^VX^' ^;. '- .^' a\ •t. A^ -^^ ^^ <^^ ex: 1 -^ V- .0^ ^>- * s " " 'N' %^^' A'^^' % % ,1^' ..^<^. •?^, " ' .". ^ ' -i^^ ^.-n^ -■^ ^ ,H '/, ,..\- 'OO' Ea»* '^"lyGc [Lai(SCHlE¥DA [^o(SA^FDEL©o I LIFE President Garfield. THE COMPLETE RECORD OF A WONDERFUL CAREER, WHICH, BY NATIVE ENERGY AND UNTIRING INDUSTRY, LED ITS HERO FROM OBSCURITY TO THE FOREMOST POSITION IN THE AMER- ICAN NATION. By Wm. Ralston Balch, Editor of "The American" '^ Words qf Garfield^ etc. THK WHOLE HAVING BEEN CAREFULLY READ AND CORRECTED HV AN ACCOMPLISHED SCHOLAR AND FRIEND OF GENERAL GARFIELD, AND INCLUDING AN EXCEEDINGLY INTER- ESTING CHAPTER BY MISS DR. EDSON, CHIEF NURSE TO THE PRESIDENT DURING HIS SUFFERINGS. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED.,,,---^ ( Wh-:\i 133: >>^ No.y.(S.4V HUBBARD BROS., Publishers: Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Kansas City C. R. Blackall & Co., New York. John Burns, St. Louis. A, L. Bancroft & Co., San Francisco. Copyrighted iSSi, TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES A. GARFIELD, THIS VOLUME, KVmcH DOES BUT SCANT JUSTICE TO A NOBLE THEME, IS INSCRIBED IN FULL ADMIRATION OF ITS HERO, BY THE AUTHOR. PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. Lives of great men are worthy of attentive study. Espe- cially is this true of the great men of our own age and land. The lives of such, illustrate the great principles of success, not as operative in distant times and places, but as operative at our own doors and amid our own surroundings. These lives show what may be done among us, in short, what we ourselves may do. There are a very few lives that are illustrious in more than a few respects. Occasionally one, like a well cut diamond, flashes light from innumerable sides. Such is the life of our late President, James A. Garfield, and his illustrious life was lived m our very presence. Garfield began his career in obscurity and poverty. He had a noble mother, a good constitution, a superior mind, a brave heart, a pure conscience, and an unswerving will. By a conscientious and diligent use of these, he rose from the laborious, manual toil of a farm-hand, a boatman, and a carpenter, to the more congenial, though not less arduous, pursuits of student, teacher. College President, military leader. Congressman, Statesman, President. His short service as Chief Magistrate of this nation, and the sad scenes of his last days, endeared him to all true hearts. Garfield became the nation's idol, and he is a rare model for the nation's contemplation. To set forth this wonderful life-story faithfully, clearly and comprehensively, has been the aim in the production of this volume. CONTENTS. GARFIELD AS A BOY AND A, MAN. CHAPTER I. PAGB. A Fire and its result — His Father's Death — His Mother's Lineage — His Father's Lineage — The Bereaved Family, 27 CHAPTER II. The Home in Early Days — Early Struggles — Autumnal Sports, . . 38 CHAPTER III. Days of Earnest Work — Boyish Pranks — Haying, 45 CHAPTER IV. " The Pirate's Own Book" — Piratical Aspirations — Wants to be a Sailor — Rejected and Accepted — Life on the Canal — Narrow Es- cape — Again at Home, ..,•• 51 CHAPTER V. Inter Folia Fructus, "Fruit amid the Leaves" — At Geauga Seminary — Working his Way — Teaching School — His Church — Studying at Hiram — Preparing for College — Williams College Chosen, ... 