Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-28

service in two preceding wars.
The result of the campaign is matter ot
history The skill, the endurance. the ex
traordinary energy shown by Garfield. the
courage he impaired 10 his men. raw and un-
tried as himself, the measures he adopted &c
increase his force and TO create in the enemy
mind exaggerated estimates of his numbers
bore perfect fruit in the routing OF Marshall
the capture of his camp, the dispersion of his
force. and the emancipation of an important
territory from the control of the rebellion.
Coming at the close of long series OF
disasters to the L nion arms. Gsrfield's victory
had an unusual and extraneous Importance
and in the popular judgment elevated tie
young commander to the rank of military
hero. With less than two thousand men in
his entire command. witha mobilized force OF
only eleven hundred, without cannon, he had
met an army of five thous md and defeated
them-driving Marshalrs forces successfully
from two strongholds of their own selection,
fortified with abundant artillery. Major
General Buell., commanding the Department.
Of the Ohio, an experienced and able soldier
ot the Regular Army, published an order of
thanks and congratulation on the briliian,
result of the Big Sandy campaign, which
would have turned the head of less cool and
sensible man than Garfield. Buell. declared
highest qualities of soldier, and President
Lincoln supplemented these words of praise
by the more substantial reward of abrigadier-
generals commission, TO bear date from the
day of his decisive victory over Marshall.
The subsequent military career of Garfield
fully sustained its brilliant beginning. With
his new commission he was assigned 10 the
command of brigade in the Army of the
Ohio, and took part in the second and dec-
sive days fight in the great battle of Shiloh.
The remainder of the year 1862 was not es-
pecially eventful to Garfield. as il was not to
the armies with which he was serving His
practical sense was called into exercise in
completing the task, assigned him by General
Buell., of re-constructng bridges and re-es-
tablishing lines of railway communication for
the army. His occupation in this useful but
not brilliant field was varied by service on
courts martial of Importance, in which de-
partment of duty he won valuable reputa-
ton, attracting the notice and securing the
approval of the able and eminent Judge Ad-
vocate General of the Army. That of itself
was warrant to honorable fame; for among
the great men who in those trying days gave
themselves. with entire devotion. to the SER
vice of their country, one who brought TO that
service the ripest learning, the most tervd
eloquence, the most varied attainments. who
labored With modesty and stunned applause
who in the day of triumph sat reserved and
silent and grateful-as Francis Deak in the
hour of 1lungary's deliverance-was Joseph
Holt of Kentucky, who in his honorable re-
tirement enjoys the respect and veneration of
all who love the Union of the States.
Early in 1868 Garfield was assigned to the
highly important and responsible post of chief
of staff to General Rosecrans then at the head
of the Army of the Cumberland. Perhaps in
great military campaign no subordinate
officer requires sounder judgment and quicker
knowledge of men than the chief of staff to
the commanding general. An ndiscreet man
in such a position can more discord,
breed more Jealousy and disseminate more
strife than any other officer in the entire or
ganization. When General Garfield assumed
his new duties he found various troubles al
ready well developed and seriously affecting
the value and efficiency of the Army of the
Cumberland. The energy, the impartfality,
and the tact with which he sought to allav
these dissentions, and to discharge the duties
of his new and trying position will always re-
main one of the most striking proofs of his
great versatility. His military duties closed
on the memorable field Of Chickamauga a
field which however disastrous to the Union
arms gave to him the occasion of winning
imperishable laHrels. The very rare dis,inc-
ton was accorded him Of great promotion
for his bravery on field that was lost
President Lincoln appointed him a major
general in the Armv of the United States for
gallant ami meritorious conduct in the battle
of Chickamauga.
The Army of the Cumberland was reorgan-
lied under the command of Gen. Thomas,
who promptly offered Garfield one of its d.
visions. He was extremely DESTROYS to ac-
cept the position, but was embarrassed by the
fact that he had the year before been elected
to Congress, and the time when he must take
his seat was drawing near. He preferred to
remain in the military service, and had with
in his own breast the largest confidence of
success in the wider field which his new rank
opened to him. Balancing the arguments on
the one side and the other. anxious to deter
mine what was for the best. desirous above
all things to do his patriotic duty. he was de-
cisiyely influenced by the advice of Presi-
dent Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, both of
whom assured him tha, he could at that time
be of especial value in the House of Repre-
sentatives. He resigned his commission as
Major general on the 9Th dav of December,
1863. and took his seat in the House of Rep
resentatives on the 7th lie had served two
years and four months in the army. and had
just completed his thirty-second year.
The Thirty-eighth Congress is pre-emi-
nently entitled in history to the designation
of the War Congress. 1t was elected while
the war was hagrant, and every member was
chosen upon the issues involved in the con-
tnuance of the struggle. The Thirty-seventh
Congress had, indeed, legislatcd to a large
extent on war measures. but it was chosen
before any one believed that secession of the
States would be actually 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 sup
port of the Army and Navy. and of the new
and extraordinary powers of legislation which
il was forced TO exercise Only twenty -four
States were represented, and one hundre 5.
and eighty-t members were upon its roll.
Among these were many distinguished party
leaders on both sides, veterans in the public
service. with established regulations for abil-
ity, and with that skill which comes only
from parliamentary experience Into this
assemblage of men Garfield entered without
special preparation, and il might almost be
said Unexpectedly The question of taking
command of division Of troops under Cen
eral Thomas. or taking his seat in Congress
was kept open till the last moment, so late
indeed. that his resignation of his military
commission and his appearance in the House
were almost contemporaneous. He wore the
uniform of jor-general of the United
States Army on Saturday. and on Monday in
dross he erad IN the roll -ca III