The daily gazette., 1880-03-20

"NhNphcI GNU thab AiRhb bIlC CttCinJ
abandoned it. Hancock's name was
heralded from Maine to California, and
in few hours, from an unknown sub
ordinate he had leaped into fame and
assumed a national reputation. Nc
Clellan telegraphed the President,
Hancock was superb to-day" an ex-
preston which all who saw him tower
ing above his men leading them to
battle knew to be only just.
HIS SERVICES IN THE PENINSULA.
On the 9th of June, 1869, Hancock,
who was then at Golding's Farm, in
the Peninsula, received severe attack
from the enemy. He repulsed it and
continued the fighting far into the
night, the contending forces firing at
each otherat close quarters in the dark.
This battle of Hancock's was one of
the grandest spectacles of the war, and
will never be forgotten by the Army of
the Potomac. On the 2Sth of June.
1862, Hancock was heavily engaged at
Garnett's Hill, as he was at savage
Station on the Goth and at White Oak
Swamp on the Both. His troops fought
four battles in as many days, and in
every one of them were led by Han
cock in person. He never knew fear
himself and could not tolerate it iii
others. An officer, who had his men
in tight place, rode up to the General
and said General, my men are all be-
ing killed /; may not withdraw them
little out of the fire ?''
"No'" replied Hancock, g" hope we
al. n ta ahla t,x
"Tfen we shall all be killed." de-
spondingly replied the officer
"Very well" said Hancock; "return
to your troops, and if you fall, you will
have the satisfaction of knowing you
have died for Jour country"
For his services in the Peninsular
campaign General Mcclellan recon-
mended Hancock for promotion to the
rank of major general of volunteers and
the brevets Of IN jor, lieutenant colonel
aud colonel in the regular army.
ALWAYS AT 1T.
In September, 1862, Hancock COM
manded his brigade in the battle of
South Mountain and afterwards at An
tietain. In this latter engagement, when
General Richardson fell, Hancock was
ssht to take command of that gallant of
ficer's division, In November, 1862,
Hancock received bis commission as
major general, and Oh the 18th of De-
cember was engaged In the desperate
aud bloody assault on Mayre's Heights.
His behavior on this occasion was III
keeping with the high reputation he had
achieved. He was, with his division, In
The thickest Of the conflict, leading bis
men as far as II was possible, under the
circumstances, for men TO go, and only
falling back when attempt at further
advance was tool-hardT and useless. In
this fight, as, in fact, 10 almost every
one In which he was engaged, he SEEM
ed To wear a charm OH his life. He re-
ceived In the 'slaushter pen," as the
rank and file were wont to call the posi-
tion they were occupied in this fight, a
slight flesh wound, coming out otherwise
unharmed, though with uniform perforate
with the enemy's bullets. In this bat
tie Hancock lost one half of his COM
mand, killed and wounded, and all his
aids were wounded.
At Charlottesville, in May, 1868, he
commanded his division and covered
the roads leading towards Fredericks-
burg, where, amid surrounding disaster,
although constantly attacked, his troops
maintained their position to the last, and
formed the rear guard of the army in
moving OH the field. The General had
his 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 its permanent COM
m ander.
In one of his battles General Hancock
placed one of his brigades in certain
position and said to its commander ::
"General, whatever happens, l want
yom to hold this ground" The brigade
commander was never very strong on
the battlefield and on that occasion
seemed to be particularly weak and
anxious, and as the General turned to
ride away to another part OF the field
he followed him a short distance and
called out "General, where are my re-
serves?" General Hancock turned, and,
riding up to where the officer was stan
ding, said, severely. General, it is none
of your business where your reinforce
ments are that is my business. l have
placed you here to hold this ground; that
is all you are required to do, and want
it done, SIR" The brigade commander
returned to his line with sad step and
sorrowful expression of countenance.
AT GETTYSBURG.
1t was at Gettysburg Hancock again
loomed up before the country as hero.
He was commanding the rear guard of
the army IN Its advance on Gettysburg,
and had reached Tarrytown, the place
where his grandfather, one hundred
years before had started to escort one
thousand Hessiah prisoners of Bur
goyne's army to Valley Forge, when
General Meade sent him an order to
hasten to the front and assume command
of all the troops there. The report had
reached Meade Of the fall of General
Reynolds and the check aud repulse OF
the advance, and his mind at once turn
ed to General Hancock as the man above
all others best qualified to replace Rey-
nolds and restore order to the head of
the army. Hancock was not the ranking
General, but In the critical state Of
affairs Meade, knowing him to be the
bes. man, did not hesitate to assign him.
On his way from Tarrytown to the
battle field General Hancock met the
ambulance containing the dead body Of
General Reynolds. When he arrived on
the field he found the army in confusion
and retreat had already begun. Plant
ing some infantry and batteries on Gem
etery Hill he threw his whole energy in
to the battle and checked the enemy.
| Schwerin and Sake were said to be