Smyrna times., 1880-06-30
General Hancock,
HIS RECORD DURING THE WAR AND SINCE pEAcI
WAS DECLARED.

General Hancock is a native of Pennsvl
vania, having been born in Montgomery
county on the l4th Of February, l>2l. He
graduated at West Point in # and served
mainly on frontier duty until ls4G, and
aiterward in the WARMTH Mexico, breveted
as lst lieutenant for gallant and meritori.
GUS conduct in the battles of Contreras and
Cherubusco. From 1N4S to lS5j he was
employed in frontier duty, and from I>55
TO lNbl was quartermaster Of the southern
district of California In August Of the
latter year he was recalled to Washington.
and when the Army of the Potomac was
transferred to the Peninsula in ~G2, he was
already brigadier general, with the appro-
pirate command, in the 4th corps. His first
opportunity to mako Rark occurred at
Williamsburg. Ienext distinguished him.
sell in the battle Of Frazer's Farm, and sub.
sequently took an active part in the cam.
palgn in Maryland, at the battles Of South
Mountain and Antietam. Being made
major general he commanded division at
Fredericksburg and Charlottesville.
At Gettysburg the first day of the battle,
July !, 1863, he was sent by General Meade
to decide whether decisive battle should
be given, or whether the army should fall
back. Ioreported that Gettysburg was the
place to fight, and took immediate com.
mand until the arrival Of Meade. In the
decisive action of July he commanded on
the left center, sustaining the terrific onset
of Longstreet's confederatcs and being
severely wounded. Being disabled by his
wounds he was on sick leave until March,
lNG4, being meanwhile engaged in recruit,
ing the I'd Army Corps, which was placed
under his command. At the opening Of the
campaign Of that year under General Grant
he bore a prominent part in the battles of
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse,
and North Anna, the second battle of cold
llarbor, and the operations around Peters.
burg, until June -, when his wounds
breaking out afresh, he was for a short time
on sick leave. He afterward resumed com.
mand, and participated in several actions,
until November 2G, when he was called to
| Washington to organize the First Corps OF
veterans.
After the close Of the war he was placed
successfully in command of the middle de.
partment, the department of Missouri, OF
OF Louisiana and Texas, Of Dakota and of
| the department Of the East. He had his
headquarters on Governor Island. In the
Democratic National Convention of -G> he
received IA! votes for the presidential
nomination. In lS76, in the National Con.
ventlon OF the same party, he received -
votes for the same nomination.
NOT DEAD.-Love and enthusiasm know
no such thing as situations without an issue
They laugh at the impossible, and rather
than abandon hope, will do violence tc
reality. Many well.remembered words OF
the good Master, especially those in
which he had foretold his future advent
could be interpreted in tho sense 0f resur
rectiOn from the tcGL. such belief wa,
besides, SC natural that the mereJ faith o
the disciples might have sutficed for it.
production. The great prophets Enoch and
Elijah had not tasted DEATH The belie
was even beginning to obtain that the
patriarchs and the chief men of the elder
dispensation were not really dead, and chat
their bodies lay in the;: 3ep4lchres, al
Hebron, still inhabited by life and the soul
1t was certain to happen in the case OF
Jesus, as it has happened in the case Of al
men who have arrested the attention oil
their fellows. The world, accustomed tC
attribute to them 'superhuman virtues, can
not admit that they have undergone the
unjust and revolving law Of death. At the
moment when MOhammed expired, Omar
quilted the tent, sword in hand, and threat
ened to strike tbs head off any one who
dared 10 atarm that the prophet had ceased
to live. Death is so unreasonable thing
when it falls on men of great heart or grea
genius, that the people refuse to believe
such an error of nature possible Heroe.
do not die. For is not that the true exis
tencs which is prolonged in the memory o
those who love US? Tho adored Master
had for years fllpd the little world of hii
companions with Joy and hope. Could they
consent to leave him to moider in the tomb
No. IIo had lived too long and too init
mately in the hearts of his followers, for i
not to be affirmed after his his death tha
he was still alive forever.-Les Aptores
Ernest Rcnan.