Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-07-12
HARRISON AND CLEVELAND.
Striking Contrast Between Them
HARRISON A PATRIOTIC AND CAPABLE Man.
Cleveland stoiid. Indifferent. and Uopatriotic.

lived in house worth 81, 900 on which h
had made small payment and needed
his position as Reporter of the Suprem
Court, in addition to his scant law prac
tice, to support his family. His situation
was such that he did not feel called on Il
volunteer. But when the reverses O.
1862 made it necessary to call for 500,00C
men, the situation was changed. Heroic
Governor Morton was discouraged by tn,
prevailing apathy and he asked Harrison
to raise regiment. Harrison at once re
responded that he could and would raist
a regiment. The Governor said: " [ fee
certain that you can raise regiment, bu
l would not ask you to do more than that
| know your situation, and would moi
think of asking you to go yourself"
To this Harrison promptly and char
acteristically replied: "Of course l shall
go. l would not put myself in the ridic
ulOus position of going out to make wal
speeches and to urge my neighbors to &C
where | would not go myself"
Without consultation with his wife OF
with any friend, but with the energy and
singleneSs of purpose that is one of his
best traits, he went directly from the
Governors Office to store, where he
bought military hat, and then hired a
lifer and drummer and set them to work
in front of his office; raised company
in few days, and within thirty days was
at the head of full regiment at Bowling
Green, Kentucky, to help in the repulSe
of General Kirby Smith, who was threat
ening Southern Indiana with a raid
The spirit that characterized the descend
ant Of line of soldiers was recognized by
that able and quick appreciator of fight
ing qualities, Fighting Joe Hooker, y
who saw Harrison at Peachtree Creek,
when, without orders, he charged up hill
against the rebels under Hood, and so
effectually that Hooker promised him on
the spot that he would make him a Brig
adler for that days work.
So Hooker sent this concise but glow
| ing recommendation.
HEADQUARTERS NoRTIIERN DEPARTMENT,
CINCINNATI, o., October 81, 1851
The Hon. f. NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War.
L desire to call the attention of the de-
partment to the claims of Colonel Benja-
min Harrison, of the Seventieth Indiana
Volunteers, for promotion TO the rank of
rigadier-Generalo of volunteers
Colonel Harrison first joined me in COM
mand of brigade of Wards division in
Lookout Valley, preparatory to entering
upon what is called the campaign of At
lanta. My attention was first attracted
to this young officer by the superior ex-
cellence of his brigade in discipline and
instruction, the result of his labor, skill,
and devotion. With more foresight than
L have witnessed in any officer of his eX-
perience, he seemed to act upon the prin-
ciple that success depended upon the thor
ough preparation in discipline and esprit
of his command for conflict more than
on any influence that could be exerted in
the field itself, and when the collision
came his command Vindicated his wis
dom as much as his valOr. In all the
achievements of The Twentieth Corps in
that campaign COlCncl Harrison bore a
conspicuous part. At ReSaca and Peach
tree Creek the conduct of himself and
command were especially distinguished
Colonel Harrison is an officer of superior
abilities and of great professional and
personal WOEth. 1t gives me great favor
to commend him favorably to the honor
able Secretary, with the assurance that
his preferment will be just recognition
of his services and martial accomplish
ments.
Respectfully, your Obedient servant,
JOSEPH HOOKER, MajOr-G General Cong.
Such praise for superb fighting quail
ties, by such splendid judge of them as
Hooker, is worth whole columns of de-
tails as to the honorable, consistent, and
noble military career of General Harri-
son, and we therefore have made it con-
spicuous.
Such is the war record of Benjamin
Harrison.
How does it compare with that of the
Buffalo lawyer, Grover Cleveland, who
was so stolid, apathetic, and unpatriotic
that there is no record as to his ever hav-
ing uttered single word in public show
ing his preference for the Union over the
rebel cause, or his sympathy with gallant
neighborS and t0wnSmen in the field, or
concern for the triumph of the Union
cause? How many other men who for
various other reasons remained at home
during the war, and had any sort of So
cial or other standing, were so organized
that they could remain all through those
thrilling times without giving any pub
lie evidence of patriotic emotion?
Hundreds of thousands of just as pa
triotic Northern men as went to the front
had good reasons for remaining in their
paths of home duty and usefulness, but
can any one of our readers, out of all his
circle of acquaintances, remember any
case of torpor, numbness, and silence,
during periods when even the most apa-
thetic became active and the dullest and
dumbest were most vOciferous, at all
comparable with that of Grover Cleve-
land?
Thus the two men were cOntrasted-
their contrasts were brought out-in " the
times that tried mems souls" Look at
their war records. Study them. Com
pare them, and then recollect what a ter
rifle and prolonged trial of Northern man
hood and patriotism It was.