The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-03

While thus laboriOuSly corrupted ne founu limo
to prosecute his studies, and was 80 successful
that ut 90 ne was able 10 enter tho Jun or class
at Williams College. thin under the Presidency
of the venera BILE and houored Mark IL pkins,
who. in the fulness OF his powers, survived
the eminent pupil TO whom he was OF inesu-
mable service.
The his ory Of Garfelds life to this period
presents no novel features. He had undoubt-
edy shown perseverance,, sef-reliance, SELF
sacrifice and ambiton-quailties which, be 1t
sand for the honor OF our conn nv, arc every
where to be found among tho young IN n or
Amer ca. Blu from h n graduation at Williams,
onward TO the hour of his tragical death, Gar
fields career was eminent am exceplontl.
Slowly working through his educational period,
roe wing his diploma when "a years of age, he
se, med NJ one bound to spring into conspicuous
and brilliant su cess Whhil Fix years he was
s..cccs .iyely President of college, State Sem
a,or Of OHIO. Mai II General OF the army or
the I'm ell State-, ana Representative 10 the
nation i Con gross combination or honors 80
varied so elevated, within period so brief, and
to man 80 young, il without precedent or par
alel in the history OF the counry.
Garheld's army life WAS begun with no othro
military knowledge than such as he had hastily
goined from books in the few months preced-
ing his march TO tue field. Stepping from civil
life TO the head OF n regiment, the first order
he received when ready To cross the ONO was
to assume command of brigade and TO ope-
rate as an independent force In Eastern ken-
tucl1y His immediate duty was to check the
advance of Humphrey Marshall, who was
marching do Sn the Big Sandy, with the inton-
ton OF occupying, iii connection with other
Confederate forces, the entire territory OF Ken
tncky and of precipita,ing the State into Sc
cessiou. This was at the close OF the year 1861
Seldom If ever has a y0nng college professor
been thrown into n more embarrassing and
discouraging position. He knew just enough
NJ M aet,a a u ha
to measure the extent Of his Ignorance, and,
with handful Of men, he was marching i'll
ROACH winter weather into strange country,
among hostile population, TO confront
largely-eupouor force under the command of n
DISTINGUISHED lradulte OF West Point, VINO bad
hepn active and important service Ia two pre-
ccdmg wars. Tee result of the campaign is
matter OF history. The skin, the endurance,
the eXtraord nary energy shown by G 'rtleld.
tue courage hc imparled to his men, raw and
untr'cd IN himself the modS ures he adopted 10
increase his force and to create i'll tn enemys
mind exaggerated estimates OF his numbers,
bore perfect mutt in the routing of Marshall,
the capture Of his camp, the dispersion OF hs
force and Tie emancipation of an important
territory from the control Of the rebels. Com-
Ing at tne close OF the long series OF disasters
to the Union arms, Garfied's victory had an
unusual and eXtraneons Importance, and, III
the popular judgment elevated the young COM
mander TO tIe rank of IL military hero. With
less than 1850 men in his entire command,
with a moDll zed force OF only |, 100, without
cannon, he had met an army Of 900 and de-
feated them driving MarshalPs forces success
fully from two strongholds OF their own seec-
ton, fortified with abundant artillery. Maj.
q H. Buell.. commander of the Department OF
Ono, an experienced soldier OF the regular
army, published ar order OF thanks and con-
CALCULATIONS on the brilliant result OF the Big
Sandy campaign, which would have turned the
I.,oI Of la,o Snl and f,,at, Eor
field. Buell. declared that his services had
called into action the highest qualities OF SOL
uIet. an President Lin ola supplement these
worCs II praise by the more su ostantial reward
OF Brgadier Generals commission, to bear
d. TO from the day of his decisive victory over
Mar ,nall.
The subsequent military career of Garfield
fully sustained the brilliant beginning. With
his new commission he was assigned to the
ooslmnnd OF brigade i'll the Army of the Ohio
and took part III the second and decisive days
ii sht in the great battle Of Shiloh.
The remainder of the year 1862 was not es-
pCcitlly evcntiul to Garfield, as it was not to
tho armies with which he was serving. His
practical sense was called into exercise III con-
TEN platlng the task assigned him by Gen Buell.
OF reconstructng bridges and ro-estabishing
lines of railway communication for the army.
His occupation in tins useful but not brilliant
held was varied by service on courts martial OF
Importance IN which department OF duty he
NOl valuable reputation, attracting the no
tee and securing The approval OF the able and
eminent Juige Advocate General OF the army.
Inst OF itself was warrant to honorable fame,
for among the great men who III those trying
days gave themselves. with entire devotion. to
the service Of their country one who brought 20
that service the respect, learning, the most fer
vid eloquence, tue most varied attainments,
who ia Tue day of triumph sat reserved and 81
lent and grateful, cas- Francis Deak in the
Ia. =
Eot, OF kentucky, and In his honorable re-
tlrcmeut ne enjoys the respect and veneration
OF all who love the union of the States.
Early III 1863 Garfield was assigned to tho
highly important and responsible post OF Chief
OF Staff TO Gen. Rosecrans, then at the head or
the Army of the Cumberland. Perhaps in n
great military campaign no subordinate officer
requires sounder judgment and quicker knowl-
edge of men than the Chief of staff to the
commanding General An indiscreet man in
such position can SOW more discord, breed
more jealousy, and disseminate more strife
than any other officer in the entire organ "a
ton. When Gen. Garfield assumed his new
duties he found various troubles already well
developed and seriously affecting the value and
efficiency OF the Army OF the Cumberland Tho
energy, the impartiallty and the tact with
which he sought TO allay these dissensious and
to discharge the duties Of his new and trying
position will always remain one of the most
striking proofs OF his great tlity. His
military duties closed on the memorable field of
Chickanauga. u field which, however disastrous
to the Union arms. gave to him the occasion of
wnuing impcrishable laurels. The very rare
distinction was accorded hun OF great pro-
motion for hls bravery on field that was lost.
President l. ncon appointed him Major Gen
eral III the army of the United States :" for gall
laut and merltorous conduct in the battle Of
Oh cianauga."
The Army OF the Cumberland was reorgan-
ize1 2 ider the comm md OF Gen Thomas, who
prom tly offered Garfield one OF IT'S divisions
He was extremely desirous 10 accept the posi-
ton, but was embarrassed by the fact that he
had year before been elected to Congress.
aud the time when he must take his scat was
drawing near. Ho preferred TO remain in the
military service, and had within his own breast
the largest confidence OF SUCCESS in the wider
field which his new rank opened TO him. Bal
ancing the arguments on the ono side and the
other anxious TO determine what was for the
best. DESTROYS above all things to do his patr-
otto duty, he was declsvely influenced by the
advice of President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton, both of whom assured him that he
could at that time be Of especial value in the
House OF Representatives. He resigned his
commission Of Major General on the 5ih day OF
December. 1863, aud took his seat in the House
Of Representatives on the 7th. He had served
two years and four months in the army, and