Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-07-02


begun. Planting some infantry and bat
teries on Cemetery Hill he threw hiswhole en-
ergy into the battle and checked the enemy.
Schwerin and SAKE were said to be worth
each reinforcement of 10000" men to an
army; Torstensin was rated: ~ equal to
5000, and the Duke of Wellington said the
arrival of Napoleon on hattie field was
better reinforcement to the French army
than the accession of 10000 fresh troops.
What, then, shall We say to the value OF
General Hancock's arrival at that critical
moment on tho battlefield of Gettysburg, +
battle that by common consent is nov
admitted to have decided the fate of the
Union and fixed the final result of tina war?
OF General Hancock's individual action ct
Gettysburg 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
General Meade that was the place to fight.
and Selling the favorable positions, with the
eye of consummate general, hung on to them
with the advance until Meade brought up
the whole army and delivered his battle.
THE INCARNATION OF WAR.
Hancock was grand and magnificent in the
battle of Gettysburg, and seemed the very
incarnation of war. On the second day he
vas at Cemetery Heights during the fright
iul cannonade 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
und hisssd everywhere; it seemed
as though nothing could live under
that terrible fire-men and horses were torn
limb from limb; oaissons exploded one after
smother in rapid succession, blowing the
gunners to pieces. The infantry Rugged
the ground closely and sought every slight
shelter that the light earthworks afforded. It
vas literally storm of shot and shell, like
the fall of rain. drops or the beat of hail
stones. Those who had taken part in every
battle of the war never had seen anything
like that cannonade, and the oldest soldiers
began to be uneasy for the result. q Hun
dreds 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. It was then, when the frmest hearts
had began to quail, the army witnessed one
of the grandest sights ever beheld by any
army on earth. Suddenly band began t
play "a no Star Spangled Banner" and Gen.
Hancock, with his staf-Msj. Mitchell, Capt.
Bingham, Capt. Parker, Capt. Bronson
with corps flags flying in the hands Of
Private Wells, appeared Oh the right of his
line uncovered and rode down the front of
his men to the left. The soldiers held their
breath, expecting every moment to see him
fall from his horse pierced by sdozen bullets,
but still he rode on, while the shot roared
and crashed around him, every moment
tearing great gaps in the ranks by his eide.
Stormed at by shot and shell,
Boldly he rode, and we'll.
Every soldier felt his heart thrill as he
witnessed the magnificent courage of his
General, and he resolved to do something
that day which would equal it in daring. Just
as Hancock reached the left of his line the
rebel batteries ceased to play, and their in
fantry, 5000 strong, were seen emerging
irom the woods and advancing up the hill.
Hancock knew the artillery fire had been in
tended to demoralize his men aud cover the
advance of their infantry, which was to make
the real attack. Turning his horse he rode |
elowiy up his line from left to right, holding
l,is hat in his hsnd, bowling and smiling to |
the troops as they lay fiat 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 brazen mouths and streams of blue
bullets few from the muzzles Of our rifles |
to the breasts of the confederates. 1t was
an awful day and Longstreet's "Old Guard
of the South" melted away like wax under |
that terrible fire. OF the $4,000 who came
to the attack, 5000 fell or were captured on
the hill side. Thirty stand Of oolors and An
immense number of small arms were
taken. Hancock was everywhere, riding the |
storm Of battle % If he bore . charmed life. |
At last, Just In the moment Of victory, he /
was seen to reel in his saddle and would have |
fallen to the ground had he not been helped |
from his horse. A ball had pierced his |
shigh, and for . time it was thought the !
wound was mortal. Pc, /
"Tell General Meade" said Hancock, ad-;
lressing his aide, Colonel Mitchell, that |
The troops under my command have repuls- |
I'd the enemy and gained . great victory. !
Tho enemy are now flying in all directions
n my 'front.'"
When the aide delivered this message to
General Meade and added his General was
wounded, Meade said: "Say to
General Hancock that am sorry he i4
md for the country for the services he has
rendered to-day"
General Meade Afterwards, in commenting
IN the battle Of Gettysburg, ssid to General
B. G. Drum: mo commanding general ever
lad better lieutenant than Hancock. He
WIS always faithful and reliable.'' ~
UNDER GRANT.
Hancock did not recover from his wound
Until December, 1863, when, although still
quite lame, he reported for duty, and VA
Ient North to recruit his corps. He was tsn-
Tered reception ct Independence Hall by
he citizens Of Philpdelphia, and received the
Of tho cities OF Boston, Albany
md New York. In March, 1854, he rejoined
his corps and participated in tho battles Of
he Wilderness with Grant. He commanded
he Second and parts Of the Fifth and Sixth
,orps, amounting in all to $4,000 men.
BE fought at Alesops = house
md at spottsylvanis court
house, capturing stStonsWllln JacksonI old
brigade, GOO prisoners and thirty ooiofs.
BE WAS ct North Anna, and did most OF the
lighting there. He commanded at the bloody
lssanlts ON Cold Hazbor, and did his best to
execute GFant's orders. The fight
ing WAS desperate, and Ham
socks loss could NOT hays fallen
lar short Of i, GEO. He vas on the south
side Of the James river, and mads the ~
ssnlbon Petersburg. He was With Shsri-
dan, and attached the euemy at Desp Bot
tom, taking four pisces o. artillery, six hun-
dred pfisonsrs and thres skand Of colors
he vas at Petsnbufg ard witnessed the az
|,losion Of The mins On de- H0sning Of July
DO: The adysaeau mp ~ James .riysr, Au-
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