The life and work of James A. Garfield ... embracing an account of the scenes and incidents of his boyhood; the struggles of his youth ... his valor as a soldier; his career as a statesman; his election to the presidency; and the tragic story of his death

II

Author of A Popular History of the United States; A Grammar-School History OF THE

United States; An Inductive Grammar of the English Language, etc.

Copiously Illustrated. Xb,-!-

JONES BROTHERS & COMPANY:

CINCINNATI, PIIILADELPIIIA, CHICAGO, ST.

J. M. OLCOTT, INDIANAPOLIS; J. C. CHILTON i CO., DETROIT.

\ V

COPYRIGHTED, ISSl. BY J. T. JONES.

Preface

Dean Swift describes the tomb as a place where savage enmity can rend the heart no more. Here, in the ominous shadow of the cypress, the faults and foibles of life are forgotten, and the imagination builds a shining pathway to the stars. Ascending this with rapid flight, the great dead is transfigured as he rises; the clouds close around him, and, in the twinkling of an eye, he is set afar on the heights with Miltiades and Alexander.

The tendency to the deification of men is strongest when a sudden eclipse falls athwart the disk of a great life at noontide. The pall of gloom sweeps swiftly across the landscape, and the beholder, feeling the chill of the darkness, mistakes it for the death of nature. So it was three hundred years ago when the silent Prince of Orange, the founder of Dutch independence, was smitten down in Delft. So it was when the peerless Lincoln fell. So it is when Garfield dies by the bullet of an assassin.

No doubt this man is glorified by his shameful and causeless death. The contrast between his life and his death is indeed the very irony of fate. On the popular imagination he is borne away to Washington and Lincoln. He is canonized — the American people will have it so.

In due season fervor will subside. The keen indignation and poignant sorrow of this great and sensitive citizenship will at length give place to other emotions. The murdered Garfield will then pass through an ordeal more trying than any of his life. He will be coolly measured and his stature ascertained by those inexorable laws which determine the rank and place of both living and dead. No doubt he will suffer loss; but there is of James A. Garfield a residuum of greatness —

Which sliall tire • Torture and Time, and breathe though he expire;

Something unearthly which we deem not of.

Like the remembered tone of a mute lyre, —

And this residuum of greatness, whatever it shall be, will constitute the Garfield of the future — the Garfield of history.

(iii)

iv PREFACE.

For tlie present there will be — there can but be — a blending of the real and the ideal. The glamour of the apotheosis will dazzle the vision of those who witnessed it. It is enough, therefore, that the narrative of to-day shall be such as befits the universal sentiment. The biographer of the future may weigh with more critical exactitude the weakness against the greatness, and poise in a more delicate balance the evil against the good.

The following pages embody an effort to present, in foir proportion, The Life and Work of J^uies A. Garfield. Such sources of information as are at present accessible have been faithfully consulted; and it is sincerely hoped, that the outline here given of the personal and public career of the illustrious dead, will be found true to the life. As far as practicable in the following pages, the purposes and character of Presiident Garfield will be determined from his own words. His apothegms and sayings, not a few, and his public papers and speeches have alike contributed their wealth to the better parts of the volume. The story of the President's wounding and death has been gathered from the abundant sources — official and semi-ofiicial— of the journals and magazines of the day. It is hoped that the narrative, as a whole, will not be found deficient in interest, or unworthy of the subject.

This preface would be incomplete if failure should be made to mention the invaluable and extensive service rendered the author in the preparation of the work, by Messrs. Augustus L. jNIasox, Nathaniel P. Coxrey, and Leonard Barney, to whose industry and discriminating taste much of whatever merit the book contains, must be accredited. And with this acknowledgment should be coupled a like recognition of the spirit of The Publishers, who, with their accustomed liberality, have spared no pains to illustrate the work in a manner befitting the subject. May all who read these pages find in them as full a measure of profit as the author has found of pleasure in their preparation. J. C. R.

COXTEXTS.

