The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-07-08
ms srRvIcEs oN NAE pENINsuLA.

HIS bEhVlChS ON lin IhNiNpShh'
On the 25:h of June, 1862, Hancock,
who was then at Golding's Farm, on the
Peninsula, received a evere attack from
the enemy. He ~repulsed it and contin'
ued the fighting far into the night, the
~contending forces firing at each other at
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 28th of June, 1852, Hancock was
heavily engaged at Garnett's Hill, as he
was at Savage Station on the 29yh and at
White Oak Swamp on the 3Oth. His
troops fought four battles in as many days
in every n of them was led by Han
cock in person. He never knew fear
himself, and Couldnot tolerate it in 9th.
ers. An officer, who ha his men in a
tight place, rode up to the General and
said General, my men are all being
killed; may l withdraw them a little out
of the fre?"
"No," replied Hancock, II hope we
shall be able to advance soon."
"Then we shall all be killed" despond'
ingly replied the officer.
"Very we'll" said Hancock; return to
your troops, and if you fall you will have
the satisfaction ~ofknowing that you have
died for your country"
For his services in the Peninsula cam.
paign General Mcclellan recommended
Hancock for promotion to the rank of
Major General of volunteers and the
breyets Of major, lieutenant colonel and
colonel in the regular army.
ALWAYS AT IT.
In September, 1862, Hancock com
manded his brigade in the battle ofSouth
Mountain and afterwards at Antietam.
In this latter engagement when General
Richardson fell, Hancock was sent to
take command of that gallant officers
division. In November, 1862, Hancock
received his commission as Major Cen
eral, and on the 18Th of December was
engaged in a desperate and bloody as.
sault on Mayre's Heights. His behavior
on this occasion was in keeping with the
high reputation be had achieved. He
was with his division in the thiCkest of
the conflict, leading his men as far as it
was possible, under the circumstances,
for man to go, and only falling back
when attempt at further advance was
fool hardy and useless. In this fight, as
in fact, in almost every n in which he
was engaged, he seemed to wear a charm
on his life. He received in the "slaugh.
ter pen," as the rank and file were wont
to call the position they occupied in this
fight, a slight flesh wound, coming out
otherwise unharned, though with uni
form perforated with the enemy's bullets.
In this battle Hancock lost one'half Of
his command killed and wounded, and
all his aids were wounded.
At Charlottesville, in May, 1858, he
commanded his division and covered the
roads leading towards Fredericksburg,
where amid surrounding disaster, al
though constantly attacked, his troops
maintained their position to the last, and
formed the rear guard of the army in
moving off 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 it's permanent com
mander.
In one of his battles general Hancock
placed one of his brigades in a certain
position and said to its commander,
General, whatever happens, | want you
to hold this ground" The brigade COM
mander 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 reserves?' Cen
eral Hancock turned and riding up TO
where the officer was standing, said
severely, General, it is none of your
business where your reinforCements 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 brigadier commander return
ed to his line with a sad step and sorrow
full expression of C%ountenanCe.
AT GETTYSBURG.
1t was at Gettysburg Hancock again
doomed up before the country as a hero.
He was commanding the rear guard of
the army; its advance on Gettysburg had
reached Tarrytown, the place where his
grandfather one hundred years before
had started to escort one thousand Hes
sian prisoners of Burgoyne's army to
Forge, when General Meade sent
him an order to hasten to the front and
assuale command of all the troops there.
The report had reached Meade of the
fall of General Reynolds and the check
and repulse ofthe advance, and his mind
at onCe turned ia General Hancock al
the man above all others best qualified
to replace Reynolds and restore order to
to the head of the army. Hancock was
not the ranking General, but in the crit
ical state of affairs Meade, knowing him
to be the best man, did not hesitate to
assign him.
On his way from Tarrytown to the bat
tie field General Hancock met the am.
bulanCe containing the dead body of
General Reynolds. When he arrived on
the field he found the army in confusion
and a retreat had already begun. Plant
ing some infantry and batteries on Gem
etery Hill he threw his whole energy