Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-03-09

peIlOu pfccCulS 10 ucW features. ne mao
undoubtedly shown perseverance,, self re-
lance, self sscrii fee and ambition, qualities
which, be il said for the
HONOR OF OUR COUNTRY,
are every where to be found among
be young rmen Of America. But
from his graduation at Williams
forward to the hour OF his tragical death,
Garfeld's career was eminent and excep-
uonal. Slowly working through his edu-
caIional period, receiving his diploma when
"a years Of age, he seemed at one bound to
sDriDg into conspicuous and brilliant sue
ces. Within SIX years he was successfully
president OF a college, state senator of Ohio,
DSior general of the army of the United
states and representative to the national
congress, combination of honors SO va
ried, so elevated within period so brief
and to man so young, Is without par
ailel IN the history OF the country.
Garfield as q Soldier.
Garfield's army life was begun with no
other military knowledge than such as he
tad hastily gained from books in the few
months preceding his march to the field
stepping from civil life to the head of q
regiment. the first order he received when
ready to cross toe Ohio was TO assume con-.
maDd of brigade, and to operate with an
independent force in Z stern Kentucky.
His immediate duty was to check the adj
marching down the Big Sandy with the IN
IGNITION OF occupying in connection with
'tber confederate forces the entire territory
OF Kentucky, and of precipitating the state
into secession. This was at the close of the
year 1861. Seldom, If ever, has q young
college professor been thrown into
more embarrassing and dis
enough of military science as he ex-
pressed it himself. to measure the extent Of
bis Ignorance, and with a handful of men
he was marching in rough, winter weather
into strange country, smong q hostile
population, I'D confront a largely superior
force under the command of q distinguished
graduate OF West Point, who had seen act
i've and important service in two preceding
wars. The result of the campaign Is a mat
ter of history. Tue skill, the endurance,
the extraordinary energy shown by Garfield
the courage he impaired to his men, raw
and untried as himself, the measures he
adopted To increase his force, and 10 Gre
ate in the enemy's mind exaggerated
estimates OF his numbers, bore perfect
fruit in the
ROUTING OF MARSHALL,
me capture OF his camp, the dispersion OF
hts force, and the Selling of an important
territory from the control Of the rebellion.
Coming at the ose of long serie, of dis
asters TO the Union army, Garfield's victory
had an unusual and extraordinary ial-
portance, ana in the popular judgment ele-
vate1 the young commander To the rank OF
military hero. With less than 600 men
IN his entire com mand, be had met an
sIDy o. 5000 aud defeated them. driving
two strongholds of their own
selection, fortified with abundant
artillery. Msjpr General Buell., then COM
malding the depart ment of the Ohio. an
experienced and able soldier, published an
order Ofthanks and congratulations ON the
brilliant result ofthe Big Sandy campaign,
which would have turned the head of less
sensible man than Garfield. Buell. de-
claTen that his services had called into &C.
lion the highest qualities of soldier, and
PRESIDENT Lincoln supplemented these
WOrds OF praise by the more substantial re-
ward OF brigadier generals commission,
TO bear date from the day of this decisive
victory over Marshall. The SUBSEQUENT
military career of Garfield fully sustained
IT'S brilliant beginning. With his new
commission be was assigned to the COM
maud of brigade in tie army of the Ohio.
and took part in the second and decisive
days fight in the great battle Of Shiloh
The remainder of the year 1862 was not e.
pecially eventful to Garfield, rs it was not
10 the armies which he was serving. His
practical sense was called into exercise con-
templatiDg the task asSigrei HIM by Gen
eral Buell., of reconstructIng bridges and
re-establishing lines OF railway communi-
catiCn for the army. HIS occupation in
this useful but not brilliant field was varied
oy service on courts martial Of importance.
in which d. Dartmtnt nf DUTY
He WON A VALUABLE REPUTATION,
attracting the notice and securing 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 10 the service of their
country, the one who brought TO that SER
vice the ripest learning, the most ferVid
eloquence, the most varied attaInments,
who in the day of triumph sat as reserved
and silent and grateful IS Francis DeAKin
IN the hour of Hungsry's deliverance, was
Joseph Holt of Kentucky, who in his re-
tirement enjoys the respect and veneration
of all who iove the union of states. Early
in 1868 Garfield was assigned to
the highly important and responsible
post of chief of staff to General Rosecrans
when at the head of the army of the Cum
berland. Perhsps in a great military cam
osisa no subordinate officer requires
sounder Judgment and quicker knowledge
OF men than the chief of staff to the com-
manding general. An indiscreet man in
such position can SOW more discord,
Oreau more JeaioueY ana disseminate more
STRIFE than any other o.scer iD the entire
organization. When General Garfield as
sumed his new duties he found various
troubles already we'll developed. and seri-
ously affecting the value and efficiency OF
the army OF the Cumberland The energy,
the impsrtiality aud the tact with winch he
sought TO allay all these dissensions and to
discharge these duties of bis new and
trying position, will always remain one of
the most stalking proofs of his great versa
tility. His military duties closed on the
memorable field Of Cbickamauga, a field
which, however disastrous to the union
armies. gave to him the occasion of winning
imperisnabe laurels. The very rare dis
tinction was accorded him of a great pro-
motion tor his bravery on a held that was
lost. President Lincoln appointed him a
major general In the army OF the United
States for his gallant and merltorious con-
duct in the hattie of Chickamauga. The
Army Of the Cumberland was reorgauized
under the command of General Thomas,
who promptly offered General Garfield
ONE OF THE DIVISIONS.
tie was extremely DESTROYS to
accept the position, but was en-
has