Period of Maximum Debt-Mr. Colfax's First Year-He is Burnt Out-

His Subsequent Success as an Editor-His Political Career as a Whig-

Joins the Republican Party-Popularity in his own District-The Nebraska

Bill-Mr. Colfax goes into Congress-The Famous Contest for Speakership

-Mr. Colfax Saves his Party from Defeat-Banks Chosen Speaker—Mr.

Colfax's Great Speech on the Bogus Laws of Kansas-The Ball and Chain

for Free Speech-Mr. Colfax Shows the Ball, and A. H. Stephens Holds

it for him-Mr. Colfax Renominated Unanimously-His Remarkable Suc-

cess in his own District-Useful Labors in Post Office Committee-Early

for Lincoln for President-Mr. Colfax urged for Post Master General-His

Usefulness as Speaker-The Qualifications for that Post-Mr. Colfax's Pub-

lic Virtues.

347

CHAPTER XI.-EDWIN M. STANTON.

Rebel Advantages at Opening of the War-They Knew all about the Army

Officers-Early Contrast of Rebel Enthusiasm and Union Indifference —

Importance of Mr. Stanton's Post-His Birth and Ancestry-His Educa-

tion and Law Studies-County Attorney-State Reporter-Defends Mr.

McNulty-Removes to Pittsburg-His Line of Business-The Wheeling

Case-He Removes to Washington-His Qualifications as a Lawyer-He

Enters Buchanan's Cabinet-His Unexpected Patriotism-His Own Ac-

count of the Cabinet at News of Anderson's Move to Sumter-The Lion

before the Old Red Dragon-Appointed Secretary of War-" Bricks in his

Pockets"-Stanton's Habitual Reserve-His Wrath-" The Angel Gabriel

as Paymaster"-Anecdotes of Lincoln's Confidence in Stanton-Lincoln's

Affection for him-The Burdens of his Office-His Kindness of Heart

within a Rough Outside-The Country his Debtor.
· 363

CHAPTER XIL-FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

The Opportunity for Every Man in a Republic-The Depth Below a White

Man's Poverty-The Starting Point whence Fred Douglass Raised Himself

-His Mother-Her Noble Traits-Her Self Denial for the sake of Seeing

him--She Defends him against Aunt Katy-Her Death-Col. Loyd's Plant-

ation-The Luxury of his own Mansion-The Organization of his Estate

-" Old Master "-How they Punished the Women-How Young Douglass

Philosophized on Being a Slave-Plantation Life-The Allowance of Food

—The Clothes-An Average Plantation Day-Mr. Douglass' Experience

as a Slave Child-The Slave Children's Trough-The Slave Child's

Thoughts-The Melancholy of Slave Songs-He Becomes a House Ser-

vant-A Kind Mistress Teaches him to Read-How he Completed his Ed-

ucation-Effects of Learning to Read-Experiences Religion and Prays for

Liberty-Learns to Write-Hires his Time, and Absconds-Becomes a

Free Working-Man in New Bedford-Marries-Mr. Douglass on Garrison

-Mr. Douglass' Literary Career. -

CHAPTER XIII-PHILIP H. SHERIDAN.

Sheridan a Full-Blooded Irishman-The Runaway Horse-Constitutional

Fearlessness-Sheridan Goes to West Point-Sheridan's Apprenticeship to

380

War-The Fight with the Apaches at Fort Duncan-He is Transferred to

Oregon-Commands at Fort Yamhill in the Yokima Reservation-The

Quarrel among the Yokimas-Sheridan Popular with Indians-He Thinks

he has a Chance to be Major Some Day-Sheridan's Shyness with Ladies

-He Employs a Substitute in Waiting on a Lady-Sheridan's Kindness

and Efficiency in Office Work-He Becomes a Colonel of Cavalry-His

Shrewd Defeat of Gen. Chalmers-Becomes Brigadier-The Kentucky

Campaign against Bragg-Sheridan Saves the Battle of Perrysville-Saves

the Battle of Murfreesboro-Gen. Rousseau on Sheridan's Fighting-Sher-

idan at Missionary Ridge-Joins Grant as Chief of Cavalry-His Raids

around Lec-His Campaign in the Valley of Virginia-He Moves Across

and Joins in the Final Operations-His Administration at New Orleans-

Grant's Opinion of Sheridan.

CHAPTER XIV.-WILLIAM T. SHERMAN.

