The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-03-09
The history q osraeld's life % this period

The history Of 0srneld's life TO this period
presents no novel features. He had undoubt-
sdly shown perseverance, self:reliance, self
Dacri6ce and ambitioi,--qualities which, be Il
Iaid for tho honor Of our country, are every
where TO b found among tho young men Of
America. But from his graduation at Williams,
onward to the hour Of his trAgicsl death, Gar.
6eld's career WAS eminent and exceptional.
Slowly working through his educational period,
seemed 81 ono bound TO spring into colwpcuous
and brilliant SUCCESS. Within SIX years he was
President Of 4 college, State Sem
AtOr or Ohio, Major General OF tho army Of
the United States, aud Representative TO the
national Congress combination Of h0nors 90
varisd. % elevated, within period 20 brief, and
70 man 20 young, y without precedent or par.
0sr6elds army NE wAs begun with no othrs
military knowledge than such % hs had hastily
gained from books In tho few months preced-
Ing his march to tho field. Stepping from civil
life to the head Of . regiment, the Rfst order
whom ready 70 cross the Ohio was
to assume command Of brigade and to ope-
tnciy. His insmsdisss duty was 70 oheck tIs
advance of Humphrey Marshall, who was
down the Big Sandy, with the inten-
ton Of occupying, In connection with other
Confederate forces, the entire territory Of KEN
tucky, and Of precipitating the State into SC
cession. This was at the close Of tho year 1861.
Seldom II ever has . young college professor
been thrown into more embarrassing and
position. He knew Just enough
Of military science, % be expressed II himself.
to measure the extent Of his ignorance, and,
with handful Of men, he was marching in
rough winter weather into strange country,
among . hostile population, TO confront
largcly-superiof force under the command VI
distinguished graduate Of West Point, who had
seen active and important service in two pre-
ceding wars. The result Of the campaign II
matter Of history. The skill, the endurance,
the extraordinary energy shown BY Garfield,
the courage he impaired to his men, raw and
untried g himself the measures he adopted 70
increase his force and TO create In the enemy's
mind exaggerated estimates OF his numbers,
bore perfect fruit In the routing Of Marshall,
tho capture Of his camp, the dispersion Of his
force and the emancipation Of an important
tarritory from the control OF the rebels Com
ing 1T the close OF tho long series OF disasters
10 tho Union arms, 0ar6eld's victory had an
unusual and extraneous importance, and, In
the popular judgment, elevated the young COM
mander to the rank Of military hero. With
with , mobll,zed force Of only LOO, without
cannon, no had met an army Of 500 and do
feated them, driving MarshAll's forces success-
fully from two stronxholds Of their own selec-
tion, fortified with abundant artillery. Maj.
q n. Buell. commander Of the Department Of
Ohlo an experienced soldier OF the regular
army, published An order Of thanks and con-
sandy campaign, which would have turned the
head Of less cool and sensible man than Gar
Geld. Buell. declared that his services had
called into action the highest qualities Of col.
disr. AM President Lincoln supplemented these
words Of praise By the more substantial reward
Of Brigadier Generals commission, to bear
q, to from the day Of his decisive victory over
The subsequent military career Of Garfield
fully sustained the brilliant beginning. With
his new commission ho was assgned TO the
command OF . brigade in the Army Of the Ohio
and took part in the second and decisive day's
fight in the great battle Of Shiloh.
pecially evcntfnl to Garfield, ~ il was not to
the armies with which he was serving. HiS
practical sense was called into exercise in con-
templating the task assigned him BY Gen. Buell.
OF rec0nstructing bridges and re-establishing
lines Of railway communication for the army.
His occupation In this useful but not brilliant
field was varied By service on courts martial Of
won valuable reputation, attracting the mo-
tee and acquiring the approval Of the able and
eminent Judge Advocate 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 service Of their country one who brought to
that service the respect, learning, the most fer
vld eloquence, the most varied attainments,
who IN the day Of triumph sat reserved and ID
lent and grateful, "as Francis Deak in the
hour Of Hungary's deliverance," was Joseph
Holt OF Kentucky, aud in his honorable re-
tircment ne enjoys tho respect and vensration
Of al who love the union of tho States.
