.
in a public speech, Mr.. Webster bore this teSti-
mony:
''It did not happen to me to be born in log
cabin. but my elder brothers and sisters were
born in a log cabin raised amid the snOwdriftS OF
New Hampshire, az a period 50 early that when
curled over the frozen hills there nO similar
evidence of n white mans habitation between II
aud the settlements on the rivers OF Canada. Is
remains still exist. ] make to it an annual visit
carry my children TO II 70 teach them the hard
ships endured by the generations which have
gone before them. 1 love to dwell on the tender
recoilectOns the kindred ties the early afe ctions
and the touching narratives ana incidents which
mingle with all know of this primitive family
abode"
With the requisite change OF scene the same
words would aptly portray the early days of Gar
field. The poverty Of the frontier, where sll are
engaged in a common stru ggle, and where com
mon sympathy and hearty cooperation tighten
the burdens OF each, Is a very different kid of
poverty different in kind. different in influence
indulgence which is every day forced 10 contrast
itself with neigh hbOriug wealth, on which IL feels
a sense Of grinding dependence. The poverty OF
the frontier is indeed no poverty. IL is but tle
beginning of wealth. and has the bOundless pos
sibIlities of the future always opening before it.
No man ever grew up in the agricultural regions
of the West where a mouse raising. or even corn
husling, is matter OF common interest and
helpfuiueSS, with any other feeling than that of
broad minded, generous independence. This
honorable Independence marked the youth oi
Garfield as 10 marks the youth Cf millions of the
best blood and brain now training Tor the future
citizenship and future Government Of the Repub-
lie Garfield was born neir 10 land TO the title OF
freenolder which has been the patent and pass
port of selfrespect with the ADglO-SaxOn race ever
since Hengist and HOrsG landed on the shores Of
England. His adventure on the canGl-an alter
native between that aud the deck of Lake Erie
schOOner-was farmer boys device for earning
money. just AS the New England lad begins a pos
sibly great career by sailing before the riast
cOasiing vessel or on merchantman bound
TO the farther India or TO the China Seas
No manly man feels anything OF shame in look.
ing back 10 early struggles with adverse circum-
stances, and no mao feels wOrthier pride than
when he has conquered the obstacles 70 his pro-
gress. But no one OF noble mould desires to be
looked upon as having occupied menial posi-
tion. a having been repressed by feeling of in
feTiOrty as having suffered the evils OF poverty
until relief found at the hand OF charity.
General Garfeid's youth presented no hardships
which family love and family energy did not
overcome. subjected him 10 no privatiOns which
he ala not cheertutly accept. aud lett no memo
rieS save those which were recalled with delight,
an transmitted with profit aud with pride.
Gariield's early opportunities Tor securing an
education were extremely limited, ana yet were
sufficient tn develop in him an intense desire %
learn. He could read at three years of age. and
school. He read all the books 20 be found within
the circle OF his acquaintance: some Of them he
got by heart. While yes III childhood he was =
CONSTANT student of the Bible and became IA
miliar with its literature. The dignity and
earnesness of his speech in his maturer life gave
evidence of this early training. Ateighteen Years
forward his ambitlon was 10 obtain college edu-
cation. To this end ne bent all his efforts, work
ing in the harvest field, at the carpenters bench,
and, in the winter season, teaching the common
schools OF the neighhorhoOd While thus la
bOriOuSly occupied ne found time 10 prosecute
his studies, aud was 80 successful that at twenty
/ two years OF age he was able IL enter the juni,
class at Williams College then under The PTesidcn
cy of the venerable aHd hOnored Marx Hopkins
who. III the fullness of his powers, survives the
eminent pupil 10 whom ne was of lnestlmable
| service
The history of Garield's life. 10 this period pre-
sents no novel features. He had undoubtedly
and ambinOn-qualites which. be IL said Tor the
honor OF our country, are everywhere 20 be found
/ among the young men OF America. But from hi'
graduation at Williams onward To the hour OF
! his tragical death, Garfield's career was eminent
/ aud exceptional. Slowly working through his
educational period, receiving his diploma when
twenty four years Of age, he seemed at one bOuAd
! to spring into conspicuous and brilliant success
Within six years he was succeSsively President o
a College, State Senator OF Ohio, Major General Of
| the Army of the United states, aud Represents
tive elect to the National Congress. 4 cOnbina
/ ton OF hOnOrs varied, SO elevated, within 4
period so brief and 10 a man - young. is without
precedent or parallel in the n .Ory OF the country
| Garfeld's army life was begun with no Other
military knowledge than such as he had hastily
| gained from books in the few months preceding
| his march 10 the held. Stepping from civil life
10 the heal OF regiment the first order he received
| when ready to cross the Ohio was 10 assume com
mand of a brigade. ana TO operate Is an inde
4 pou0Qnf Eastern lis mr.
