March 13, 1865, received the rank of brevet major-general “for gallant and distinguished services during the campaign of 1864 in West Virginia, and particularly at the battles of Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek, Virginia.”  In August, 1864, while in the field, was nominated for Congress and elected.  After the war, returned to civil life, and took his seat in Congress December 4, 1865.  Voted with his party on questions connected with the reconstruction of the Southern States; supported a resolution declaring the sacredness of the public debt and denouncing repudiation, and also one commending President Johnson for declining to accept presents and condemning the practice; opposed a resolution favoring an increase of pay of members of Congress; introduced in a Republican caucus resolutions declaring that the only mode of obtaining from the States lately in rebellion irreversible guaranties was by constitutional amendment, and that an amendment basing representation upon voters instead of population ought to be acted upon without delay.  In August, 1866, was renominated for Congress by acclamation, and was reelected.  Supported the impeachment of President Johnson.  In June, 1867, was nominated for governor of Ohio, and at the election defeated Judge Allen G. Thurman.  In June, 1869, was again nominated for governor, and at the election defeated George H. Pendleton.  At the expiration of his term as governor declined to be a candidate for the United States Senate against John Sherman.  In 1872 was again nominated for Congress, but at the election was defeated.  Declined the office of assistant treasurer of the United States at Cincinnati.  In 1873 established his home at Fremont with the intention of retiring from public life.  In 1875 was again nominated for governor of Ohio, and at the election defeated William Allen.  Was nominated for President of the United States at the national Republican convention at Cincinnati on June 16, 1876.  The Democrats selected as their candidate Samuel J. Tilden, of New York.  The result of the election became the subject of acrimonious dispute.  Each party charged fraud upon the other, and both parties claimed to have carried the States of Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida.  To avoid a deadlock, which might have happened if the canvass of the electoral votes had been left to the two Houses of Congress (the Senate having a Republican and the House of Representatives a Democratic majority), an act, advocated by members of both parties, was passed to refer all contested cases to a commission composed of five Senators, five Representatives, and five Justices of the Supreme Court, the decision of this commission to be final unless set aside by a concurrent vote of the two Houses of Congress.  The commission, refusing to go behind the certificates of the governors, decided in each contested case by a vote of 8 to 7 in favor of the Republican electors, beginning with Florida on February 7, and on March 2 Mr. Hayes was declared duly elected President of