The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-04-30
HANCOCK AND GRANT.

HANCOCK AND GRANT, ~
There is paralleIism, but yet =
marked contrast I'm the characters ana
fortunes of Hancock and Grant. ,ri,
Hancock IL the junior Of Grant by
about two years. They areboth ipdhe
vigor Of mature manhood, ennd ID the
full possession Of their Int
powers, moulded and developed BY the
stirring, events insi which they have
taken part. Both were educated a.
tho West Point Military Academy,
Grant graduating 10 1913 and Hancock,
In 1874, and they both entered the
army as Ieutenants. Both served In
the war with Mexico under Taylor
and Scott, Hancock with such gallantry
as to receive rapid promotion. After
the close of the Mexican war Grant
was sent to Oregon, and there, attain
ing the fall rank of captain, he re-
signed his commission in the army.
Grant settled In business at Galena,
ILL.,; but, as we are iufoxmed, was gem
orally unsnccessfal, and the civil war
found him poor. Hancock continued
his connection, with the army, and In
1861 was assistant Quarter Master Gen-
erat. The storming and capture of
Fort Sumter again brought these men
actively into military service, Grant In
the northwest, and Hancock ia .Vir-
GINA, where the shock. of battle was
most violent, and the reverses Of the
Union arms were the most discourage
ing. Hancock accompanied Gen. Nc
Clellan, as q Brigadier Of volunteers, in
the advance upon Richmond. He dis
tinguished himself at Yorktown and
Williamsburg, and, commanding at
Fredericksburg a division Of the sec.
ond corps of the army, he was pro-
NOTED to the rank Of Major General
for his services. He participated In
the battles of charlottesville and Get
tysburg, and in the movements con.
nected with Gettysburg was so severely
wounded as to disable him for further
active service. ." F''i '#
Grant recommended his military ca
reer as colonel of the 21st Illinois regi-
ment in 1861, aud became the same
year Brfgadier. While i'm command
at Cairo he secured tho possession OF
Paducah aud with it the military pos
session of the State of Kentucky, He
fought the ibattle of Belmont, and, after
severe fighting he captured Forts Hen.
~ and Donaldson, for which he was
promoted as Mai. General, and received
the command of West Tennessee. At
Pittsbarg Landing he met with severe
reverses and was saved from total de-
feat only by the timely arrival Of Gen.
Buell.. =. Then. followed the battles OF
Shiloh and Corinth, aud the ssige and
fall of Vichsburg, in which Grant was
the prominent and successful actor, and
afterwards he. defeated Glen. Bragg at
Lookout mountain. The rapid and
continued successes of Grant in a Sec
ton Of the country largely In the pos
session OF tho Confederates, gave him a
military prestige and character which
completely eclipsed the exploits of the
Federal Generals who In Virginia and
Maryland were unsuccessfuliy rcsistlng
the forces OF Gen. Leo and his assocl-
ates. Grant was recalled to Washing
ton, and in 1861 was honored with the
title OF Lieutenant General, a rank
especially created for his benefit, and
made communicated chief of the Union
armies. AS such, he was given men
and money to any extent needed, and
planned and prosecuted the campaign
which resulted in the final surrender of
the Confederate forces, and the close of
the war. liz. ..l v, .-a.. ,,.'.f o., -......
twill be apparent to the Thought |
full observer of the events so. hastily
sketched, that the Opportunities afford
ed tGrant in. the military department
70 which he! was assigned; were of
themselves sufficient to secure tho sue
cess of commander of even mediocre
abilities. In his case chance was the
largest factor of success. This, once at
tainei, he became absolutely essential
70 the government, and could dictate
the terms upon which hc was willing
AM In 10 ,1~s<~