Chapter I. Bieth And Ancestry

" Unto us a child is born." — A lowly home in the wilderness. — Law of heredity. — The Kew England stock. — The Garfields. — The Ballous. — Trend of the boy mind. — The father's death.— Story of the cause. — The widow's struggle. — Life in the Garfield cabin. — Earliest labor. — First lessons. — The Garfield family. — Boyhood traits. — The growing stalk. . 11-27

CHAPTER II. THE STKrGGEE OF BOYHOOD

A "Western boy of twelve. — "Workland and dreamland. — A carpenter in embryo. — Summer day and winter day. — The door of bookland opens. — "What he saw. — A doubtful farmer. — Possibly something else. — A giant of sixteen. — The stage of brigandage. — Pirate or President? — Meanwhile a woodchopper. — The sea-vision again. — The great deep takes the form of a canal. — Venus : otherwise, the Evening Star. — The glory of the tow-path. — Navigation and pugilism. — Diving for pearls. — Leaves the sea. — The goblin that shakes us all. — Politics, religion, and grammar. — Off to school. — A place called Chester. — Builds a barn. — And then teaches a school. — More school. — Joins church. — Oedo. — Possible sweetheart. — Learns elocution. — Hiram rises to view.— An academic course of study. — What about college? — Bethany, maybe. — Decides against it.— "Why.— Knocks at the door of "Williams 28-58

Chapter III

the morning of power.

College life. — A Junior at "Williams. — Favorite books. — College traditions. — A brain of many powers. — "Mountain Day." — Essays in literature. — The "Williams Quarterly. — Poems: Memory, Autumn, Charge of the Tight Brigade. — A writing-master at intervals. — Free Kansas. — A metaphysician. — Steps out with honor. — Mark Hopkins. — Becomes a professor at HLram. — And then a college president. — His methods and manners. — Success as an educator. — ^Lectures and preaches. — A union for life. — The chosen mate. — Incipient politics. — First nomination for office. —

VI CONTENTS.

State senator from Portage and Summit. — Hints at leadership.— -Eises in influence. — The approaching conflict. — Ohio makes ready for battle- — Independence Day at Ravenna, — Sound of the tocsin. — Vanguard, to right and left the front unfokl! 59-87

Chapter IV. A Soldier Of The Union

A West Point soldier. — George H. Thomas. — The Union volunteer.— Garfield appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. — And then Colonel. -The Forty-second Ohio. — Studies war.— Ordered to the front. — Kentucky, wlio shall have her?— Marshall says, 7.— Garfield objects.— Don Carlos Buell.— Expedition to Catlettsburg.— Pluck to the backbone, Sir.— Will attack Paintville.— A man called Jordan. — The region and the people. — Harry Brown, Esq.— Capture of Paintville.— Battle of Middle Creek.— A big victory on a small scale.— Address to the soldiers.— Big Sandy on th'e rampage.— Garfield takes a turn at the wheel.— Proclamation to the people of the Valley.— Concerning Pound Gap.— A proposed muster rudely broken up.— Exit Humphrey Marshall.— General Orders No. 40.— Comments on the campaign , 88-114

Chapter V. Hero And General

Brigadier-General Garfield.— Reports to Buell.— A new field of activity.— At Pittsburg Landing. — Stands up for Africa.— Sits on court-martial. — Again the goblin shakes us. — But we report at Washington. — Tries Fitz- John Porter.— Assigned to Hunter's command.— Appointed chief of stafl" to Rosecrans. — The commanding general. — Duties of chief of staff. — Personal sketch of Garfield.— Rosecrans dislikes him.— And then likes him. — Sheridan's ten-pins. — Garfield issues circular on prison pens. — Helps Vallandigham across the border. — Opposes negro insurrection. — Stands by Lincoln. — Organizes army police.— Favors in advance. — The Tullahoma campaign. — Rosecrans's advance on Chattanooga. — The capture.— Position of Bragg.— The big game begun.— Situation and preliminaries.— The battle of Chickamauga.— Garfield's part.— Praise and promotion.— We are elected to Congress.— And accept .... 115-166

Chapter VI. In The Ascendant

The constituency of Garfield.— The old Western Reserve.— Joshua R. Giddings.— Character of Congress.— Garfield enters the Cave of the Winds. — On Military Committee. — Opposes the bounty system. — Favors the draft. — Advocates confiscation. — Demolishes A. Long, Esq.— The Wade- Davis Manifesto. — A strange renomination. — Advocates the Thirteenth

CONTENTS, Vll

Amendment. — Beards Stanton.— The assassination of Lincoln. — Scene in New York. — Speech on the Lincoln anniversary. — The temperance question. — Defends Milligan and Company. — Advocates a Bureau of Education. — Chairman of Committee on Military Affairs. — The visit to Europe. — Oration on Decoration Day 167-210

Chapter VII

iEADER AND STATESMAN.

