The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-12
The Candidate for Governor.

From boyhood Joseph Benson Foraker has
been an active supported of the Republican par
ty. He supported its principles and the coun-
try. soldier during the war. Born at
Rainsboro, farm village in Paint township,
Highland county, July, 1916, he was only fifteen
years of age when the war cloud, which had
been lowering over the country previous to 1861
burst forth and the call for arms was made
Captain Burch Foraker, brother volunteered
in the service of his country. After two
years of the war had rolled round, and at
the time Of recruiting the Eighty ninth
Regiment in the counties OF Clermon,, Ross and
Highland Capt. w. I'll. Glenn was raising a com
pany at Hillsboro. Ben Foraker, having in
duced his parents who found he was determined
to enlist to reluctant consent, volunteered in
this company, being at the time only little
over sixteen years of age Those VINO put down
their names first on the roll were told that the
commissioned officers had already been selected,
but the one bringing in the most recruits for the
company would be first or orderly sergeant, the
next second sergeant, and so on through the
list of commissioned officers. The
first place was gained by Foraker, bur
being boy in years, inexperienced a soldier,
and with desire to benefit the service, he vol
UNFAIRLY relinquished his claims to the office Of
orderly sergeant which was given to the man
who secured the next highest number of recruits,
and who had some experience in army affairs,
reservlng to himself the second sergeantcy The
terrible marches and the privations of camp life.
IN addition to losses sustained in battle, soon de-
peted the ranks of the Eighty-ninth which vent
into active and severe service at once and made
way for promotion by loss of commissioned Of
ficers. In all of this service Ben Foraker par
ticipated, aald successfully from orderly
sergeant TO the rank of first lieutenant. Late
in the summer of 1868 he was sent home on re-
cruiting duty. During his absence the battle of
Chickamauga took place.
On his return to the army he reached his regi-
ment just as it was going into the battle of Mis-
sion Ridge. Foraker immediately assumed COM
mand of his company, led it in the charge, and
was the first man of the regiment to scale the
enemy's works He was then about Seventeen
years old. After this he participated with his
regiment in the charge at Rocky Face, and then
went into the campaign against Atlanta, taking
part in the battles of Buzzard's Roosc. Resaca
Burnt Hickory, Peach-tree creek, and Atlanta.
After the fall of Atlanta Foraker was detailed
for duty in the signal corps He was assigned
to the staff of General Slocum, on
the organization of Shermans army
for the march to the sea, serving
through that campaign and until the close of
the war, being mustered out at Camp Dennison
on June IA, 1865 before he attained the age of
nineteen years. While on General Slocum's
staff in the march to the sea, he was selected by
his chief to perform two acts, both of which re-
quired true courage and unerring Judgment
=
pectedly appeared in front of Slocum in the vi
entity of Goldsboro. 1t was necessary to get
word to General Sherman, who was with How
ards wing of the army. To reach him the mes
senger was compelled to ride Earound the entire
left flank of the rebels about ten miles distant.
This was successfully accomplished by Foraker.
On the 2lst Of December, after the city of Sa-
vannah had surrendered, the United States
fleet lay off the mouth of the Savannah river,
eighteen miles below the city, and the only way
to let the waiting people Of the South know that
Sherman had got to Savannah and the sea was
to reach the fleet. The river was full of tor
pedoes and the banks full of rebels. Foraker
was ordered to open up communication, and
taking row-boat. secured the services of two
negroes to row it, and in the night started with
orderly on the perilous trip, reaching the
fleet in safety after being nearly capsized and
running aground several times iii the darkness.
Foraker came home, after passing through
the perils of war, and at once began his efforts
to secure q better education He studied
a while at South Salem, Ross county. spent
two years at Wesleyan University, and then
went to Cornell, graduating in the first class in
1869. While pursuing his collegiate course he
studied law, and entered the Office of Judge
James Sloane on graduating, being admitted to
the bar in the fall of that year. In 1879 he was
elected to the Superior Court bench of Hamil-
ton county for the full term of five years. but
His ability in this position recognized by
leading members of the bar, ire
spective of party affiliations, and when it
became known that he intended to resign a
strong effort was made TO have him change his
mind, and take vacation until his physical
conditions improved. Nyen after his resignation
had been forwarded, Stelegrams were sent to
Governor Foster by many members of the bar.
among them being Governor Hoadley, Hon.
Aaron Il. Perry and NJ. +. Force, urging that it
be not accepted.
In June, 1888 he was nominated for Governor
at the Republican State convention, receiving a
large majority of the delegates. His canvass OF
the State pending the election was one of the
most brilliant in the history of political contests
in Ohio. The events of that campaign. and the
defeat of the Republican ticket, are fresh in the
minds of the people, and it is not necessary to
repeat them.