The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-08-24
Hancock at Gettysburg.
How the Democratic Candidate
Saved His State Seventeen
Years Ago.

men. The assault was again and again
renewed, but the left centre stood firm.
As Longstreet's corps wdvered. Hancock
received bullet in his thigh, but the
victory had been won. Lying on the
ground, with the surgeon examining his
wound, Hancock called an aide. "Tell
Gen. Meade" he said, "that the corps
under my command have repulsed the
enemy's assault, and We have gained
great victory The enemy is now flying
in all directie ms in my 'front.'"
Gen. Meade sent back word in reply,
"Tell Gen. Hancock that I thank him
for the country and for myself for the
service he has rendered to-day"
By q joint resolution Of Congress
Gen. Hancock received the unanimous
thanks OF that body for his gallant mer-
itorious and conspicuous share in that
great and decisive victory" After the
battle be was borne to the field hospital.
and thence TO bis fathers home at Nor
ristown, where he suffered greatly from
bis wound; but IL was not fully healed
when he reported at Washington for ac-
tive duty in the field.
Among the officers under him on this
eventful day was Gen. William McCand-
less, who was on the left Of Gen Han
cocks line, posted on Round Top Hill
Gen McCandless commanded the First
brigade of Pennsylvania reserves. COM
posed of the famous "Bucktails," the
First. Second ard Eleventh regiments.
Gsn. McCandless lives in Philadelphia,
hut Is row on q visit to Col. Richard
Penn Smith. of Staten 1sland ALSO On Of
fcer under Hancock on that Sd OF July.
These two gentlemen were recalling the
incidents of the great victory. "lt was,
perhaps, the most important battle Of
the war in aIlits results" said Gen. Nc.
Candless. "Here the Confederacy re.
ceived the wound which rankled till
death, and gradually sapping it's strength,
left it an easy prey to the armies Of
Grant. And perhaps to no other man
so much as TO Winfield Scott Hancock
was this result due. His command, the
Second corps, reached the field 90 the
evening of July l. 1868. and took posi-
tion GU the left center Of the line of the
Union army, and tho enonnd asAans7
which the tide Of war ragged most fierce
ly. Gen Hancock personally superin.
tended the disposition Of his troops, and
the line which he then formed was held
unbroken until the close OF the third and
last day.. 1t was an hour when the head
and heart Of q hero we're needed. Gen.
Reynolds, who was with him at West
Point, had fallen dead in the front Of bat
tie. Sickles had lost his leg. On the
night of the I'd it seemed as il the stub
born line would be broken and Han.
cocks corps driven from it's all-lmport-
ant position.
"But the cool wisdom born Of p-acti.
cal experience exhibited by the brave
man averted the disaster. The follow
ing day was TIE most sanguinary of all.
Tue Second corps was for two hours un-
der the converging fire OF 257 pieces Of
Confederate artillery. About 1.30 P n.
Of the Sd the Confederates were discov-
cred in the act Of moving forward
They were repulsed at both the right
and left Of Gen. Hancock's line. but we're
evidently determined to break his CEN
ter, divide the army and overcome it in
detail, ii they could. Heavy masses of
their infantry began to diverge from the
woods in front Of Lees line. They
passed out in column into the open
ground on the Emmettsburg road. Their
advance was covered by $50 Of their
guns, which were raining shot upon Han
cocks lines as Longstreet charged My
brigade received them with an entiadin2
fire, but they pressed on 10 spite of ii,
led BY Gen. Pickett's column.
"The Union artillery had at that time
been silenced. by the disabling of the
gunners. Pickett had seized that tavor-
able opportunity to make his terrific ad
vance. He FIRST made feint on the left
center, and Immediately deployed to at.
tack. The rebel general, stead,
mounted wall and swung his hat tri.
umphantly on the point OF his sword,
and the next moment fell dead. Han.
cock rode up and down in front OF bis
line, cheering his men. There they
come, he shouted; 'stano firm. my men
stand frm.' His presence seemed to in
spire our troops with renewed courage
The fearlessness with which he exposed
his own person, and bis noble and reso.
lutte demeanor, cent an electric thrill oil
emulation along the line. His men
cheered him again and again, and they
did s'and 6rm as the resolute rebels ap
preached, and there ensued one of th,
few hand-to- hand conflicts Of the war -
It was bayonet against bayonet. Stan
nard's brigade, with the Nineteenth ani
Twentieth Massachusetts and the Tam
many regiment we're engaged in the earl.
part of the fght. 1t is estimated that q
least $4,000 troops were in the advanc
ling columns of the rebels. The fiercest
OF the fight was concentrated within
short distance, as if the Confederate,
were determined tn break the Union line
with one terrific effort. But they remain
ed within the Union lines for only yer,
moments. Tue warmth OF their recep
ton was such that they we're compellet
to retire In discontinue and soon the,
were retreating in disorder that ended il
q rout. The Union gunners actuall,
picked up from the field the spent ball
and pieces Of debris to put In their gun
to fire at the retreating foe. But the los
was fearful"
Col. Richard Penn Smith, of the Sew
enty-drst Pennsylvania. regiment, was il
about the centre of Hancock's line at th
critical moment of the Confederate ad
vance. He commanded the regimen
that was first led by the gallant Colone
Baker, and subsequently by Col. Isaac j
Wlster, noW president Of the Pennsyl
vania Canal company, who had bee
badly crippled bv his wounds and obi
ped to. retire. Col. Smiths regimen