Opposes his constituents on the monej^ question. — Garfield on the Ninth Census. — Speaks on Statistics. — Reports on Black Friday. — Speaks on Civil Service. — Defends the prerogatives of the House. — An authority on Revenue and Expenditure. — Speaks against the McGarraghan Claim. — Advocates an Educational Fund. — Opposes inflation of currency. — Discusses the railway problem. — An oration on the Elements of Success. — Literary views and habits. — Oration on the Life and Character of Thomas. — Speech on the Future of the Republic 211-253

Chapter VIII. The Noontide

The era of slander. — The Credit Mobilier of America. — Reviewed and answered by Garfield. — The so-called Salary Grab. — Trouble in the Western Reserve. — Garfield's defense and vindication. — The DeGollyer pavement matter. — Triumphant answer to charges. — Democratic ascendancy of 1874. — The "Confederate Congress." — Garfield speaks on the Pension Bill. — Demolishes Lamar. — Speech on the acceptance of the Winthrop and Adams statues. — Opposes the Electoral Commission. — Favors Specie Paj^ments. — Proposed for Speaker. — Opposes the Bland Silver Bill. — Speech on the Judicial Appropriation Bill. — The payment of United States marshals. — Appropriation Bill again. — Elected to the Senate. . 254-307

Chapter IX. Great Questions And Great Answers

Questions of American statesmanship. — Garfield tested. — Speeches on States Rights and National Sovereignty : No Nullification ; Force Bill ; Equipoise of Government; Fourteenth Amendment. — Speeches on Finance AND Money: The Industrial Revolution; Gold and Silver; Currency; Banks; Paper Money ; Resumption Act. — Speeches on Revenue AND Expenditures: Free Trade and Tariff; Public Expenditures; War Expenses. — Speeches on Character and Tendency op American Institutions: Future of the Republic; Government aird Science; Revolution in Congress; Voluntary powers of government; Free consent the basis of our laws. — A general estimate of Garfield's genius 308-402

Chapter X. The Climax Of 1880

American political parties. — The Third Term question. — The Grant movement. — Leaders of the Stalwarts. — The political " Machine." — Contrast of Garfield and Conkling. — Gathering of the clans. — Grant and Anti- Grant. — The Unit Rule.— A truce. — Hoar for Chairman.— Skirmishes. — Blaine's forces. — Adjournments. — Gloomy Friday. — Rule VIII. — Putting in nomination. — Speeches of Frye, Conkling, and Garfield. — The balloting. — Garfield and Arthur nominated 403-442

CHAPTER XL

CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

Delicate position of a presidential candidate. — The policy of mum.— Garfield's theory of running for office.— He is notified of his nomination. — Hoar's speech. — The reply. — The journey to Cleveland. — Reception and speech at Hiram.— Address atPainesville.— The shrine of Mentor.— Garfield visits Washington.— Speaks to the people.— At Painesville.— Speech at the Dedication of the Soldiers' Monument.— Letter of Acceptance.— The issues of the campaign.— Speaks at the Dedication of the Geneva Monument.— Visits New York.— At Chatauqua.— Attends reunion at Ashland.— Addresses the soldiers at Mentor.— The October election.— The saintly pilgrims on their way.— A candidate who dares to talk.— Speeches to the pilgrims.— The mud-mill. — Morey ct al.—The machine bursts and the millers get the mud. — Judgment Day. — Garfield is elected.— Speaks to the Electors of Ohio.— Address to the Carolina Delegation.— Conkling visits Mentor.— The departure for Washington.— Last speech at Mentor.— En route for the inauguration 443-485

Chapter XII. In The High Seat

Morning of the Fourth of March.— Conspiracy of the elements.— Preparations.— The procession.— Clears up.— The Grand Ceremony.— Inaugural address.— Setting up in business.— The new Cabinet.— The temperance question.— The Administration on its feet.- The pro and con of a Called Session of Congress. — Nomination of Robertson. — The Refunding Question. —Dearth of politics.— Symptoms of a family quarrel.— The issues involved in it. — The Robertson appointment. — Exeunt Conkling and Piatt.— A President who has his own way.— Smoother sailing after the storm. — Adjournment of Congress. — Sickness in the White House. — Sympathy of the people for Mrs. Garfield.— The Summer, what shall we do with it? 486-516

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEK XIII.

SHOT DOWN.

