Huntsville gazette., 1882-03-04

1
| became familiar with its literature. The dig
nlty and earnestness of speech in his maturer
| ne gave evidence of this early training At
| lo years OF age he was able to teach school,
| and thenceforward his ambition was to obtain
! acollege education. To this end he bent all
| his efforts, working in the harvest field at
the carpenters bench and in the winter sea-
/ son teaching the common schools OF the
| neighborhood. While thus laboriously occu-
pied he found time to prosecute his studies.
ana was SO successful that at p years of age
| he was able to enter the junior class at Will
hams college, then under the presidency of
| the venerable and k9nored Mark Hopkins.
who in the lulinesS of his pr-vcrs survives the
eminent pupil to whom he was of inestima-
| bic service The history of Garfield's life to
/ this period presents no novel features. He
| had undoubtedly shown perseverance, self
reliance, self sacrifice and ambition, qualities
| which, be it said for the honor of our country,
/ are everywhere to be found among the young
men of America. But from his graduation at
w NlllamS onward to the hour OF his tragical
death Garficld's career was eminent and ex-
ceptional. Hourly working through his edu-
catlonal period. receiving his diploma when
"a years of age. he seemed at one bound to
spring into conspicuous and brilliant success
Within six years he was successfully Presi-
dent OF College, State Senator of Ohio, Ma
jor- General of the Army of the United states
and Representative Elect to the National
Congress A combination of honorS so varied,
so elevated, within period so brief and to a
mans Young is. without precedent or parallel
in the history of the country.
Garfield's army life was begun with no 9TH
er military knowledge than such as he had
hastily gained from books in the few months
preceding his march to the field. He knew
just enough of military science, he ex-
pressed it himself. to measure the extent of
his ignorance. Major General Buell., com
manding the Department of the Ohio, an ex-
perienced and able soldier of the regular
army, published an order of thanks and con-
graduation on the brilliant result of the Big
Sandy campaign, which would have turned
the head of a less cool ana sensible man than
Garfield. Buell. declared that his services had
called into action the highest qualities Of a
soldier, and President Lincoln supplemented
these words of praise by the more substantial
reward of a brigadier- generals commission
to bear date from the day of his decisive vic
tory over Marshall TIE subsequent military
career of Garfield fully sustained its brilliant
beginning. With his new commission he was
assigned to the command OF Il brigade in the
Army of the Ohio, and took part in the second
ana decisive days fight in the great battle OF
Shiloh. The remainder of the year 1862 was
not especially eventful to Garfield, as it 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 constructing bridges and re estab-
fishing lines of railroad communication for
the army his occupation in this useful but not
brilliant field varied by service on court
martials of Importance in which department
of duty he won valuable reputation, at
tracing the notice and securing the approval
of the able and eminent Judge Advocate
General of The army.
Early i'll 1865 Garfield was assigned to the
highly important and responsible post of
Chief OF StaH to Gen. Ro Secrans, then ut the
head OF the Army of the Cumberland Per-
haps in II great military campaign no subor-
dinate officer requires sounder Judgment and
quicker knowledge of mel than the chief OF
staff to the commanding general. An indis
Greet man in such n position can sow more
discord, breed more jealousy and disseminate
more strife than any other officer in the en-
tire organization. When Gen. Garfield as
sumed his new duties he found various
troubles already we'll developed and serious
ly affecting the value and efficiency of the
Army of the Cumber and. The energy, the
impartiality and the tact with which he
sought to alay these disSenSions, and to dis
charge the duties of his new and trying posi-
ton, win always remain one of the most strik
ing proofs OF his great versatility. Ills militia
ry duties closed on the memorable field OF
Chickamau9a, a fed which, however disas
trous to the Union arms, gave to him the oc-
caSion of winning impcrishaDle laurels. The
very rare di stction was accorded to him OF
great promotion for his bravery on field
that was lost. President Lincoln appointed
him Major General In the army of the United
States for gallant and mer1tOriou5 cOduct in
the battle of Chickamauga. The Army OF the
Cumberland was reorganized under the com
mand of Gen. Thomas, who promptly ofered
Garfield one of its divisions. He was extreme
ly desirouS to accept the position, but was
embarrassed by the TACT that he had year
before been elected to Congress, ana the time
when he must take his seat was drawing near
He preferred to remain in the military service
and had within his own breast the largest
his new rank opened up to him. Balancing
the arguments on the one side and the other,
anxious to determine what was for the best,
desirOus above all things to do his patriotic
duty, he was considerably influenced by the
advice of President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton, both of whom assured him that he
would at that time be OF especial value IN the
House of Representatives. lie resigned ms
commission of Major General on the 9TH day
of December, 1863 and took his seat in the
House of Representatives on the 1th. lie had
! md fnp he i'm
my, and had just completed his SD year.
The Thirty eighth Congress is pre-eminent.
ly entitled in history to the designation OF
the War Congress. 1t was elected Whlle war
was fragrant, and every member was chosen
upon the issues involved in the continuance
of the struggle. The Thirty seventh Congress
had, indeed, legislated to 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 support of the
army and navy and of the new and extraor-
binary powers of legislation which it was
forced to exercise. Only twenty four states
were represented and 49, members were up
on its roll. Among these were many distin-
guished party leaders on both sides, veterans
in the public service, with established reputa-
tions for ability, and with that skill which
comes only from parliamentary experience
Into this aSsemblage of men Garfield entered
without special preparation, and itmght al
most be said unexpectedly. The question of
taking command of division of troops un-
der Gen. Thomas or taking his seat in Con-
gress was kept open till the last moment, so
late indeed, that the resignation of his mill
tary commission and his appearance in the
House were almost cotemporaneOus. lie
wore the uniform of q Major-General OF the
United States army on Saturday, and on Mon
day in civilians dress he answered to the
roll call as Representative in Congress from
tba State Of Ohio. = There is no
test OF a mans ability in any department OF
public life more severe than service III the
House of Representatives. There Is no place
where so little Difference is paid to reputation
previously acquired or to eminence when
outside No place where so little consldera-
ton is shown for the feelings at the failure OF
beginners. What man gains in the House
he gains By sheer force OF his own character,
and if he loses and falls back, he must expect
no mercy and will receive no sympathy. lt IS
q field in which the survival OF the strongest
is the rule, and where no pretense can de-
serve and no glamor mislead. The real man
is discovered. His worth -is impartially
weighed; his rank is irreyersibly decided
With possibly single exception, GARFIELD
was the youngest member in the House when
he entered, and was bnt seven years from his
college graduation But he had not been IN
his seat sixty days before his ability was rec
ognized and his place conceded. He stepped
to the front with the confidence OF one VINO
belonged there. The House was crowded with
strong men of both parties. Nineteen OF
them have since been transferred to the sen
ate and many of them have served with dls
tinction in the gubernatoriai chairs OF their
resnective States and on foreign missions OF