The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-24

the unanimous thanks of that body
for his gallant, meritorious andscoD-
spicuous share in that great and de-
cisive victory at Gettysburg. The
resolution passed BY Congress- was as
follows:
For the skill and heroic yalor, which
at Gettysburg, repulsed, defeated and
drove back, broken and dispirited, the
veteran army of the rebellion, the graf
itude of the American people and the
thanks of their Representatives in Con-
gress are likewise due, and are hereby
rendered, to Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Ham
cock for his gallant, meritorions and
conspicuous share in that great and
decisive victory.
After the battle he was borne to the
field hospital aud thence to his fathers
home in Norristown, Pa, where he
lay for many weeks aud suffered great
agony from his wound. The bullet
was finally extracted, bnt lie was nm
fit for duty until the following Decem-
Der. In December, although his
wound was still unhealed, he reported
again at Washington for active duty
in the field. At this time, after the
battle Of Mine Run, he was promi-
nently talked of in cabinet councils
for the command of the Army of the
Potomac, and was retained in Wash
iDgt0n with that view, but with char
acteristic nobility aud magDanimity
he disclaimed all desire for the posi-
tion and urged the retention of Gen.
Meade. Resuming command Of the
Second Corps, which was in winter
quarters, he was ordered by the an-
thorities at Washington to proceed
North to recruit the decimated ranks
of that celebrated corps preparatory
to the ensuing operations. Accord
ingly he established his head. quarters
at Harrisburg, and visited other
States in enlisting volunteers. His
high reputation and great popularity
made him emiuently successful in this
service. While discl,arging this duty,
the City Council Of Philadelphia ten
dered him reception ia Indepen-
dence Hall, and he alse received the
hospitalities Of New York, Albany,
Boston and other cities.
In March, 1854, lie returned to the
field aud assumed command of his
corps, whose numb lad been aug
mented to 10000 BY consolidation
with the gallant old Third Corps. He
was prominent figure in the battle
Of the Wilderness. On the 10th Of
May lie commanded the Second and
Fifth Corps at the battle of the Po.
On the 18th the Second Corps
pounced upon the enemy's position,
near Spottsylvania, C. H., in dense
fog, at day break. Hancock comman-
ded his corps in this assault, by
which he captured tae enemy's works,
nearly 5000 prisoners, twenty pieces
Of artillery, more than thirty coiors,
several thousand stands Of small arms
and other paraphe rnalia Of war.
He again assaulted the enemy1s po-
sition in front of Spottsylvania, May
l8, and Oh the 10Th repu!sed an at
tack made upon one of his divisions
by Ewell's Corps. He was an active
participant in the engagement Of
North Anna, Tolopotomy aEd Cold
Harbor, and in the earlier and later
Oke1dtNUS " AuC NJ NY UedI otCb6-
burg that year. During all this time
he was suffering severely from the
wound received ut Gettysburg, which
had never fully closed, compelling
him to often leave his horse and ride
in an ambulance until contact with
the enemy again summoned him to
the saddle. On the 27tl, of July, 1864,
he crossed the Deep Bottom, ON the
north bank Of the James river, and il !
conjunction with Sheridau's cavalry,
attacked and carried a portion Of the
enemy's works, capturing four pieces
of artillery. In August be made an
other expedition to Deep Bottom. In
these operations, which continued 4
week, he had q series nfeharp engage
ments, during which he broke the
eDemy's lines and carried off more of
his artillery. On the 25th of August,
two divisions Of his corps were rent
destroy the railread at Reams' Sta
tion, thirteen miles distant from the
established lines Of the Union army
at Petersburg. The remainder Of the
troops held their position in the gem
eral line. Anticipating trouble Ut that
operation, Hancock was not
..anv nntif ha had s,rneAa.dud IN insn