The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-03-02

! tional period. receiving his diploma when
twenty-four years Of age, he seemed
scuc"s Si.n p%E into
no was successfully president Of a college. state
senator Of Ohio, major general of tho army Of the
United States aud representative to the national
elevated within period so brief, ana to a man so
young Is without precedent parallel in the histo
ry or the country.
eAHr1ELDs ARMY LIFE
| was begun with ito other military knowledge than
such as ne had hastily gained from books in tho
f9w months preceding his march to the od Step
Sk : esmen :' tho s s order TO 1 the recs ass1
when ready to cross tho Ohio was to assume com
mand of brigade. and to operate an indie
1iato duty was to check the advance of Humphrey
Marshall who was marching down the Big Sandy
%s tho esnSn ct ress in s T
einta@ng tho sa!o into s secexsion of & HfSs
was ct tho close Of the Year 1861. Seldom, if
over, mas young college professor bcen thrown into
Pa more embarrassing aud discouragine posi-
ton. lilo know just enough of military
science, science: IS, as he Expressed it himself, to
with handful Of men he was marching in rough
winter weather into strange country. among Il
hostile population, to confront largely superior
force under the command of distinguished gradu-
ate OF West Point who had seen active and import
ant service in two preceding wars The result Of tho
esompalgn Is matter Of history: the skill, the
durance, the extraordinary energy shown by Gar
HELD tho courage lie impaired to his
mon, raw and nntrlel as himself, tho measures lie
adopted to Increase his force and to create in the
enemy's mind exaggerated estimates Of his num-
Ders bore perfect fruit in the routing of Marshall,
the capture of his camp, tho dispersion of his
force: and the emancipation Of an important terri
tory from the control Of the rebellion Coming at the
close OF a long series Of disasters to tho Union
arms darflelds victory had an unusual and
traneous Importance. and in the popular Judgment
elevated the young commander to
THE RANK OF A MILITARY HERO
With less than 1000 mon in his entire command,
with mobilized force Of only LOO, without
and defeated them. driving Marshais forces forces
successfully from two strongholds of their own
selection fortified with abundant artillery. Maj.
G 5en; buei, commanding the department. Of the
army. published an order of thanks and congratula-
ton on the brilliant result Of the Big Sandy cam
less coo and SENSIBLE an the head Of
field. Buell. declared that his services had
called into action the highest qualities Of soldier
of praise by the moro substantial reward of a brig
adler generals commission to bear date from the
day of his decisive victory over Marshall The
commission he was assigned to the command Of a
brigade in the army of the Ohio and took part in
tie Of SHOT, The r Hsn ' s Of D the
year 1862 was not especially event.
n 1%1 to to Gen. fSs ,. Garfield t.
he was serving His PRACTICAL sense was called into
exercise In contemplating the task assigned him by
zen Buell. of reconstructng bridges and re-estab-
fishing lines of railway communication for tho
army. His occupation in this
USEFUL BUT NOT BRILLIANT FIELD
was was varied by service on courts mar.
duty he won a valuable reputation attracting the
notice and securing the approval Of the able and
eminent judge advocate general of the army That
among the great men Who in these trying
days gave themselves with entire devotion to
the service of their country. one who brought
to that service the rpest learning, the most fervd
e!oquence, the most varied attainments, who
!abored with modesty and Stunned applause; who,
In the day Of triumph sat reserved and silent and
deliverance, was Joseph Holt of Kentucky, who in
his honorable. retirement enjoys the respect
9n non W generation of a all WHO loys the
was assigned to the highly important aud respen-
sible post of chief of staff to Gen. Rosecranz then
ct the head of the army of the Cumberland. Per-
officer requires sounder judgment aud quicken
knowledge of mon than the chief Of the
staff to the commanding general An indiscreet
more jealousy and disseminate moro strife than any
other officer in tho entire organization. When Con.
