Almost fifteen thousand delegates to the convention crowded into the Glass Palace, a new exposition hall built after the great Chicago Fire of 1871 had destroyed much of the city. The Republicans were deeply divided between the "Stalwarts" – those who supported former president Grant for a third term as president – and those who were dead set against Grant's nomination. New York senator Roscoe Conkling, undisputed leader of his state's political machine, controlled the Stalwarts. His rival was Maine senator James Blaine, a former Speaker of the House and powerful rival.
    In a letter home, Garfield wrote: "No definite things appear on the face of this chaos.… I would gladly exchange this turmoil for the smaller and sweeter turmoil of the farm." Lucretia wrote back, describing the renovations to the farm, and added:  "I hope you find the situation no worse than you expected—on the contrary, better…. Ever your own—Crete."
    Garfield led the Ohio delegation. He avoided taking sides by nominating Ohio's secretary of the treasury John Sherman.  After the first ballot on June 7, Blaine received 284 votes and Grant received 304. A candidate needed 379 to win.
    On the second ballot, a Pennsylvania delegate gave one vote to James Garfield. No one seemed to take that vote seriously.  But about twenty-four hours and thirty-three ballots later, when the Wisconsin delegation suddenly cast sixteen votes for James Garfield, the audience cheered.  Garfield suddenly looked like the man who might be the compromise candidate.  He was the "dark horse" of the convention — the person who unexpectedly wins a race.