The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-07-11

great ability. This led to other employments
and he was soon recognized as rising young
lawyer. From that time TO the present he has
continued TO be a very busy lawyer. Gen. Har-
rison il pre-eminently n lawyer. His sometime
partner the Hon. w. y. Fishback, says: He
possesses all the qualities Of great lawyer in
rare combination. He prepares n with
consummate skill; his written pleadings are
mo lel4 OF clearness and brevity; he Is peerless
in Indiana an examiner OF witnesses he dis
cusses n legal question in a written brief or in
oral argument with convincing logic, and an
advocate it may be said OF him that when he has
fini he'd an al iress to jury nothing remains 70
be said on that side OF the case. 1 have often
heard able lawyers in Indiana and elsewhere say
that he was the hardest man TO follow they had
ever met. No lawyer who ever met Gen. Harri-
son in legal encounter has afterward placed u
small estimate upon his ability"
HE DRIFTS INTO POLITICS.
"The young lawyer drifted inevitably into poll
tics. The Republican party was then just being
organized, and the great issues that were TO
mark its political alignment were formulating.
All young men OF generous impulses were at
tracted TO it. Harrison was a Republican by
instinct and education. His splendid oratorical
powers brought him into great demand, and he
soon became known as one OF the best of tho
young Republican speakers in the State. He
was not afraid of anybody the stump. In
the memorable Lincoln campaign Of 1860 be and
the late Mr.. Hendricks happened TO have ep-
pointnents to speak in the same town on the
same day. 1t arranged that they should di-
vide time, and Mr. Hendricks expected 10 amuse
man who thus unexpectedly became his prey.
He did not do IL. The result OF the meeting was
a surprise TO both sides. Democrats admitted
that Mr.. Hendricks had met his match and Re-
publ ans Thought he was ably worstei The
chairman OF the NEE ing AZ erward said: Il
have head n good many political de ates in my
day. ut L lever heard man skin an OPT onent
q ic sly Ben Harrison did Hendricks that
day During the EexJ four Mr.. Harrison
devoted himself c oselS 10 the practice OF law,
making political speeches In the CT or local
nominated for porter of the Supreme Court n
position that he desired because IL was I'm the
line OF his pr fession and would bring n needed
increase of income. This was the memorable
cam al in which Lincoln was ele ted From
the beginning TO the end of it Harr. son s
plume waveI in the thickest OF the fight, and
his voice was not the least potent among those
OF the many eloquent orators Of that day. He
was elected.
HIS WAR RECORD.
When the war broke out Gov. Morton requested
Harrison TO recruit regiment. He did so with
enthusiasm, was made its Colonel, and soon be-
came distinguished for military services. Col
Harrisons regiment saw active service in Ken
lucky and Tennessee during the next eighteen
months and in January 1864, was formally as
signed TO the First Brigade (Ward's) of the Third
Division of the Twentieth Army Corps, remain
ing in this organization until the close of the
war. Harrison won his highest honOrs during
the Atlanta campaign. At Resaca, on May TO-
1854, his regiment led the assault, capturing the
enemys lines and four guns.
Our Colonel was right with us, too says
Moses McIain, who was wounded i'm that
charge. HE came right up behind us when we
captured the four guns there-the only guns
believe that were taken in the Atlanta am
paign. We had TO withstand murderous cross
fire. and as the gunners discharged their pieces
we fell TO the ground and allowed the snot TO
pass over US. Then rushed up, scaled the
works, and took possession OF the guns. The
boys tell IA story Of the General which guess Ia
true. They say that when he went into the
works Harrison was with us, and that he
grabbed n rebel gunner b. the hair Of his beard
and yanked him out, exclaiming: Come out OF
here YOU blank blank rebel II this story is
true Il is the only time ever heard OF the Cen
eral uttering an oath, but that he hal streng n
enough to pull a lusty gunner the works
do not doubt. In his youth Gen. Harrison was
an n hlete. and he was then only 30
Though mere boy in appearance and slight
OF frame, he had square shoulders and n
powerful arm. He was odd-looking figure at
that time, slender, with big tow-white head,
short neck, and short legs. He used to ride a
large horse, too, and 1 can remember hearing
him laughed Mt good deal. But he had the re-
spect and confidence OF all. He was exceedingly
tenacious OF his rights or rather, Of the rights
Of his command He insisted on having for his
boys the best camping place and the best OF the
supplies and accouterments He was young and
inexperienced, and knew little OF the arts OF
war but he had learned what his rights were
and In his quiet way he insisted upon having
them, and invariably succeeded. After the
charge at Resaca, Gen. Hooker rode up to the