The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-04

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Is years of age he was able Co teach school
ana thencctorward his ambition was 10 obtain
tcoilege education. To this end he bent all
MS Efforts, working in the harvest field, mt
the carpenters bench, and i'm the winter sea
son teaching the common schools of the
neighborhooi. While thus laboriously occu-
pied he found time TO prosecute his Studies,
and was 80 surce ssful that mt - years OF n &c
ne was ahle to enter the Junior elias. at VIII
.itaihs CoilegS, then under the presidency OF
tue yehelpble and honored Mark Hopkins,
VINO IN the fulIness 1T powers survives the
eminent pupil 20 whom he was of inestina-
Die service. The history of Garhnld's life to
TINS period presents no novel features. He
had undoubtedly shown perseverance, self
reliance, self sacrifice and ambition, qualities
Which, be IL said for the honorof our country,
are everywhere to be found among the young
men OF America But from his graduation at
Williams onward TO the hour OF his tragical
death Garheld's career WAS eminent and eN-
ceptional. Hourly working through his e1u-
cational period, receiving his diploma when
- years of age, he seemed ut one bound to
spring into conspicuous aud brilliant succe IS.
within six years he wa, successfully Presi-
dent OF q College, State senator of Ohio. Ma
lori General OF the Army OF the United states,
ana Representative Elect to the National
Congress. A combination of honors so varied,
SO elevated. within period so brief and to
man 50 young is without precedent or parallel
In the history of the country.
Garfleld'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 held. lie knew
Just enough OF military science, is he eN-
pressed il himself TO measure the extent of
his ignorance. Major General Buell., com.
manding the Department of the ohio, an eN-
pericnced 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 Il less cool and sensible man than
Garfield Buell. declared that his services had
called into action the highest qualities OF
soldier, and President Lincoln supplemented
these words of praise by the more substantial
reward of a brigadier. generals commission,
co hnN Ilnftd uv~ fNF 10
tory over Marshall. The subsequent military
career of Garfield fully sustained its brilliant
beginning. With his new commission he was
assigned to the command of u brigade in the
Army of the Ohio, and took part in the second
ana decisive days tight 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
Ruel, of constructing bridges and ret stab
fishing lines of railroad communication for
the army his occupation in this useful but not
brilliant field was 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 in 1853 Garfield was assigned to the
highly important and responsible post of
Chief OF STAFF to Gen. Rosecrans, then at the
head OF the Army of the Cumberland Per
h0pS in great military campaign no subOr.
dinate officer requires sounder Judgment and
q
stan TO the commanding general. An indis
Greet man in such II pSition can SOW more
discord, breed more Jealousy and disseminate
more strife than any other o'tcer in the en-
tire organization. When gen. Garfield as
sumed his new duties he found various
troubles already well deve oped and serious
ly affecting the value and efficiency of the
Army of the Cumberland. The energy, the
tmpartiality aud the tact with which he
sought to allay these discussions, and to dis
charge the duties OF his new and trying posi-
ton, will always remain one of the most strik
ing proofs of his great versatility. HIS militia
ry duties closed on the memorable field of
Chickamauga, II field which, however disas-
trouS to the Union arms, gave to him the oc
casion of winning imperishable laurels. The
very rare di Stction was accorded to him OF Il
great promotion for his bravery on II field
that was lost. President Lin coin appointed
him Major General In the army OF the United
States for'gallant and meritoriou coduct in
the battle of Chickamauga The Army OF the
Cumberland was reorganized under the com.
mand of Gen. Thomas who promptly offered
GARFIELD one of its divisions. He was extreme
ly DESTROYS to accept the position, but was
embarrassed by the TACT that he had 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 within his own breast the largest
confidence of success in the wider field which
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,
DESTROYS 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. He resigned his
commission of Major General on the 5th day
of December, 1868, and took his scat in the
House of Representatives on the eth. He had
served two years aud four months in the ar
my, and had just completed his SD year.
The Thirty eighth Congress is pre-emnent.
" entitled in history TO the designation of
the War Congress. 1t WAS elected while 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 eNtraor1
binary powers of legislation which it was
forced to exercise. Only twenty four states
were represented, and ls2 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 1t might al
most be said, unexpectedly; me question OF
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 cotem poraneous. He
wore the uniform OF a Major-General of the
Oultou otdItS uTlny on anu On MON
day in civilians dress he answered to the
roll call as Representative in Congress from
the State of Ohio. There is no
test of mans ability in any department of
public life more severe than service in the
House of Representatives. There is no place
where SO little Difference is paid to reputation
previously acquired or to emnence when
outside. No place where so little considera.
ton is shown for the feelings at the failure of
beginners. What "A 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. 1t is
a field in which the survival OF the strongest
is the rule, and where no pretense can de
serve and no glamor mslead. The real man
| is discovered. His worth Is impartialy