The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-03

he arrived on the nelu ne tOunU the army IN
confusion and n retreat had already begun
Planting some infantry and batteries on Gene
terry hill he threw his whole energy into the
battle aud checked the enemy Schwerln and
Sake were said to be worth each "a reinforce
mcnt OF ten thousand men to an army; Tor
trnsn was rated at equal 10 fifteen thousand,
and Inc duke of Wellington said the arrival
of Napoleon on the battlefield was better re.
enforcement to the French army than the ac-
cessi0n Of forty thousand fresh troops. What
then, shall we say Of the value Of Gen. Han
cocks arrival at the critical moment on the
battlefield of Gettysburg, battle that by com.
mon cOnscn, is admitted TO have decided the
fate Of the union and fixed the final result of
the war;
Of Gen Hancock S individual action at Get
tysburg it would require volume to tell. His
was really the action OF the army, and Round
Top, Culp's hill, and Cemetery heights were
| his creations. He sent word TO Gen. Meade
that was the place to fight, and seizing the IA
vOrable POSITIONS, with the eye Of a consum'
mate general, hung on to them with the whole
army and delivered his battle.
THE INCAENATION OF WAR.
Hancock was grand and magnificent in the
battle Of Gettysburg and seemed the very in.
carnation OF war. On the second day he was
At Cemetery heights during the frightful can
lnOnade when the rebels concentrated the fire
of one hundred and fifty guns on our lines
| The air Was full Of missiles; streams of shot
and shell screamed and Kissed everywhere; it
seemed as though nothing could live under
! that terrible tire-men and horses were torn
! Limb from limb; CaissOns exploded one after
another in rapid succession, blowing the gun.
ners to pieces. The infantry Rugged the ground
closely and sought every slight shelter that the
light earthquakes afforded. 1t was literally Il
storm Of shot and shell, like the fall of rain
drops or the beat Of haistones. Those who
had takeR part i'll every battle of the war never
had seen anything like that cannonade, and
| the Oldest soldiers bG gan 10 be uneasy for the
result Hundred, and thousands were stricken
down; the shrieks OF animals and screams of
wounded men were appalling; still the awful
rushing sound Of flying missiles went on, and
apparently never would cease. 1t was then
when the tirmest hearts had begun to quail,
the army witnessed one of the grandest sights
ever behcld by any army on earth. Suddenly
band began to play The Star Spangled Ban
ner," and Gen. Hancock, with his statl-Maj
Mitchell, Capt. Bingham, Capt Parker, Capt
Bronson, with corps flag flying in the hands
OF Private Wells, appeared on the right of his
line uncovered, and rode Gown the front of his
men to the left. The soldiers held their breath,
expecting every moment to see him fall from
his horse pierced 10y "a dozen bullets; but still
he rode on, while the shot roared and crashed
around HIM, every moment tearing great craps
in the ranks 10y his side.
Stormcd at by shot and shell,
Boldly he rode, and well
Every soldier felt his heart thrill as he wit
messed the magnificent courage of his general,
and he resolved to do something that day
which would equal it IN daring. Just as Han.
cock reached the left of his line, the rebel bat
teries ceased to play, and their infantry, eigh-
teen thousand strong, were seen emerging from
the woods and advancing up the hill. Han
cock knew the artillery fire had been intended
to demOrallZe his men and cover the adj
vance of their infantry, which was to make the
real attack. Turning his horse he rode slowly
up his line, from left to right, holding his hat
in his hand, bowling and smiling to the troops
as they lay flat on the ground. Hardly had he
reached the right of the line when the men,
who inspired by the courage of their general,
could now hardly restrain themselves, received
orders to attack the advancing rebels Eighty
guns which Hancock had concentrated opened
their braZeu mouths, and streams Of blue bull
lets flew from the muzzlcs of our rifles to the
breasts of the c0ntederates. 1t was an awful
day. and Longstrects "Old Guard of the
South" melted away like wax under that ter
rible fire. OF the eighteen thousand who came
to the attack, five thousand fell or were cap
tured on the hillside Thirty stand of Colers
and an immense number of small arms were
taken. Hancock was everywhere, riding the
storm of battle AS if he bore charmed life.
At last just IN the moment of victory, he was
seen to reel in his saddle, and would have fall
en- to the ground had he not been helped
from his horse. A ball had pierced his thigh,
and for a time it was thought the wound was
mortal
Tell Gen. Meade SAID Hancock, address.
ing his aide, Col. Mitchell, that the troops
under my command have repulsed the enemy,
and gained a great victory The enemy are
now flying in all directions in my front"
When the aide delivered this message to
Gen Meade and added that his general was
dangerously wounded, Meade ssid; Say to
Gen. Hancock that am sorry he is wounded,
and that | thank hun for myself and for the
country for the services he has rendered to-
day
Gen. Meade ailerward, in commenting on
the battle Of Gettysburg, said to Gen. Il, G.
Drum: mo commanding general ever had a
better lieutenant than Hancock. He was al
| gn,t ,E,l n,,,lr ola