Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-02
PosEYs PLucxY PAasoN.
He Started Grant and Garfield on tho
Road 10 Military Fame.

| Aoscy Oouuty, iuuiunu. l1c was onS "
the fighting parsons of the war period
and has the undlsputed distinction OF
having set Grant and Garfield on the
road to military fame.e
The career of this man or the gos-
pei and gunls. interesting. He was
born In the wiids of>Indiana early In
the century. when pioneers were few.
AS he grew up his edueational facilities
we're poor, but he finally succeeded In
working his way through Asbury Col
lege and then began preaching In
southern Illinois. Those were rough
and ready days, but Jaquess was equal
to every emergency, and, II needed,
could use his fists as well as any man
In the county. The way he could swing
and ak and handle horse, together
with his brilliant mental qualities,
made him an idol among the pioneers.
A decade before the civil war began he
founded the Woman's College at Jack
sonville, Ill. When the war broke out
Gov. Yates, Of Illinois, sent for Mr..
Jaquess to come to Springfield. The
preacher obeyed the call and became
the companion and adviser Of the Gov
ernor.
He was in the office one day when a
calm, blunt man came in and declared
that he thought he could be Of use to
the Governor in getting troops. The
Governor looked over the rough man,
but did not see that there was anything
that could be assigned to him just then.
Mr.. Jaquess was sitting near the desk,
and he whispered to the Governor to
ask the man to call again tomorrow.
After he had gone out Jaquess turned
to the Governor and said:
Yates, there's something in that
man, believe, and think you'd better
keep track Of him."
Il don't see what I've got for him."
was the reply.
well, keep him anyhow, for / feel
there's something in him, and l think
l am something Of judge of human
nature"
| What can l give him to do?"
| Put him at that desk in the corner
and let him write letters until you have
something else to give him."
IF you are so certain about his mer-
its I'll do It, by George"
This is the worst swearing the worthy
ernor About two weeks later they met
again.
"Jaquess, thought you were some
thing Of judge of human nature" said
the Governor.
II think l am; what's the matter
now?'
why, that man Grant, who you
thought was the one l should keep
available, has been at that desk two
weeks and hasn't yet written letter
I'd sent out"
Il didn't suppose he would be very
| valuable as n clerk; considered him
better as military drill master. Com
mission him as colonel and set him to
work with the soldiers. Now. there's
the Twenty-first on the borders of mu-
tiny. Put him in charge of them and
see what's in him.
by George, I'll do it,
Gov. Yates took the advice and the
| world knows the rest. This was the
beginning of Grant. 1t made an i'm
preston on Rev. Mr.. Jaquess and he
concluded to take the field also. He
went to the front with the Sixth Cav
| airy, but he came back at the request
| Of the Governor to work as recruiting
officer. His eloquence was magical.
He talked over the State, and in a short
| time had 5000 men at Camp Butler.
There was enlistment after enlistment
made on the promise from the parson
| that he would command the regiment
and go into the fight with it. This led
to the formation of the Seventy-third
| Illinois, he being at its head. He start
ed his men on the march almost before
his commission was dry. Col Jaquess
| and his men were in many battles, in
Guiding Chickamauga. They stood in
the slaughter pen. ordered there by
| Gen. McCook. Once his horse fell. He
leaped to another. This one was shot
under him. The ball would have taken
off both his hands, but at this part;cu-
| lar moment his hands were not in their
| accustomed places. His body seemed
| under some strange charm. He took
his regiment to Missionary Ridge. The
regiment was in the lead at the on
slaught. The intrepid colonel was in
front encouraging the men. The first
position of the enemy was taken, and
on they pushed with the rest of the
| army, while Grant was asking who had
ordered the charge and declaring his
army was lost. They were met by n
shower of balls. They charged with
their bayonets, and so impetuous was
the onslaught that nothing could stop
| them. The first line of Qualifications
fell, and then the second, and the guns
on top Of the ridge. The Seventy-third
planted their colors on the spot. and on
the way they captured almost as many
men as they were themselves in the
regiment.
President Lincoln wanted to promote
the fighting parson. The parson said
it would not be fair for him to leave
the men who had entered with him. He
knew a man who would make good
major general and he wrote to Presi-
dent Lincoln to that effect. This man
was james A. Garfield. The President
made him a general, largely upon the
recommendation Of the preacher from
Posey County, Indiana. The Colonel
went back to Camp Butler, but he re
turned with only 200 of the able men
who went with hlm.and 200 disabled