Recovery of Mrs. Garfield. — A great tragedy. — First alarms. — The physicians of the President. — The assassin. — The world's sympathy. — A dolorous Fourth.— Diagnosis. — Motives of the assassin. — General Arthur. — Favorable progress of the President. — Conkling's letter on murder. — The President's mental condition. — Sunday.— Heated weather. — The refrigerators. — Mistaken diagnosis. — Foreign sympathies. — The Induction Balance.- -The Mrs. Garfield Fund. — Supposed convalescence. — President worse. — Surgical operations. — Sensational dispatches. — Possible malaria. — Induction Balance again. — Surgeons hopeful. — A second operation. — Last letter. — Project of removal. — Dangerous symptoms. — Mrs. Garfield. — A good queen. — Cheerful and brave. — The inflamed parotid. — Pyaemia feared. — Gradual decline. — Death imminent. — Eemoval determined on. — Preparations. — Night scene at Elberon 517-615

Chapter XIV. Gazixg On The Sea

The President is removed to Long Branch.— Scenes and incidents of the journey. — Francklyn Cottage. — Revival of hope. — Great solicitude of the people. — Foolish confidence of the surgeons. — The President somewhat revived.— Great anxiety follows. — The last day.— Fatal chill. — Mrs. Garfield's heroism. — The gathering shadows. — Dfeath .... 616-643

Chapter XV. The Solemn Pageant

Preparations for the funeral of the President. — Embalmment. — Accession of Gen. Arthur. — The post-mortem. — Astonishing revelations. — Announcement of the President's death. — The funeral train. — En route for Washington. — Lying in state. — Victoria's tribute. — Address of Elder Powers. — Viewing the body. — The train for Cleveland.— Reception and preparations. — Imposing ceremonies. — The last day. — Closing scenes and addresses.— The sepulchre. — Reflections . . . . • 646-672

DEATHLESS.

This man hath reared a monument more grand

Than sculptured bronze, and loftier than the height

Of regal pyramids in Memphian sand,

Which not the raging tempest nor the might Of the loud North-wind shall assailing blight,

Nor years unnumbered nor the lapse of time !

Not all of him shall perish ! for the bright

And deathless part shall spui-n iviih foot sublime

The darkness of the grave — the dread and sunless clime/

He shall be sung to all posterity

With freshening praise, where in the morning's glow The farm-boy with his harnessed team shall be,

And where New England 's swifter rivers flow

And orange gi'oves of Alabama blow — Strong in humility, and great to lead

A mighty people where the ages go / Take then thy station, illustrious dead !

And pjlace, Immortal Fame, the garland on his head.!

— HoKAC£: B. lu., Ode xxx.

(Xi

JAMES A. GAPvFIELD.

Chapter I. Birth And A^-cestry

Genius delights in hatching her offspring in out-of-the-way places. — Irving.

When some great work is waiting to be done,

And Destiny ransacks the city for a man

To do it; finding none therein^ she turns

To the fecundity of Nature's woods,

And there, beside some Western hill or stream,

She enters a rude cabin unannounced,

And ere the rough frontiersman from liis toil,

Where all day long he hews the thickets down,

Keturns at evening, she salutes his wife,

His fair young wife, and says, Behold ! thou art

The Mother of the Future !

MEN, like books, have their beginnings. James Abram Garfield was born on the 19th day of November, 1831. Hi.s first outlook upon things was from a cabin door in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The building was of rough logs, with mud l^etween the cracks, to keep out the winter cold. The single room had a puncheon floor, and on one side a large fire-place, with a blackened crane for cooking purposes. In winter evenings, a vast pile of blazing logs in this fire-place filled the cabin with a cheerful warmth and ruddy glow. Overhead, from the rude rafters, hung rows of well-cured hams, and around the mud chimney were long strings of red-pepper pods and dried pumpkins. The furniture was as primitive as the apartment. A puncheon table, a clumsy cupboard, a couple of large bedsteads, made by driving

stakes in the floor, some blocks for seats, and a well-kept gun,

LIFE OF JAMES A. GARFIELD.

almost complete the catalogue. The windoM's had greased paper instead of glass ; and, in rough weather, were kept constantly closed with heavy shutters.

Stepping out of doors, one would see that the cabin stood on the edge of a small clearing of some twenty acres. On the south, at a little distance, stood a solid log barn, differing from the house

only in having open cracks. The barn-yard had a worm fence around it, and contained a heavy ox-wagon and a feedingtrough for hogs. Skirting the clearing on all sides was the forest i)rimeval, which, on the 19th of November, the frost had already transfigured with gold and scarlet splendors. Cold winds whistled through the THE GARFiF.i.D CABIN. brauchcs, and thick show-

ers of dry leaves fell rustling to the ground.