405

The Result of Eastern Blood and Western Developments-Lincoln, Grant,

Chase and Sherman Specimens of it-The Sherman Family Character―

Hon. Thomas Ewing adopts Sherman-Character of the Boy-He Enters

West Point-His Peculiar Traits Showing thus Early-How he Treated

his “Pleb ”—His Early Military Service-His Appearance as First Lieu-

tenant-Marries and Resigns-Banker at San Francisco-Superintendent

of Louisiana Military Academy-His Noble Letter Resigning the Super-

intendency-He Foresees a Great War-Cameron and Lincoln Think not

-Sherman at Bull Run-He Goes to Kentucky-Wants Two Hundred

Thousand Troops-The False Report of his Insanity-Joins Grant; His

Services at Shiloh-Services in the Vicksburg Campaigns-Endurance of

Sherman and his Army-Sherman's estimate of Grant-How to live on the

Enemy-Prepares to move from Atlanta-The Great March-His Courtesy

to the Colored People-His Foresight in War-Sherman on Office-Holding. 423

CHAPTER XV.-OLIVER O. HOWARD.

Can there be a Christian Soldier?—General Howard's Birth-His Military

Education-His Life Before the Rebellion-Resigns in Order to get into

the Field-Made Brigadier for Good Conduer at Bull Run-Commands

the Eleventh Corps and Joins the Army at Chattanooga-His Services in

the Army of the Potoinac-Extreme Calmness on the Field of Battle-

Services with Sherman-Sherman's high Opinion of him-Col. Bowman's

Admiration of Howard's Christian Observances-Patriotic Services while

Invalided at Home-Reproves the Swearing Teamster-Placed over the

Freedmen's Bureau-The Central Historie Fact of the War-The Rise of

Societies to Help the Freedmen-The Work of the Freedmen's Bureau—

Disadvantages Encountered by it, and by General Howard-Results of the

Bureau thus far-Col. Bowman's Description of Gen. Howard's Duties—

Gen. Sherman's Letter to Gen. Howard on Assuming the Post-Estimate

of Gen. Howard's Abilities.

447

CHAPTER XVI.-WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM.

The Buckinghams an Original Puritan Family-Rev. Thomas Buckingham

-Gov. Buckingham's Father and Mother-Lebanon, the Birthplace of

Five Governors-Gov. Buckingham's Education-He Teaches School-His

Natural Executive Tendency-His Business Career-His Extreme Punctu-

ality in Payments-His Business and Religious Character-His Interest in

the Churches and Schools-His Benefactions in those Directions-His Po-

litical Course-He Accepts Municipal but not Legislative Offices—A Mem-

ber of the Peace Conference-He Himself Equips the First State Militia in

the War His Zealous Co-operation with the Government-Sends Gen.

Aiken to Washington-The Isolation of that City from the North-Gov.

Buckingham's Policy for the War; Letter to Mr. Lincoln-His Views on

Emancipation; Letter to Mr. Lincoln-Anecdote of the Temperance Gov-

ernor's Staff.

CHAPTER XVII.-WENDELL PHILLIPS.

Birth and Ancestry of Wendell Phillips-His Education and Social Advan-

tage-The Lovejoy Murder-Speech in Faneuil Hall-The Murder Justified

-Mr. Phillips' First Speech-He Defends the Liberty of the Press-His

Ideality-He Joins the Garrisonian Abolitionists-Gives up the Law and

Becomes a Reformer-His Method and Style of Oratory-Abolitionists

Blamed for the Boston Mob-Heroism of the Early Abolitionists-His Posi-

tion in Favor of "Woman's Rights "-Anecdote of His Lecturing-His

Services in the Cause of Temperance-Extract from His Argument on

Prohibition-His Severity towards Human Nature-His Course During and

Since the War-A Change of Tone Recommended.

CHAPTER XVIII.-HENRY WARD BEECHER.

Mr. Beecher a Younger Child-Death of his Mother-His Step-Mother's

Religious Influence-Ma'am Kilbourn's School-The Passing Bell-Un-

profitable Schooling-An Inveterate School Joker-Masters the Latin

Grammar-Goes to Amherst College-His Love of Flowers-Modes of

Study; a Reformer-Mr. Beecher and the Solemn Tutor-His Favorite

Poetry-His Introduction to Phrenology-His Mental Philosophy-Doc-

trine of Spiritual Intuition-Punctuality for Joke's Sake-Old School and

New School-Doubts on Entering the Ministry-Settlement at Lawrence-

burg-His Studies; First Revival-Large Accessions to the Church-

"Tropical Style "-Ministerial Jokes-Slavery in the Pulpit-The Trans-

fer to Brooklyn-Plymouth Church Preaching-Visit to England-Speech-

es in England-Letters from England-Christian View of England-The

Exeter Hall Speech—Preaches an Unpopular Forgiveness.

463

483

505