The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-07-13

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Hancock was superb to day." an ex'
preston which all who saw him tower
ing above his men. leading them to bat
tie, knew to be only just.
HIS SERVICES IN THE PENINSULA.
On the 9th of June, 1862, Hancock
who was then at Golding's Farm, in tht
Peninsula, received severe attack from
the enemv. He repulsed it, and contin
ued the fighting far into the night, th'
contending forces firing at each other a
close quarters in the dark. This battl,
of Hancock's was one of the gran1es
spectacles of the war, and will never bt
forgotten bv the Army of the Potomac
On the 2Sth of June. 1862. Hancocl
was heavily engaged at Garnett's Hill
as he was at Savage Station on the 29th
and at White Oak Swamp on the Both
His troops fought four battles in as many
days, and in every one of them were lee
by Hancock in person. He never knew
fear himself, and could not tolerate it il
others. An officer, who had bis men ir
a tight place, rode up to the General ant
said:
General, my men are all being killed
may not withdraw them little out o.
the fire p
NO." replied Hancock, 81 hope we
shall be able to advance soon"
Then we shall all be killed. despond
ingly replied the officer.
"Very WE'LL" said Hancock; "returr
to your troops, and if you fall you viii
have the satisfaction of knowing yor
have died for your country"
For bis services in the Peninsulal
campaign General Mcclellan recommen.
ded Hancock for promotion to the rank
of Major General OF Volunteers and the
breve,s Of Major, Lieutenant Colone
and Colonel in the regular army.
ALWAYS Att.
In September. 1862, Hancock com
mande6 his brigade in the battle o
South Mountain and afterwards at An
tietam. In this latter engagement. wher
General Richardson fell, Hancock was
sent to take command of that gallant
officers division. In November, 1862
Hancock received his commission as
Major General, and on the 18th of De-
cember was engaged in the desperate
and bloody assault on Marye's Heights
His behavior on this occasion was in
keeping with the high reputation he had
achieved. He was, with his division, in
the thickest of the conflict. leading his
men as far as it was possible, under the
for men to GO, and only
falling back when attempt at further ad-
vance was foolhardy and useless. In
this fight as in fact in almost every one
in which he was engaged be seemed to
wear charm on his life. He received
in the slaughter pen" as the rank and
file we're wont to cali the position they
occupied il this fight, slight flesh
wound, coming cut-otherwise unharmed;
though with uniform perforated with The
enemy's bullets. In this battle Hancock
lost one half of his command, killed
and wounded
At Charlottesville. in May, 1868, he
his division, and covered
the roads leading towards Fredelicks-
burg, where amid surrounding disasters,
although constantly attacked, his troops
maintained their position to the last, and
formed the rear guard of the army in
moving off the field The General had
bis horse shot under him in the battle.
Early in June he relieved General Couch
in command of the Second Corps, and
later in the same month was assigned by
Mr. Lincoln to be it's permanent COM
f
In one Of his battles General Hancock
placed one Of his brigades in q certain
position, and said to it's commander -
General, whatever happens. want you
to hold this ground" The brigade COM
mander was never strong on the battle
field, and on that occasion seemed 10 be
weak and anxious, and as
the General turned to ride away to an
other part Of the field he followed him
for short distance and called out -
General, where are my reserves p
General Hancock turned and, riding up
to where the officer was standing, said,
severely: "General, it is none of your
business where your reinforcements are
that is my business have placed you
here to hold this ground; that is all you
are required to do, and / want it done,
sir" Tie brigade commander returned
to his line with sad step and sorrow
full expression of countenance.
AT. GETTYSBURG.
1t was at Gettysburg Hancock again
loomed up before the country as hero
He was commanding the rear guard o
the army in it's advance on Gettysburg
and had reached Tarrytown, the place
where his grandfather,. one hundred
years before, had started to escort one
thousand Hessian prisoners of Bur.
goyne's army to Valley Forge, wher
General Meade sent him an order to has
ten to the front and assume command o.
all the troops there. The report had
reached Meade of the fall OF Genera
Reynolds and the check and repulse oI
the advance, and his mind at once turn
ed to General Hancock as the man abov,
all others best qualified to replace Rey
nolds and restore order to the head o
the army. Hancock was not the rank
ing General, but in the critical state o
affairs Meade, knowing him to. be thu
best man, did not hesitate to assign him
On his way from Tarrytown to th'
battlefield Gen. Hancock met the ambu
lance containing the dead body of Gen
Reynolds. When he arrived on the felt
he found the army in confusion and re
treat had already begun. Planting SOM
iI fantry and batteries on Cemetery Hill
he threw his whole energy into the BATH
and checked the enemy. Schwerin ant
SAKE we're said to he worth each rein
forcement of 10000 men to an army
Torstenain was rated at equal to Is 00C
and the Duke of Wellington said the ar
rival of Napoleon on battle. field was
better reinforcement to the French arm
than the accession of 40. 600 fresh troop:
What, then, shall we cav Of the value G
Gen. Hancock's arrival at the critics
moment on the battlefield of Gettysburg
a battle that by common consent is no
admitted to have decided the fate of Ii
Union and fixed the final result of til