Already the cabin shutters were closed for the winter ; already the cattle munched straw and fodder at the barn, instead of roaming through the forest for tender grass and juicy leaves ; already a huge wood-pile appeared by the cabin door. The whole place had that sealcd-up look which betokens the approach of winter at the farm-house. The sun rose late, hung low in the sky at high noon ; and, after feeble effort, sunk early behind the western forest. Well for the brave pioneers is it, if they are ready for a long and bitter struggle with the winter.

So much for the home. But what of the family? Who and what are they? As the babe sleeps in its mother's arms, what prophecy of its destiny is there written in the red pages .of the blood ancestral?

In America, the Southern States have been the land of splendid

BIRTH AND ANCESTRY.— LAW OF HEREDITY. 13

hospitality, chivalric manners, and aristocratic lineage; the West the land of courage, enterprise, and practical executive ability; but the New England States have been preeminently the home of intellectual genius and moral heroism. From New England came both the father and mother of James A. Garfield, and it means much. But there are reasons for looking at his ancestry more closely.

■ The law of heredity has long been suspected, and, in late years, has been, to a considerable extent, regarded as the demonstrated and universal order of nature. It is the law by which the offspring inherits the qualities and characteristics of its ancestors. It makes the oak the same sort of a tree as the parent, from which the seed acorn fell. It makes a tree, which sprang from the seed of a large peach, yield downy fruit as large and luscious as the juicy ancestor. It says that every thing shall produce after its kind; that small radishes shall come from the seed of small radishes, and a richly perfumed geranium from the slip cut from one of that kind. It says that, other things being equal, the descendants of a fast horse shall be fast, and the posterity of a plug shall be plugs. It says that a Jersey cow, Avith thin ears, straight back, and copious yield of rich milk, shall have children like unto herself But a man has many more qualities and . possibilities than a vegetable or a brute. He has an infinitely wider range, through Avhich his characteristics may run. The color of his hair, his size, his strength, are but the smallest part of his inheritance. He inherits also the size and texture of his brain, the shape of his skull, and the skill of his hands. It is among his ancestry that must be sought the reason and source of his powers. It is there that is largely determined the question of his capacity for ideas, and it is from his ancestry that a man should form his ideas of his capacity. It is there that are largely settled the matters of his tastes and temper, of his ambitions and his powers. The question of Avhether he shall be a mechanic, a tradesman, or a lawyer, is already settled before he gets a chance at the problem.

The old myth about the gods holding a council at the birth of every mortal, and determining his destiny, has some truth in it lu one respect it is wrong. The council of the gods is held years before his birth ; it has been in session all the time. If a man has musical skill, he gets it from his ancestry. It is the same with an inventor, or an artist, or a scholar, or a preacher. This looks like the law of fate. It is not. It is the fate of law.

But this is not all of the law of inheritance. Men have an inherited moral nature, as well as an intellectual one. Drunkenness, sensuality, laziness, extravagance, and pauperism, arc handed down from father to son. Appetites are inherited, and so are habits. On the other hand, courage, energy, self-denial, the power of work, are also transmitted and inherited. If a man's ancestry were thieves, it will not do to trust him. If they were bold, true, honest men and women, it will do to rely upon him.

In late years, this law of inheritance has been much studied by scientists. The general law is about as has been stated; but it has innumerable offsets and qualifications which are not understood. Sometimes a child is a compound of the qualities of both parents. More frequently the son resembles the mother, and the daughter the father. Sometimes the child resembles neither parent, but seems to inherit every thing from an uncle or aunt. Often the resemblance to the grand-parent is the most marked. That these complications are governed by fixed, though, at present, unknown laws, can not be doubted ; but for the purposes of biography the question is unessential.

Scientists say that nine-tenths of a man's genius is hereditary, and one-tenth accidental. The inherited portion may appear large, but it is to be remembered that only possibiUties are inherited, and that not one man in a million reaches the limit of his possibilities. If the lives of the ancestors of James A. Garfield were studied, we could tell w^hat his possibilities were ; while, by studying the life of Garfield himself, we see how nearly he realized those possibilities. This is the reason why biography interests itself in a man's ancestors. They furnish the key to the situation.

Of the many classes of colonists who settled this continent, by far the most illustrious were the Puritans and the Huguenots. Their names, alike invented as epithets of contempt and derision,

BIETH AXD.ANCESTEY.— THE GARFIELDS. 15

have become the brightest on the historic page. Their fame rests upon their sacrifices. Not for gold, nor adventure, nor discovery, did they seek the forest-wrapped continent of North America, but for the sake of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Diiferent in nationality, language, and temperament — the one from the foggy isle of England, the other from the sunny skies of France — they alike fled from religious persecution ; the Puritan from that intolerance and bigotry which cost Charles I. his head and revolutionized the English monarchy ; the Huguenot from the withdrawal of the last vestige of religious liberty by Louis XIV. The proudest lineage which an American can trace is to one or the other of these communities of exiles. — In James A. Garfield these t^vo currents of noble and heroic blood met and mingled.