69 (xi) xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. PAGE. Garfield at Williams — His College Work — Literary Contributions — College Editor— "The Province of History"— A Tempting Offer — President Hopkins on Garfield— His College Classmates— Letters from Classmates — College Reminiscences, 84 CHAPTER Vn. President of Hiram College— A Friend and Counselor— Described by a Pupil — His Preaching — Lucretia Rudolph — Mrs. Garfield as a Student, "6 CHAPTER Vni. The Birth of a Political Career — In the State Legislature — Increasing Popularity — Oration at Ravenna, 130 GARFIELD AS A SOLDIER. CHAPTER IX. The Storm Bursts — Opening of the War — Garfield's Position — Pro- curing Arms — Dissolution to be Resisted, 141 CHAPTER X. At the Head of a Regiment — Enlisted for the War — The Situation — His First Task — Commanding a Brigade, 150 CHAPTER XI. The Big Sandy Campaign — Sending Dispatches — Opening the Cam- paign — An Old Associate — On the March — Forward it Is — Deter- mined to Fight — Eve of Battle, 159 CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER XII. PAGB. The Battle of Middle Creek— The Heat of Contest— Hand to Hand— The Crisis — Victory, 177 CHAPTER XIII. Pound Gap — The Troops Congratulated — Piloting a Steamer — Fos- tering Union Sentiments — A Rebel Nest — Plan against Pound Gap Securing a Guide — Opening the Fight — Officially Commended, . . 190 CHAPTER XIV, Off to aid Grant — Pittsburgh Landing — Building Bridges — Services Appreciated — New Appointment — Aptness at Duty, ...... 207 CHAPTER XV. Garfield as Chief of Staff — New Difficulties — Urging an Advance — One to Seventeen — The Tullahoma Compaign — An Apprehended Insurrection, 218 CHAPTER XVI. Operations at Chattanooga — Battle of Chickamauga — Disaster at Chickamauga — His famous Ride — The Last Shots — ^Just Praise — Resigning his Commission — Protecting Fugitive Slaves — A Kind Officer — A Skirmish, 229 GARFIELD AS A STATESMAN. CHAPTER XVII. Nominated for Congress — Appearance in Congress — Readiness in Debate 257 xiv CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVIII. FACE. The Ladder of Honor— Independent Speaking— Before the Supreme Court— His Term— Vindicated — Credit Mobilier — Under Trials — Again Re-elected — Chosen to the Senate — Ben Wade's Advice — Noble Words — Braving Public Sentiment, 264 CHAPTER XIX. An Ornament of Congress — Characteristics in Congress — Political Spoils — National Perils, 286 CHAPTER XX. The Orator's Power — A Popular Frenzy — Speech-Making — Literary Addresses — Love of Reading — Economy of Time — A Latin Critic — Classical Reading — Classical Discussion — A Cordial Friend, . . . 292 - ^ . . « . • -CHAPTER XXI. Questions of Political Economy — The Greenback — Sound Money — Opinions on the Tariff — Votes on the Tariff — Speeches on the Tariff, 310 CHAPTER XXII. Arraigning his Enemies — Against Treason— Answer to Lamar — Against Unlimited Coinage — Against State Sovereignty — The Chinese Question — Letters from Garfield, 321 CHAPTER XXIII. A Visit to Lawnfield — Mentor— Garfield's Home — Occupations on the Farm — His Genius for Labor — Diversity of Labor — Extensive Reading, . •♦.«.«.»; i 4 »; ... . 344 CONTENTS. x% CHAPTER XXIV. FACE. The Family Circles-Accumulating Facts — Mrs. Garfield — The Chil- dren — Garfield's Mother — Social Converse, 361 ' CHAPTER XXV. Two Pen Portraits — Sketches of Garfield — Self-approbation, .... 373 CHAPTER XXVI. Preparing for the Battle — Candidates for the Presidency — Delegations in Revolt, 378 . . _ CHAPTER XXVII. The Battle Begun — Gathering of the Convention — The Chairman, . . 383 CHAPTER XXVIII. The Second Day's Contest — Pennanent Organization — Getting to Work — Death of the Unit Rule, 389 CHAPTER XXIX. Continuation of the Struggle — Independent Action — Rules and Cre- dentials — Delegates Approved — A Brilliant Scene — Enthusiasm Rising 396 CHAPTER XXX. The Thunders of Oratorj' — Delegates Enrolled — Rules Adopted — Blaine in Nomination — Grant in Nomination — Wild Enthusiasm — Garfield's Speech— Sherman in Nomination — Comments on Garfield, 406 xvi CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXXI. FAGBi A Day of Doubt — Pen Portraits — Balloting 425 CHAPTER XXXn. The People's Choice— Garfield's Protest—" The Battle-cry of Free- dom" — Confirmed Unanimously — Arthur Nominated, 431 CHAPTER XXXIII. How it Happened, and Whafwas Said of It — Going Over to Garfield — Rejoicings — Comments of the Press — Rejoicing at Williams Col- lege — Phrenological Marks, , 441 CHAPTER XXXIV. A Tour of Triumph — Congratulations — Reception at Hiram — Speech at Washington — Address at Painesville — Letter of Acceptance, . 