Garfield assumed his new duties he found various
affecting the value and efficiency of the Army of the
Cumberland. The energy, the impartiality and
the tact with which he sought to aay
these dissensions. and to discharge the dutiesof
HIS NEW AND TRYING POSITION,
OF his great versatility; His military duties closed
on the memorable field of Chickamauea, field
which, v1lis however disastrous H3 to- the Union
Of Winning 6 imperishabo ' laurels: The Very
rare distinction accorded him Of great pro-
motion for his bravery on q field that was lost.
in the army Of the United States for gallant and
mertorious conduct in the battle Of Chickanauga
The army of the Cumberland was reorganzed un
der the command of Gen. Thomas, who promptly
offered Garfield of its divisions He was
extremely DESTROYS to accept the position but was
embarrassed by tho fact that he had year before
must tako his seat was drawing near. He pre-
ferred to remain in the military service. and
had within. his own, breast the largest
new rank opened to him, balancing the arguments
on the one side and the other anxious to determine
what was best DESTROYS above all things to his
patriotic duty. He WAS declsiyely influenced by
the advice Of President Lincoln and Secretary Stan
ton, both of whom assured him that he could at
that time be Of especial ane in the house
major general on the 9th day Of Deccmber 1853,
and took his seat
m u, IN THE TIE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
had just completed his thirty second yeIr
Tho thirty eighth congress is preemnenty entitled
in history tot the designation of the War congress. 1t
was elected Whilo the was fragrant, and
every momber was chosen upon the issues involved
In the continuance Of the struggle. The thirtvsev
enth congress indeed Ieeisate toa large extent on
war measures, but it chosen before any one be-
lieved that u secession Of the States would DO &C
tuay attempted. The magnitude Of the work
which fell upon its successor was unprecedented,
both in respect to the vast sums Of money raised for
the support of The army and navy aud Of the new
and extraordinary powers OF legislation
o onS tvs,tf wa tsss' ver to sDsss
and ! SO members were upon its roll Among these
were many distinguished party leaders both
sides veterans in tho Public ssry t with es'ah:h
comes only from parliamentary experience.
Into this assembiage OF men Gar
field entered without special preparation,
and it might almost be said unexpectedly. The
question Of taking command of division Of troops
under Gen. Thomas, or taking his seat in congress.
was kept open till the last moment, so late indeed
his appearance in the house were almost contem
poraneous. He wore tho uniform of
major general s4!,, of tho United ,, States
in civilians dress, he answered the roll call as rep
resentative in congress from tho State Of Ohio He
was especially fortunate in the constituency which
elected him. Descended almost entirely from New
England stock, the men Of the Ashtabula district
were intensely radical on oil questions relating to
human rights. we'll educated, thrifty. thoroughly
intelligent in affairs. acutely discerning of char
acter, not quick to bestow confidence and slow to
withdraw it, they we're at once the most helpful and
most exacting of supporters. Tho tenacious trust
in men whom they have once conGded is illustrated
by
THE UNPARALLELED FACT
that Elisha Whitt'esey. Joshua r. Giddings and
James A. Garfield represented tho district
for 1fty-four years. There is no
test of mans ability in any
department of public life than service
in the house of representatives there is no place
where so little Difference is paid to reputation per-
sonaly acquired or to eminence won outside: no
place where so little consideration is
shown for the feelings or tho failure of
beginners. What man gains in the house lie
gains by sheer force of his character, and if
no loses and falls back he must expect no mercy
and will receive no sympathy. 1t is field in
which
THE SURVIVAL OF THE STRONGEST
is the recognized rule, and where pretense
deceive and gtalnor can misead. The
real man is discovered; his worth is i'm
partially weighed: his rank is irreversiblT
decided. With possibly single exception, Gar
field was the youngest member in the house when
he entered and was but four years from his college
graduation, but he had not been in his seat sixty
days before his ability recognized aud his place
conceded. He stepped to the front with the
confidence Of one who belonged there; The house
yyoy crowded DartlPS.