The National tribune., 1901-08-08
GARFIELD As A SOLDIER.
Some Unwritten History Of the Wal
81 Disclosed BY an Old Associate.

zen. Jas. a. GaTnelo, reao very inter
estins paper, Of which the following Is
part:
I'm the Winter Of 1862 Gen. Buell's
army was encamped from Louisville hsre
and there toward Bowling Green. His
left flank was threatened by Humphry
Marshall, Mexican war veteran and
West Pointer, from Pound Gap down
the Sandy Valley on the border Of West
Virginia. Another column under Zolli'
Golfer from Cumberland Gap threatened
still nearer his flank. Buell. was IN able
and brainy man. He detailed a fellow
West Pointer, Brig.Gen. George ii
Thomas, to look after Zollicoffer, who
was threatening Grab Orchard and Lex
ington. Buell. sent for bright young Dol
w. b. Hazen, of the 41st Ohio, also from
West Point, and offered him the
COMMAND OF A FORCE
on the extreme left to drive Marshall back
through Pound Gap and relieve the left
flank when the army moved toward
Bowling Green and Nashville. Had Ha.
zen received it as an order he was toe
good soldier to beg OFF, but 1t was an
offer and not an order. HaZen thought
it would take him away from the army
up among the foothills Of the Cumber.
lands, perhaps on wild goose chase. He
therefore recommended to Buell. in earnest
phrase that Col. Garfield, of the 42d Ohio,
was the best man for the work. Buell.
replied with cold austerity, Garfield has
no military education Hazen replied:
No; but L assure you ne is fully capable.
have known him for years. Buell. then
sent for Col. Garfield and questioned him
coldly and submitted some military ques-
| ton as to what move he would make
against Marshall, who had from 5000 to
1000 men at Paintville, up the Sandy
Valley some 40 or 80 miles among the
hills from the Ohio River Garfield pur-
chased several maps Of Kentucky and
studied them nearly all that night and
wrote his report. The next day by or
ders he reported to Buell., who questioned
him still further and said, Call again
today and receive your ORDERS
THAT night Garfield found himself in
command of the Eighteenth Brigade,
Army Of the Ohio. 1t was composed of the
10th and 42d Ohio, the 18th KY, and a
few days thereafter squadron of Bowle's
Cavalry. With this small force he soon
cleared the extreme left flank of BueIls
army.
The 10th of January, 1862, Is a mem
orable day in history. Gen. McDowelps
private diary shows the distress of Lin
coin at 3 o'clock p. m, Jan. 10, ut the
White House. At that hour the foothills
at PrestOnburg and Middle Greek, KY,
were lighted with the burning stores of
a fleeing enemy. We had a hard fight
that day, and drove them from the field
into the mountains beyond Pound Gap.
Lincoln did not and could not know of it
for several days thereafter. Buell's ex-
IRENE left flank was cleared. Nine days
after the 10th of January was the battle
Of Mill Springs, Jan. 10, under Brig Gen.
Thomas. Zollicoffer, a Mexican war SOL
der and hoodoO leader of the Confeder~
ates, was killed by Col. Fry, and his
army scattered and disorganized.
Llncoln's heart was cheered by the
clearing of BuelPs flank, and Col. Garfield
was made Brigadier- General, and Thorn
as Major-General. Pap Thomas was
the Rock of Chickamauga,' who was
never driven from his battle line. The
other became Chief of Staff of one of our
greatest armies, statesman, and Presi-
dent. In years after, Garfield stated that
If he had been educated at West Point
lie never would have dared to have moved
with the audacity against Marshall.
UP THE SANDY VALLEY.
"He had the Grant and Sheridan spirit
to move forward, find the enemy and
tight provided he had a fair chance.
Col. Garfield, with a smaller force
than Marshall, by the audacity and speed
of his marches, drove Marshall beyond
the Cumberland Range, 120 miles south
of the Ohio, through Pound Gap, by at
lacking him near Prestonburg. Nine days
after Gen. Thomas scattered the forces
of Zollicoffer in the battle of Mill Springs. |
Soon followed Fort Donelson and the |
to Nashville, the splendid sue
cess of Gen. Pope at Island No. 10. and |
the battle Of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, that |
may properly be classed with the engage
ments of the first year of the war. Gar
field was detached from his brigade a few |
weeks after Marshall was driven away
70 Al,
star of General on his shoulder. His |
brigade was broken up after the hard |
Winter service, and part of it left in the |
Sandy Valley. The rest hur led to The |
Army of the Ohio. Garfield FASTENED on |
to report to Buell.. He was assigned to |
a new brigade by Buell. the evening of the
frst day at Shiloh. He rode forward |
a q mo-; the broken forces at Pittsbure
Landing to see and learn the situation, |
About the close Of the fight of the first |
day he met his old friend, and learned
from him that we had been driven bacl,
nearly all day. Hazen, with the eagle |
and rank of Colonel, the other with a
worthily won star on his shoulder. Both
were good men.
"Garfield's old boys were in score of
battles after the fight of Middle Creek,
but they always said that Middle Greek
and
THE DRIVING OF MARSHALL
into Virginia was the sharpest fight and
hardest campaign during the four years
IF war The Tullahoma campaign is con-
'ldered by historians as the best planned
md most skillfui during the war. The
factors in the case were the mountains.
the rivers, fortified places of divisions
md army corps to be modified on short
notice. Bragg and his lieutenants were
! willy foe. covering 20 miles front
After Stone River Rosecrans became
'aptious with Stanton. He demanded this
md that, especially cavalry, and perhaps
Justly so. Stanton daily ordered him TO
move. Some newspaper man showed him
etters from Horace Greeley and others
Erecting him to report whether Rose
rams would be good candidate for Pres
dent for the next term. This was in
SOB. He showed his letters to the young
thief of Staff. Garfield begged of him
lot to disclose the fact of his assumed
mission. The man, however. ir a few
lays, fell in love with Rosy and whis-
,ered in his ear the dream of being Pres
dent. From that moment old Rosv.'
Who really won the glories for Mcclellan
n West Virginia early in the war. the
zero of Corinth, Iuka and Stone River.
,ecame hating and afraid Of mistake or
'lunder, and the chance of battle. To helm
matters out in the push to move from the
Var Department, Rosecrans asked the !
opinion in writing from his Generals ON
he question of to move or not to move =,
About all of them knew what he wanted .
nd how he felt and reported about what ;
hey thought he wanted !
The young Chief of Staff reviewed '
-. i !