The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-09-02

other officer in the entire organization.
When General Garfield assumed his new
duties he found various troubles already
well developed and seriously affecting
the valtle and efficiency of the Army of
the Cumberland. The energy, the i'm
partiality, and the tact with which he
sought to allay these dissensions, and to
discharge the duties of his new and try
ing position, will always remain one of
the most striking proofs of his versatil-
ity. His military duties closed on the
memorable field of Chickamauga, field
which, however disastrous to the Union
arms, gave to him the occasion of
winning imperishable laurels. The
very rare distinction was accorded
him of great promotion for
bravery on a field that was lost.
President Lincoln appointed him Major
General in the Army of the United States
for gallant and meritorious conduct in
the battle of Chickamauga.
THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND
Was reorganized under the command of
General Thomas, who promptly offered
Garfield one of its divisions. He was ex-
tremely desirous to accept the position,
but was embarrassed by the fact that he
had. year before, been elected to Con-
gress, 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 conf
dence of success in the wider field which
his new rank opened 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 decisively in
f1uenced by the advice of President Lin
coin and Secretary Stanton, both of
whom assured him that he could, at that
time, be of special value in the House of
mission of Major-General on the 5th day
of December, 1868, and took his seat in
the House of Represent tatives on the 7th.
He had served two years and four months
in the army, and had just completed his
thirty-second year.
The Thirty eighth Congress is pre-emi-
nently entitled in history to the desig-
nation of the War Congress. 1t was
elected while the war was fragrant, and
every member was chosen on the issues
involved in the continuance of the strug-
gle. The Thirty-seventh Congress had,
indeed, legislated to large extent on
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 ex-
traordinary powers of legislation which
it was forced tos exercise. Only twenty
four States were represented, and 1872
members were upon its roll. Among
these were many distinguished 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 expert
ence. Into this assemblage Of men Gar
field entered without special preparation,
and, it might almost be said, unexpect-
edly. The question of taking command
of a division of troops under General
Thomas, or taking his seat in Congress,
was kept open till the last moment, SO
late, indeed, that the resignation of his
military commission and his appearance
in the House were almost contemporane-
Gus. He wore the uniform of Major
General of the United States Army on
Saturday, and on Monday, in civilians
dress, he answered the roll-call as Rep
resentative in Congress from the State of
Ohio.
HE WAS ESPECIALLY FORTUNATE
In the constituency which elected him.
Descended almost entirely from New