The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-07-02

! cort one thousand Hessan prisoners o
Burgoyne's army to Valley Forge, wheI
General Meade sent him an order to hasteI
to the front and assume command of all tn,
troops there. The report had reached Mead,
of the fall of General Reynolds and th,
check and repulse of the advance, and hi,
mind at once turned to General Hancock a,
the man above all others best qualified tc
replace Reynolds and restore order to tn,
head of the army. Hancock was not the
ranking general but in the critical state o
affairs, Meade knowing him to be the best
man, did not hesitate to assign him.
On his way from Tarrytown to the battle
field General Hancock met the ambulance
containing the dead body of Gen. Reynolds
When he arrived on the field he found the
army in confusion and retreat had already
begun. Planting some infantry and batter.
les on Seminary Hill he threw his whole
energy into the battle and checked the enc
my. Schwerin and SAKE were said to be
worth each a reinforcement of 10,000 men
to an army; Torstesin was rated as equal to
$4,000 and the Duke of Wellington said the
arrival of Napoleon on battle field was a
better reinforcement to the French army
than the accessian of 10000 fresh troops.
What then shall we say of the value OF
Gen. Hancock s arrival at the critical mo-
ment on the battle field of Gettysburg a
battle that by common consent is now ad.
mitted to have decided the fate of the I'm
ion and fixed the final result of the war.
OF General Hancock individual action
at. Gettysburg it would require volume to
tell. His was really the action or the army
and Round Top, Culp's II ill and Seminary
Heights were his creations. He sent word
to Gen. Meade that that was the place to fight
and sezng the favorable positions, with the
eye of consumate general, hung on to them
until Meade brought up the whole army and
delivered his battle.
THE INCARNATION OF WAR.
Hancock was grand and magnificent in
the battle Of Gettysburg and seemed the
very incarnation Of war. The second day he
was at Cemetery Heights during the fright
ful cannonade when the rebels concentrat ed
fire of one hundred and fifty guns on oul
lines. The air was full of missiles; stream,
of shot and she'll screamed and hissed every.
where; it seemed as though nothing could
live under the terrible fre-men and horses
were torn limb from limb; CO issons exp.od
ed one after another in rapid succession
blowing the gunners to pieces. The infant.
ry hugged the ground closely and sought ev.
cry slight shelter that light earthworks af
fordcd. 1t was literally storm of shot and
shell, like the fall of rain drops or the beat
OF hailstones. Those who had taken part
in every battle of the war had never seer
anything like that cannouade, and the old.
est soldiers began to feel uneasy for the re.
suit Hundreds and thousands were stIick.
en- down; the shrieks of animals and scream.
of wounded men were appalling; still the
awful rushing sound of flying missiles went
on and apparently never would cease, Il
was then when the frmest hearts had begun
to quail, the army witnessed one of the
grandest sights ever behold by any army on
the earth. Suddenly band began to play
"The Star Spaugled Banner" and General
Hancock, with his ssaff-Msjor Mitchell
Captain Bingham, Captain Parker, Captain
Bronson-with cops flag flying in the hand,
of Private Wells, appeared on the right o
his line uncovered and rode down the front
OF his men to the left. The soldiers held
their breath, expecting every moment tc
see him fail from his horse pierced by 8
dozen bullets, but still he rode on, while
the shot roared and crashed around him
every moment tearing great gaps in the
ranks by his SIDE.
Stnrmed at by shot and shell,
Boldly he rode, and well.
Every soldier felt his heart thrill as h,
witnessed the magnificent courage of hi
General, and he resolved to DO somethin,
that day which would equal it in daring
Just as Hancock reached the left of his lin,
the rebel batteries ceased to play, and thei
infantry, $4,000 strong, were seen emerging
from the woods and advancing up the hill
Hancock knew the artillery fire had beer
intended to demoralize his men and cove
the advance Of their infantry, which was Il
make the real attack. Turning his horse h
| rode slowly up his line from left to right
holding his hat in his hand, bowing anc
smiling to the troops as they lay flat on tn
ground. Hardly had he reached the righ
OF the line when the men, who, inspired b,
| the courage Of their General, could hardl,
restrain themselves, received orders to at
tack the advancing rebels, Eight gun
which had concentrated opened their bra eel
mouths and streams of blue bullets hey
from the muzzles Of our rifles to the breast
OF the confederates. 1t was an awful dsy
and Longstreet's sold Guard of the South
melted away like wax under that terrbl
fire. OF the $4,000 who came to the ATTACK
| 5,OOO fell or were captured on the hill side
Thirty stand of colors and an immense nun
Der of small arms were taken. Hancock wa
everywhere, riding the storm of battle as
he bore charmed life. At last, Just in til
moment of victory, he was seen to reel frol
his saddle and would have fallen to tb
ground had he not been helped from h
holse. A ball had pierced his thigh, an
for time it was thought the wound WI
mortal.
"Tell General Meade" said Hancock, ad
dressing his aide, Colonel Mitchell, "that IL
troops under my command have repulst
the enemy and gained great victory. Th
enemy are now flying in. all directions
my 'front.'
| When the aide delivered this message
General Meade aud added his General w
dangerously wounded, Meade said; "Say
General Hancock that l am sorry he
wounded and that thank him for myse
and for the cour try Tor the services he h
| ranhara1 to.doV