Field's Political and Military Career
The life of Field was marked by a diverse trajectory that spanned the American West, the battlefields of the Civil War, and the highest levels of legal and political discourse in the late 19th century. From serving as a clerk in the gold-rush era of California to running for the vice presidency, Field's career reflects the turbulent transitions of a nation evolving through conflict and reform.
Early Career and the Founding of California
In 1848, Field traveled to California as a clerk, accompanying Major Hill, a paymaster for the U.S. Army. While fulfilling his federal government duties, Field played a pivotal role in the early governance of the region. In 1850, he served as the secretary of the convention responsible for framing the first constitution of the state of California.
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Legal Practice and Early Public Service
Field returned to Virginia in October 1850 to pursue a legal education. Studying under his uncle, Judge Richard H. Field, he was admitted to the bar in 1852. By 1859, he had entered public service as the commonwealth attorney (the primary prosecutor) for Culpeper County.
Records from the 1860 federal census indicate that during this period, Field owned six enslaved people: a 70-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman, two 12-year-old girls, and two boys aged 9 and 14.
Military Service during the Civil War
The outbreak of the American Civil War prompted Field to resign his position as commonwealth attorney on April 17, 1861. He volunteered with the Culpeper county minute men, enlisting as a private before rising to become an officer in Virginia's 13th Infantry.
Field participated in the Valley Campaign of 1862 and was promoted to major on March 23, 1862, serving on the staff of General A. P. Hill. His military service was marked by significant injury; he was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill and subsequently lost a leg at the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9, 1862. Following his recovery in May 1863, he served as a Confederate paymaster until the war ended on April 9, 1865.
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Post-War Legal and Political Leadership
After the war, Field aligned himself with the Conservative Party and ascended to the position of Attorney General of Virginia in 1877. In 1879, he represented the state in the U.S. Supreme Court case Ex Parte Virginia. In this legal challenge, Field argued that Congress lacked the authority to require the inclusion of Black citizens on trial juries, though he was ultimately unsuccessful in convincing the justices.
Although he eventually retired to a farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, Field remained a prominent figure in American politics.
The Populist Movement and Later Years
Field's political evolution led him to the People's Party. On July 5, 1892, at the Populist National Convention, he was nominated as the vice presidential candidate on the first ballot, running alongside presidential nominee James B. Weaver.
Field campaigned extensively across the southern and border states, promoting a platform of radical reform. During a speech in Gordonsville, Orange County, he compared the revolutionary nature of Populism to the American Revolution of 1776, urging his supporters to "Read your Bibles Sunday and the Omaha platform every day in the week." The Weaver-Field ticket received over one million votes and won five states.
In his final active political years, Field advocated for the impeachment of President Grover Cleveland in 1893 and provided his support to William Jennings Bryan in the elections of 1896 and 1900.
Key Facts
- California Contribution: Secretary of the convention that framed California's first constitution (1850).
- Military Rank: Attained the rank of Major in Virginia's 13th Infantry.
- War Injuries: Wounded at Gaines' Mill and lost a leg at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.
- Legal Office: Served as the Attorney General of Virginia starting in 1877.
- National Politics: 1892 People's Party vice presidential nominee.
| Period/Year | Role/Event | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1848-1850 | Federal Clerk / Convention Secretary | Helped frame California's first constitution |
| 1859 | Commonwealth Attorney | Prosecutor for Culpeper County, VA |
| 1861-1865 | Confederate Officer/Paymaster | Served under General A. P. Hill; lost a leg in 1862 |
| 1877 | Attorney General of Virginia | Argued Ex Parte Virginia before the Supreme Court |
| 1892 | Vice Presidential Candidate | Nominated by the People's Party (Populists) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What role did Field play in the state of California?
Field served as a clerk for the U.S. Army paymaster and was the secretary of the convention that drafted California's first state constitution in 1850.
Which military battles did Field fight in?
Field fought in the Valley Campaign of 1862, was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, and lost a leg at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.
What was the outcome of the Ex Parte Virginia case?
Field failed to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that Congress lacked the authority to require Black citizens to serve on trial juries.
Who was Field's running mate in the 1892 election?
Field ran for vice president on the People's Party ticket alongside presidential nominee James B. Weaver.
What was the Omaha platform?
The Omaha platform was the radical reform program of the People's Party, which Field encouraged his supporters to read daily during his 1892 campaign.