The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-26
TIE ADMINISTRATION WAR ON GENERAL
HANCOCK.

New England Review Of the Situation.
From the Boston Advertiser (administratlon), Jan.
25.]
Upon the death Of General Halleck, who CON-
manded the Military Division OF the South, the
division was discontinued, ana the commanders OF
departments were directed to report to the head.
quarters of the army In Washington. This mas ex-
asperated the friends OF General Hancock. who are
again rehearslng his alleged grievances and renew.
ing the old charges In his behalf against inc
President. the history OF this matter, so far
as the public have knowledge OF 1t, is given
in a long correspondence published by General
Hancock with the permission OF the President more
than a year ago. The correspondence consists Of
letters written by General Sherman, General Han.
COCK and others. The grounds oil General Hancock Is
complaints are these:-
from TsSr az 4, When he was
signed the Department Of Dakota, the division com.
manded BY the Lieutenant General the least important
preference tor the department with headquarters
mand OF which was then but as given
to an onicer inferior in rank to himself.
making vacancy IN the command Of The Division Of the
scSoSed his in to he Of ss yon
while he was kept In command of unimporant depart
Third-That when Lieutenant sheridan was given
n IN Se c ne wns sem o0ss On
to assume the command but that the division retained
return the Of msanwh report
these proce were contrary the pro-
cssdngs 81 army m ana an 70 his rank
Having appealed to the President without effect,
General Hancock, II our recollection OF tue clrcum
intercede or INN and OBTAIN an explanation Of his
trea tment. Al all events, General sherman wrote
the the Of
cocks conduct when IN command In Louisiana at
the time reconstruction was IN progress, when he
per5Istently tnwarted the purpose or Congress and
the known wishes OF General Grant, then command
ing the army, for which conduct ne was relieved
NJ tta md VUara nttnA and
further that when General Hancock returned to
washington he not only neglected the usual official
COurtesles towards the General OF the Army, but
treated him publicly with contemptuous disrespect,
and boosted OF It; and finally General Hancock was
informed 1y oraer Oh tne Ppes!den tlas III be-
commanding generals OF divisions and depart
ments. and that the relations you chose to assume
toward MIN officially and privately apsolye him
from regarding your personal preferences" Gen.
eral hancock's trends have since indus.
TO an officer OF high character, unauestion.
able patriotism and military record dtstln-
gulshed for brave and meritorious service.
Upon the death OF General llallecK there was
vacancy III the commands or divisions, and Han
cock being the only MAJOR general without sucn q
command IL was confidently expected by his friends
that the President would be compelled oy crcum-
stanceg to recognize what they elect TO consider the
claims OF their iav0rle to such position. They are
therefore, as much surprised as cnagrined AT the
order abolishng the division, by which the Pres-
dent Is enabled to keep him III Dakota with as much
usce as ever. THIS Is the state OF facts upon which
the new endeavor TO make capital Tor Hancock IS
based; and Inc great necessity now laid upon the
democratic party TO lind man VINO can be made
available as Presidential candidate against Gem
eral Grant may be expected to urge them to magnify
the incident beyond all reasonable limits.
General Hancock served throughout the war
with conspicuous gallantry, devotion and efficiency
he was an oncer trusted alike by his subordInates
and MS superors. No tzen OF the republic desires
TO abate anything OF the honor gratitude Justly
due Tor his great service IN the hour OF peril But
he, like General Mcclellan. has dmmed the bright.
ness OF his glory by ambitious coquetries with the
party that set Itself TO defeat the national purpose
When he was sent to Louisiana he pursued policy
obviously dictated more by the prospect OF possible
political advantage than by the desire 10 ASSIST
faithfully the accomplishment OF the work en-
which the nation mad determined. wnen he was
relieved his natterers persuaded him that ne was
martyr whose apolheOsis was certain. NOT Wholly
Tree from the temptations OF vanity, ne assumed tne
airs OF man whose disgrace was but the preune
TO triumph, and bore himself toward those IN a'-
thoritv with the premature contempt wnlcn Us al
ways hazardous. He was deceived, and now, wnen
he feels the inconvenience 0i practical appiicato
| Of the maxim switn what measure ye mete IL shall
be measured TO you again. he pleads the privileges
OF that service whose COMMANDING opHRatiops Nc
had IauntilV deSDiSeds