Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-03

edly against these impregnable
heights until two-tEirds Of its num-
ber strewed the ground. Thus Han
cocks and French's corps were sue
cessively sent up against those slip
perry heights. girdled with batteries.
rising tier above tier to it's crest, all
carefully trained upon the approaches
from fredericksburg, while that
fatal stone-wall, SO strong that even
artillery could make no impression
on it, completely sheltered Barks-
dale's brigade, which, SO soon as cur
charging columns came within rlne
shot, poured into their faces the
deadliest storm of musketry.
Hancock was after this
APPOINTED MAJOR GENERAL,
with commission dated from Nov.
%, 1862. He commanded his DIVISION.
generally known as "Sumner's men,"
at the battle OF Charlottesville, May,
1868, aud after the appointment of
Gen. Couch to the command Of the
department OF. the Suequehanua, was
placed in charge of his corps. With
this command he took part i'll the
battles near Gettysburg during the
early part of July, 1868.
AT GETTYSBURG
Hancock again distinguished himself
by some gallant work. On the first
day of the battle, July l, 1868, he
was sent by Gen. Mesde to decide
whether a decisive battle should be
given, or whether the army should
fall back. He reported that Gettys-
burg was the place to fight, aud took
immediate command until the ar
rival of Meade. In the decisive ac-
tion of July 8 he commanded OH the
left center, sustaining the terrific OH
set of Longstreet's confederates, and
being severely wounded. In the last
wild, desperate charge made at this
memorable battle Hancock's Second
corps sustained the shock which the
flower Of the confederate service put
upon it. The immense effort made
by the confederates to sustain their
position beat upon and well nigh
broke the gallant Second corps, to
the command Of W hich Hancock being
SO badly wounded, Gibbons was then
called.
Being disabled by wounds, Gen.
Hancock obtained sick leave until
March, 1864, being meanwhile enga.-
ed in recruiting the Second army
corps.
When Grant as lieutenant general
assumed the command of the entire
army he issued all order completely
re-erganiziug the army Of the Po-
tomac, still commanded Immediately
by Gen. Meade; the five corps were
reduced to three, commanded re-
spectively by Gen. Hancock, to whom
was assigned the Second, Warren the
Fifth, ana Sedgwick the Sixth.
The push into
THE WILDERNESS
gave this soldier another opportunity
which he improved. A battle COM
menced before the union army was
in position, and when the generals
supposed that there was ne consider
able force on hand. Hill had secured
strong position. and had repelled
with loss the brigades OF Bartlett and
Ayers, Of Griffin's division, that
were first sent up against him. He did
not press his advantage until the ap-
proach of Hancock, when he attempt-
ed to interpose strong force between
the loosely-joined commands, but
was checked by Hancock, who arrest
ed his direct advance and pushed
rapidly upon him. Hancock, with
his division generals, Birney, Bar
low and Gibbon, struck heavily On
the right of the enemy, and TIVE
hours stubborn and bloody conaict
with musketry alone resulted in
great loss to both sides and little ad-
vantage TO either. Haucock's corps
saved itself from rout in this engage
ment only by the most obstinate
fighting. The neXt day, at O'Clock
in the morning, Hancock crowded
hack Hill nearly two miles across the
Brock road, Oh his way to Parker's
store, where he was stopped by the
arrival of Longstreet. but not until
he had captured great many pris-
Oners.
AT SPOTTSYLVANIA
: Hancock was ordered to advance on
the earthworks held by Johnson's
division of EwelPs corps. Under
cover of dense fog which prevailed
in tho morning, he advanced in two
lines, Barlow's and Birney's division
forming the first Gibbons and Motifs
the second. Rapidly but quietly
sweeping over the intervening space,
the divisions dashed over the
enemy's works, completely sur
prising and overwhelming them,
and capturing johnson with most
of his division, also Brig. Gen. Geo
Ill. Stewart, part of two brigades,
and thirty guns. The number OF
prisoners secured was over three
thousand. Hancock, Ill his dispatch
TO Grant wrete: 81 have captured
from thirty to forty guns, l have
finished up johnson and am going
into Early"
, This Brig. Gen. Stewart was all
old FREUD of Hancock who, when the
: former was brought before hun as q
; prisoner, held out his hand cordially
inquiring, "How are you Stewart p
The latter haughtily replied, 81 au
Gen. Stewart, of the confederate
. army, and, under the circumstances
i, decline to take your hand" "And
under any other circumstances
general, should not have offered
it," was Hancock's reply.
AT COLD HARBoK
Hancock sustained his military pres
/ tige by determined and sangainar,
assault, aud subsequently north Of
t the James, he admirably carried GU,
: an order to turn the enemy's ad
i vance position, the result being thai
| a iSoCi outPOoV "oS
tlanked and carried, and four guns
captured. His.fght at Reams' Station
was another gallant episode. Han
t cock. returned from the north of the
1 James, had moved rapidly to the
e Weldon road in the rear OF Warren
= Striking at Reams' Station he had
q been busy tearing 1T up for two Of
5 three days, when his cavalry gave
: warning that the enemy in force
J., were at hand. Their first blow fell
: ON Miles division, and was repulsed
f but the enemy tried it again, anC
0 finally captured the position, but not
: without a heavy loss, Hancock being
forced at last to retreat tor want ol
: rciufOrCements.
+ Hancock . advance to
; HATCHER'S RUN
! gave him Il little more hot service
\ simultaneously with the charge OF
HancOck's front, Wade Hampton
with five brigades of cavalry, charged
y his lett and rear, guarded by Gregg,
cavalry and Hancock was obliged t.
send all his available force to Gregg's
: support. Hampton persisted I'll
after dark, but gained no ground
and was ultimately beaten of. Han
= rnrk ,: al lnss hy tnn 5,y'e