The daily gazette., 1880-06-25

Sumter reached his distant post,he sent
a request TO the Governor Of his State
tor assignment to command of volun-
teers. There were many discor1ant ele-
ments in California at that time, and
manifest sympathy with secession, which
threatened to overmaster the sentiment
OF loyalty and isolate the Golden State
from the Union. While awaiting reply
from the Governor of Pennsylvania he
took an active part in encouraging and
organizing the loyal sentiment. His
first speech in public was a patriotic ap-
peal at a meeting called in Los Angeles
at that period. His influence in S juth-
ern California was OF signal service In
hnaily saving the State to the Union.
Impatient at delay in hearing from the
Governor, he applied TO General Scott
TO be ordered East for active duty. His
request "as granted, and on reporting al
Washington he was assigned as Chief
Quartermaster on the Staff of General
Robert Anderson, the hero of Fort Sum
ter, who was organizing an army al
Louisville, KY, but before entering on
those duties he was appointed by Mr..
Lincoln a brigadier-general of volun-
te'rs and assigned to Command In the
Army of the Potomac. The four regi-
ments composing his brigade were the
9TH Wisconsin, the 9th Maine, the 10th
Pennsylvania and the 43d New York.
In the spring of 1852, embarking with
his brigade at Alexandra, he accom-
panied the Army of the Potomac to the
Peninsula, and was actively engaged in
the siege of Yorktown during the month
of April. On the 9th of May, after tie
evacuation of the works, he followed
the flying enemy, and on the same
evening, with detached command of
his own brigade, an additional regiment
of infantry, and two batteries of artill-
cry, by skilful exterior maneuvre he
gained an important position on the
enemy's flank and lei the brilliant for
ward movement which resulted in the
withdrawal of The enemy from the whole
line of works at Williamsburg. For bis
gallantry and splendid success on this
occasion, he was specially complimeDted
In the dispatches of the Commanding
General of the army. The phrase,
"Hancock was superb" ran throughout
the country, from Name to California.
His subsequent conspicuous services at
Golding's Farm, Garnett's Hill, White
Oak Swamp, and other engagemen
during the Seven Days fight, which
closed with the victory al Malvern Hill,
led the General-in Chief to urge his
promotion to maiorgeneral of volunteers.
Besides he was recommended for pro-
motion by brevet as major, lieutenant
colonel in the regular army for gallant
and meritorious conduct in that cam
paign. In the fall of 1852, after the
/ ratt, nf Tho A rf la Dot
the Peninsula, he took part in the
movement on Centreville, Va. 10 the
Maryland campaign of the same year,
he commanded his bri sade at Champions
Pass, South Mountain, on the 14th OF
September. Three day afterwards, on
the battlefield of Antietam, he was
placed in command of General Richard
sons di ision when that gallant officer
fell mortally wounded in that memora
BILE action. He was afterwards, as he
had been before, engaged in conducting
several important accommodating exped-
itions requiring tact, discretion, and
ability to handle troops. He was then
commissioned majorfgeneral of volun-
teers. At the battle of Fredericksburg
in December, he led his division in the
assault on Marye's Heights, where he
lost half his command in killed and
wounded, and where he and all bis aides
were wounded. At the battle of Chan
cellorsvile, in May, 1858, in command
of his division, he covered the g ads
leading towards Fredericksburg, where
amid surrounding disaster. although
constantly attacked, his troops main
tanned their position to the last, and
formed the rear-guard of the army in
moving off the field. The Generals
horse was shot under him In that battle.
Early IN June he relieved General Cou h
in command of the I'd Corps, and later
in the same month was assigned by Mr.
Lincoln to be Its permanent co mmander
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