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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
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