of Father.—Struggles of the Family. 11

CHAPTER II.

Boyhood of James.—Attempts at Carpentry.—First Earnings.—His Thirst for Knowledge.—The Garfield Coat-of-Arms.—Ancestry, etc. 21

CHAPTER III.

Life at the "Black-Salter's".—James wants to go to Sea.—His Mother will not give her Consent.—Hires out as a Woodchopper.—His Powerful Physique.—His Strength of Character. 25

CHAPTER IV.

James still longs for the Sea.—Experience with a Drunken Captain.—Change of Base.—Life on the Canal. 30

CHAPTER V.

Narrow Escape from Drowning.—Return Home.—Severe Illness.—James determines to fit himself for a Teacher.—Geauga Seminary.—Personal Appearance.—Dr Robinson's Verdict. 36

CHAPTER VI.

Low state of Finances.—James takes up Carpentry again.—The Debating Club.—Bread and Milk Diet.—First Experience in School-Teaching.—Becomes Interested in Religious Topics.—Creed of the Disciples.—James joins the New Sect. 42

CHAPTER VII.

Return to Geauga Seminary.—Works at Haying through the Vacation.—Teaches a Higher Grade of School.—First Oration.—Determines to go to College.—He visits the State Capitol at Columbus. 48

CHAPTER VIII.

Hiram Institute.—The faithful Janitor.—Miss Almeda Booth.—James is appointed Assistant Teacher.—Critical habit of Reading.—Moral and Religious Growth.—Debating Club. 53

CHAPTER IX.

Ready for College.—His Uncle lends him Five Hundred Dollars.—Why he decides to go to Williams.—College Life. 58

CHAPTER X.

Return Home.—Appointed Professor, then President, of Hiram Institute.—His Popularity as a Teacher.—Answers Prof Denton.—Marriage. 67

CHAPTER XI.

Law Studies.—Becomes Interested in Politics.—Delivers Oration at the Williams Commencement.—Elected State Senator.—His Courage and Eloquence. 74

CHAPTER XII.

War Declared Between the North and South.—Garfield Forms a Regiment from the Western Reserve.—Is Appointed Colonel.—General Buell's Order.—Garfield Takes Charge of the 18th Brigade.—Jordan's Perilous Journey.—Bradley Brown.—Plan of a Campaign.—March Against Marshall, 80

CHAPTER XIII.

Opening of Hostilities.—Brave Charge of the Hiram Students.—Giving the Rebels "Hail Columbia".—Sheldon's Reinforcement.—The Rebel Commander Falls.—His Army Retreats in Confusion. 93

CHAPTER XIV.

Garfield's Address to his Soldiers.—Starvation Stares them in the Face.—Garfield Takes Command of the Sandy Valley.—Perilous Trip up the River.—Garfield's Address to the Citizens of Sandy Valley.—Pound Gap.—Garfield Resolves to Seize the Guerillas.—The Old Mountaineer.—Successful Attack.—General Buell's Message.—Garfield is Appointed Brigadier General. 100

CHAPTER XV.

Garfield takes Command of the Twentieth Brigade.—Battles of Shiloh and Corinth.—The Fugitive Slave.—Attack of Malaria.—Home Furlough.—Summoned to Washington.—Death of his Child.—Ordered to Join General Rosecrans.—Kirke's Description of Garfield. 110

CHAPTER XVI.

Rosecrans Quarrels with the War Department.—Garfield as Mediator.—Remarkable Military Document.—The Tullahoma Campaign.—Insurrection Averted.—Chattanooga.—Battle of Chickamauga.—Brave Defence of Gen. Thomas.—Garfield's Famous Ride. 115

CHAPTER XVII.

Rosecran's Official Report.—Sixteen Years Later.—Promotion to Major General.—Elected to Congress.—Resigns his Commission in the Army.—Endowed by Nature and Education for a Public Speaker.—Moral Character.—Youngest Member of House of Representatives.—One Secret of Success.—First Speech.—Wade Davis Manifesto.—Extracts from Various Speeches. 125

CHAPTER XVIII.

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.—The New York Mob.—Garfield's Memorable Words.—Eulogy upon Lincoln.—Memorial Oration.—Eulogy upon Senator Morton.—Extracts from other Orations. 138

CHAPTER XIX.

The Home in Washington.—Fruit Between Leaves.—Classical Studies.—Mrs. Garfield.—Variety of Reading.—Favorite Verses. 147

CHAPTER XX.

Tide of Unpopularity.—Misjudged.—Vindicated.—Re-elected.—The De Golyer Contract.—The Salary Increase Question.—Incident Related by President Hinsdale.