The first ancestor, by the name of Garfield, of whom the family have any record, is Edward Garfield, a Puritan, who, for the sake of conscience, in 1636, left his home near the boundary line of England and Wales, and joined the colony of the distinguished John Winthrop, at AVatertown, Massachusetts. He appears to have been a plain fiirmer, of deep, religious convictions, and much respected by the community in which he lived. Of his ancestry, only two facts are known. One is that no book of the peerage or list of English nobility ever contained the name of Garfield. The other is that, at some time in the past, possibly during the Crusades, the family had received, or adopted, a coat of arms. The device Avas a golden shield crossed by three crimson bars ; in one corner a cross ; in another a heart ; above the shield an arm and hand grasping a sword. A Latin motto, " In cnice vinco," — " In the cross I conquer," — completed the emblem. It is probable that the family had been soldiers, not unlikely in a religious war. The wife of Edward Garfield was a fair-haired girl from Germany.— To the brave heart and earnest temper of the Welshman, was added the persistence and reflectiveness of the German mind. Of their immediate descendants, but little can be told. Like the ancestor they were

"To fortunp and to fame unknown."

But they were honest and respected citizens — tillers of the soil — not infrequently holding some local position as selectman or captain of militia. Five, of the lineal descendants are said to sleep in the beautiful cemetery in Watertown, "careless alike of sunshine and of storm."

Tracing the family history down to the stirring and memorable period of the American Revolution, the name which has now become historic emerges from obscurity. The spirit of Puritanism, which had braved the rigors of life in the colonies rather than abate one jot of its intellectual liberty, nourished by hardship and strengthened by misfortune, had been handed down by the law of inheritance through eight peaceful generations. It was the spirit which resented oppression, demanded liberty, and fought for principle till the last dollar was spent, and the last drop of blood was shed in her cause.

We might have calculated on the descendants of the Puritan colonist being in the front of battle from the very outbreak of the War for Independence. It was so. They were there. They were the kind of men to be there. Abraham Garfield, great-uncle of the President, took part in the first real battle of the Revolution, the fight at Concord Bridge, which fixed t\\e status of the Colonies as that of rebellion. On the fourth day afler the bloodletting the following affidavit was drawn up and sworn to before a magistrate :

Lexington, April 23, 1775.

" We, John Hoar, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Munroe, Isaac Parker, William Hosmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of Lincoln, in the County of Middlesex, ]\Iassachusetts Bay, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that on Wednesday last, we were assembled at Concord, in the morning of said day, in consequence of information received that a brigade of regular troops were on their march to the said town of Concord, who had killed six men at the town of Lexington. About an hour afterwards we saw them approaching, to the number, as we apprehended, of about 1,200, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the said troops then took possession of the hill where we were first posted. Presently after this we saw the troops moving toward the North Bridge, about one mile from the said

BIKTH AND ANCESTRY.— THE GAEFIELDS. 17

Concord meeting-house; we then immediately went before them and passed the bridge, just before a party of them, to the number of about two hundred, arrived ; they there left about one-half of their two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest toward Col. Barrett's, about two miles from the said bridge ; and the troops that were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over the bridge and then took up some of the planks ; we then hastened our march toward the bridge, and when we had got near the bridge they fired on our men, first three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number more; and then, and not before (having orders from our commanding officers not to fire till Ave were fired upon), we fired upon the regulars and they retreated. On their retreat through the town of Lexington to Charlestown, they ravaged and destroyed private property, and burnt three houses, one barn, and one shop."

The act of signature to that paper was one of the sublimest courage. It identified the leaders of the fight ; it admitted and justified the act of firing on the troops of the government ! It seemed almost equal to putting the executioner's noose around their necks. But to such men, life was a feather-weight compared to principle. If the Colonies were to be roused to rebellion and revolution, the truth of that fight at Concord bridge had to be laid before the people, accompanied by proofs that could not be questioned. The patriots not only did the deed but shouldered the responsibility. Of the signers wdth Abraham Garfield, John Hoar was the great-grandfather of Senator George F. Hoar, presiding officer of the convention which nominated James A. Garfield for the Presidency.