date duty was TO check the advance of Hum
phrey Marshall, who was marching down the Bis
| Sandy with the Intention Of occupying in con
! nectiOn with other Confederate forces the entire
territory OF Kentucky, and preciptating the STATE
into secession. This was at the close of the yeal
| 1861. Seldom, IL ever, has young college pro
| fessOr been thrown into more embarrassing anC
discOGraging position. He knew Just enough Of
military science, as he expressed 1t himself, u
measure the extent Of his ignorance. ana with
handful OF men he was marching. in rough win
| ter weather, into strange country. among a hos
tile population TO confront Largely superior
| force under the commend OF a distinguished
graduate of West Point, who had seen active and
! important service IN two preceding wars
The result of the campaign is matter OF history
| The skill, the endurance. the extraordinary en-
| ergy shown by Garfield, the courage he impaired
to his men, raw aud untried as himself, tn,
measures he adopted To increase his force and Il
| create in the enemy's mind exaggerated estimates
of his numbers, bore perfect fruit in the routinl
| of Marshall the capture OF his camp, the disper
sion Of his force and the emancipation of an I'm
p0rtant territory from the control OF the Rebel
lion. Coming 10 the close of loug series of dis
asters to the Union arms, Garfield victory had al
unusual and extraneOus Importance, and in thi
popular judgment elevated the young commando
TO the rank Of a military hero Win less than ? 200
| men IN his entire command. with a mObilizeC
force OF only 1,lOO, without cannon
he had met an army of 5000 anC
defeated them-driving Marshall's forces success
lively from two strOnghOldsOf their own selection
fortified with abundant artillery. Major Genera
Buell., commanding the Department Of the Ohio
an experienced and aole soldier of the Regula
Army, published an order of thanks and congrat
ulatiOn on the brilliant result on the Big Sand
campaign, which would have TUNED the mead q
a less cool and sensible man than Garfield. Buel
declared that his service had called into actor
the highest qualities of a soldier. and Presiden
Lincoln supplemented these words of praise b.
erals commission, TO bear date from the day O
his decisive victory over Marshall.
The subsequent military career OF Garfield
fully sustained its brilliant beginning. With hi
new commission he was assigned To the com
mand OF brigade in the Army Of the Ohio, an
took part In the second and decisive days hgh
in the great battle Of SHILOH The remainder G
the year 1862 was not especially eventful to Gal
field, as il was not 70 the armies with which n
was serving. His practical sense was called int
. ! exercise in completing the task, assigned him b
/ General Buell., OF recOnstructing bridges and II
| establishing lines Of railway communication fC
: the Army. His occupation in this useful but nc
: brilliant field was varied by service on Court
} Martial of importance in whicn department
duty be won a valuable reputation. attractin
the notice and securing the approval OF the abb
! and eminent Judge Advocate General OF tn
! Army. That or itself was a warrant to hOnoTabl
fame; for among the great men who in thos
trying days gave themselves with entire dew
} ton to the service OF their country, one VIII
r-u1rT 90 hat tha rfr.aLf 1nar