Early in 1863 Garfield Was assigned to the
highly important aud responsible post OF Chiet
Of stan to Gen. Kosecrans. then at tho head Of
the Army OF the Cumberland. Perhaps in I
great miitary campaign no subordinate officer
requires sounder judgment and quicker knOMl.
edge Of men than the Chief Of Staff to the
commanding General An indiscreet man in
such . position can SOW moro discord, breed
moro jealousy, and disseminate more strife
than any other officer in tho entire organs II
ton. When Gen. Garfield assumed his new
duties he found various troubles already well
developed and seriously affecting the value and
eficaency Of the Army Of the Cumberland. Tho
energy, the impartiality and the tact with
which he sought to allay these dissensions and
to discharge tho duties Of his new and trying
position viii always remain ono Of the uaost
striking proofs OF his great versatility. Hil
military duties closed ON the memorable held Of
ChickamaugA, field which, however disastrous
10 the Union arms, gave TO him the occasion oi
winning imperishable lAurelA The very rare
distinction was accorded him Of . great pro.
motion for his bravery on field that WAS lost.
President Lincoln appointed him Major Con
eral in the army Of tho United States !" for gal
liant and mentorious conduct in the battle oi
Ch;ckAmauga."
The Army of the Cn~berlsnd sS =; Ian. 20 seorgasn
promptly offered GARFIELD one Of IT. dlvisions
Aa was extremely desirous 70 accept tho posi-
k.~k- alSA- A.~A No. Rn<k eksk ~
had year before heen elected to Congress-
and the time whom he must take his scat wa.
drawing near. He preferred to remain in th<
military service, aud had within his own breAs
the largest confidence Of success in the widel
field which his new rank opened to him. Bal
ancing the arguments ON tho one side and tn,
other, anxious 70 determine what vas for tht
otic duty, he was declsively Influenced BY th,
advice OF President Lincoln aud 6ecretAr,
Stanton, both Of whom assured him that hl
could 1t that tino be Of especial value in th,
House OF Representatives. Ho resigned hii
commission Of Major General on tho 5th day o.
December. 1863, aud took his seat in the Hous,
Of Representatives on the 7th. He had scrvc(
two years aud four months in the army, ani
had just completed his sad year.
The Thirsy-eighth Congress il prominently
entitled in history to the designation Of th'
War Congress- II WAS elected while the VA
Was fragrant, and every member was choseI
upon the issues involved In the continuance o
the struggle. Tho Thirty-scventh Congress
had indeed legislated TO large extent on va
measures, but it was chosen before any on
believed that secession Of the States would b
actually attempted. Tho magnitude OF th
work which fell upon it, successor was unprece
dented both in respect 70 the vast sum o
money raised for support Of the army and nav
and OF the now and extraordinary powers o
legislation which Il Was forced TO exercise
Only twenty-four States we're represented, AM
la2 members wore upon its rolls. Among .hes
werc mary dating guishod party leaders on botl
sidos-veterans in tho public service. with es
tablished reputations for ability, and With tina
skill which comes only from parliamentary ex
periencc. Into this assemblaSeo Of men 0artiel
entered, without special preparation. and,
might almost be said. Unexpectedly. III
question OF taking command OF . division Q
troops under Gen. Thomas or taking his seat i
Congress Was kept open till the last moment
% late, indeed, that the resignation OF his mil
itary commission and his appearance in th
House were almost contemporaneon4 H
wore the uniform OF . Major General OF III
United States army on Saturday, aud on Mon
day in civilians dress he answered to the roll
call ss Representative In Congress from th
State Of Ohio.
Ha vns 0spocially fortunate in the consfitu