454 CHAPTER XXXV. The March to Victory — Conference in New York — Address in New York — The Crisis at Hand, 471 CHAPTER XXXVI. The Interim and Inauguration — After the Election — En Route to Washington — The Inaugural Procession — Inaugural Ceremonies — Inaugural Address— Inauguration Festivities, 479 CONTENTS. xvii GARFIELD AS PRESIDENT. CHAPTER XXXVII. The Early Days of Garfield's Administration — Appointments — Op- posing Nominations — The Conkling Fight — Civil Service Reform — Conkling's Defeat, 499 CHAPTER XXXVIII. A Time of Trial — The Second of July — The Fatal Shot — Removed to the ^Vhite House — Critical Condition — The First Announce- ment, 510 CHAPTER XXXIX. Hours of Suffering — Plan of Room — A Cheery Patient — The Night Watches — Fourth of July — Relapse — Surgical Operation — Cooling the Room — A Wife's Devotion, 525 CHAPTER XL. The World Without — Expressions of Sympathy — Letters of Condo- lence — The Bench and Pulpit, 544 CHAPTER XLI. The Miscreant — Guiteau's Story — Corkhill's Statement 55 1 CHAPTER XLII. The Valley of the Shadow of Death — Another Operation — Between Life and Death — Removal from Washington — At Long Branch — The Last Hours — The Sad News — The Successor Sworn In, . . 560 xvlil CONTENTS. CHAPTER XLIII. The Funeral Ceremonies-The Start From Elberon-Arrival at Washington-Carried to the Capitol-Services at the Capitol-An August Assemblage-Moving Westward-Arrival in Cleveland- The Catafalque— Final Services— The Funeral Procession, ... 581 Burial of President Garfield, SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. The Sickness and Nursing of President Garfield, with many In- teresting Incidents never before given to the Public, 612 621 To America, LISP OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE, President Garfield. (Steel.) Frontispiece. The President's Wife. (Steel.) Frontispiece. ^ Home of Garfield's ChildKood, 39 ■ Garfield at the Age of Sixteen, 55 ■ Garfield on the Tow-Path, 62 • Hiram College, 117- Flat-Boat Transporting Troops, 164 - The Fight at Paintvillc, 169 - View of Middle Creek, . . .• 175 Battle of Middle Creek, 179 View of Pound Gap, 196 Pickets on Duty, 203 ^ Pittsburgh Landing, 208 Army Head-Quarters, 213 Gen, George H, Thomas, 221 * Redoubt on Lookout Mountain, 230 . The Battle of Chickamauga, 233 v Chattanooga Battle-field and Approaches, 237 ^ Mission Ridge, 243 . Battle-Field as it Appears To-day, 245 Hall of Representatives, 259 v Senate Chamber, 281 Garfield's Home at Mentor, 343 '- (xix) XX LIST OF ILL USTRA TIONS. Parlor of Garfield's Home, 347 ' Dining-Room of Garfield's Home, 351' Harry Garfield, 3^6 James Garfield, 3^7 " Mollie Garfield, t 368 ■ " Grandma " Garfield, (Steel), 371 ' Reception of General Garfield at Cleveland, . . - .457 Garfield Addressing the People, 461 The National Capitol, ^ 486 '^ Marble Corridor of the Capitol, 489 President Garfield's Cabinet, 498 ■ Assassination of President Garfield, 513' Surgeons in Charge of President Garfield, , . • . 519 ■ By the Bedside of the Suffering President, 527 Plan of President's Sick-Room, 520 The Assassin in his Cell, . 553 En Route to Elberon, 567 Francklyn Cottage and Elberon Hotel, 571 The Death Scene, ,.,;... 575 v^ Lying in State at Washington, 589 -^ Lying in State at Cleveland, 6oi •' The Catafalque used at Cleveland, 607 - ^^=^^^:=^^=:^=^ GARFIELD -BOY^:^ MAN.