Garfield, James A. (James Abram) (1831-1881) to Wallace J. Ford
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00261 Author/Creator: Garfield, James A. (James Abram) (1831-1881) Place Written: Decatur, Alabama Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 03 July 1862 Pagination: 3 p. : docket : envelope ; 26 x 19 cm Order a Copy
Then Brigadier General Garfield writes to a friend at home about "the congressional affair" shortly after he aided in the Battle of Corinth. Comments about his poor health and his weight loss. Back in Ohio, Garfield's friends were urging him to run for the 19th congressional district's seat, but he tells Ford he does not want his name "to go before a Convention at all unless there is more than an even chance that I would be successful." Describes military preparations for a Fourth of July celebration and the nearby Disciples of Christ, one of which he describes as a secessionist "Guerilla Captain, whom I should hang if I should catch him at his depredations." Garfield's poor health forced him to take a furlough later that month and in December he received the Republican nomination for congress. Written at the Headquarters of the 20th Brigade. Stamped envelope included.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Head Quarters, 20th Brigade
Decatur Ala. July 3rd, 1862.
My Dear Wall
Your letter of June 7 reached me a little more than a week ago, just as I was starting on the march from Tuscumbia. Since the evacuation of Corinth I have been very busy repairing the Memphis & Charleston Rail Road and have at last reached the point, crossed the river, and encamped to await the arrival of the other Brigades of the Division to come up when we shall probably move on toward Chatanooga [sic] and East Tennessee-I am sorry to tell you that my health has been miserable most of the time since we left Corinth. I very much fear that Diarrhea is becoming chronic with me. If it does, I cannot be more than half a man either physically or intellectually-With the exception of two days or two weeks, I have kept at work since Shiloh, but I am now hardly able to sit in the saddle. For a long time I have not been able to bear the pressure of my sword belt, & I suffer almost constant abdominal pains-Today I was on the scales and
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weighed but 168 pounds-which is 37 pounds less than my usual weight. I am perfectly well-and enjoy camp-life finely except in this Diarrhea trouble. My surgeon says I ought to spend 30 days in the north, which would completely restore me. If I do not get permanently better soon, I shall either be obliged to resign or go home for a while. I feel very sorry about it, for I had hoped to be able to keep up till the war is over.
I hardly know what to answer you in regard to what you say about the Congressional affair. I do not want my name to go before a convention and be defeated, in other events I don't want it to go before a convention at all unless there is more than an even chance that it would be successful. I should be very glad to be there but I am unwilling to go home for the purpose of attending to it.
I want you to let me know, of everything which happens in the premises-
I am glad to hear that the prospects of the Eclectic are promising, and I hope you will be successful in raising the money and clearing the debt. I want you to send one a catalogue, and in order to insure its coming through, enclose it in a
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large envelope and pay letter postage on it. We are having preparations for a 4th of July celebration tomorrow, and the Division has requested me to make a speech-which I shall do if I am well enough. We are in a Disciple neighborhood, and I have been invited to preach to a little congregation of them next Sunday. If I am able I shall at least attend their meeting. Many of them are Secessionists, and one of our preachers sons is a Guerilla Captain, whom I should hang if I should catch him at his depredations-The brethren down here regard Ben. Franklin (as he is) the special friend of the South. It is an outrage that our brethren in Ohio still keep in with him, unless he has greatly changed his cause.
You must excuse this hurried note, for I am hardly able to sit at the desk-Let me hear from you soon. Direct to me at "Huntsville Ala via Nashville"
Very Truly Yours
J. A Garfield
[envelope]
Gen. J.A. Garfield,
July 3d, 1862
W.J. Ford Esq
Hiram, Portage Co
Ohio.
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