The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-02

| victory. n OF to intercept him, not 4
strike him at o place where the Uniol
troops would have the advantage Of III
equality of position, or, having strucl
Lee, to fail to overwhelm him-and al
those results were possible, may, rather
| probable-and the canse of the UnioE
was lost. The men ON whose shoulder
the responsibility rested during the days
preceding the battle and during the bat.
| tie itself, bore q burden more than super
human. Napoleon told his soldiers under
the shadow Of the pyramids, that forty
centuries were looking down upon them.
The entire world history in the direction
Of the establishment of q government
"of the people, by the people and for the
people" looked down on Meade's host as
it moved toward the place of trial. Prob
ably every private soldier in the Army of
the Potomsc knew that tremendous con-
fict was not many hours distant, and had
some clear fdea of what failure meant.
Free institutions in this world, SO long as
time shall last, will thank the men who
fought at Gettysburg for the manner in
which they fought. Each arm, however
humble, did its best, and therein the hon.
or and reward of all is alike. But there
were some upon whom rested supreme
responsibility. With them there must
be neither mediocrity as to ability,
Judgment or execution. With them there
must be no mistake or all would be lost.
Chief among the men on whom fate or
Providence had laid this momentous duty
was Hancock. How he performed it the
country knows. In his march to the North
bis corps had covered the rear, probably
with the idea that should Lee, whose
whereabouts was unknown, by some sharp
strategy, strike for Washington, the
Second Corps would be the readiest to
oppose him. Hancock had reached Taney-
town. Nearly one hundred years before
his maternal grandfather had been one of
a Revolutionary escort to march body
of Burgoyne's captured troops from this
very point to Valley Forge. The news
had reached General Meade here that the
enemy had been encountered by the ad-
vance at Gettysburg, and he directed Han
cock to push forward personally with all
speed to that point, and take command
of all the forces on the field and such as
should arrive. Taneytown is fourteen
miles from Gettysburg.
The first days struggle was well ad-
vanced when the General reached the field.
From Cemetery Heights he saw the
Union forces retreating in disorder before
the overpowering numbers of the enemy.
Reynolds was dead, and the First and
Eleventh Corps were falling back through
Gettysburg to the Heights. Gen. Han
cock saw at glance that the place on
which he stood was the place designed by
nature for struggle for an empire; and,
having restored the line of battle, he sent
his couriers back to Gen. Meade with
word to hurry up the troops, that GettysI
burg was the place to fight, and Gen.
Meade at once acted on the information.
As the other corps OF the army came up
during the night and got into position, to
Hancock was given the command of the
left centre. Here, in the afternoon of the
second day he sustained desperate at
tack, which he repulsed and followed up
with counter-chapge, after the manner
for which he was celebrated. On the
third day Hancock's lines sustained a can
nonade of two hours from 800 guns, un-
der cover of which Longstreet's corps of
eighteen thousand men were massed, like
Napoleon's Old Guard at Waterloo, for a
final assault on the Union position. Dur
ing this cannonade, and during the in
fantry attack that followed it, Hancock
rode up and down his line, from Cemetery
Hill toward Roundtop, encouraging his
men by his voice to stand firm and repulse
the coming attack, and when Longstreet
at last launched his force, the flower of
the rebel army, on Hancock's position, he
was met with resistance more stubborn
and bloody than any other in modern his
tory. As is well known, this last assault
Of Lee failed. Of that attacking force
5 900 men surrendered to Hancock's
troops, and thirty stands of colors were
taken. Exposing himself without the
slightest scruple or thought for his own
safety or life, as was his custom, just as
the rebel force was turned back, and with
broken lines began the retreat, Hancock
fell desperately wounded. While living
On the ground just in the rear of his line
of battle, he dispatched his aid to Gen.
Meade with the following message: "The
troops under my command have repulsed
the enemy's assault, and we have gained
q great victory. The enemy ia now flying
in all directions in my front" The aid
in delivering this message added the In
of which Gen. Meade was then
ignorant, that Gen. Hancock was desper-
ately wounded. Gen. Meade sent back
the following reply: "Say to Gen. Han
cock that am sorry he 10 wounded, and
that thank him for the country and for
myself for the service he has rendered to-
day" For such services no thanks and
no reward could be adequate. Congress,
by joint resolution three years later,
thanked Gen. Hancock for his " Gallant,
and conspicuous share in that
great and decisive victory - but the
country win never forget how much il
owed the salvation Of the Union to his
services on that field.
Gen. Hancock reported for duty again
in December, 1863, although still suffering
from the effects Of his wound. The troops
being in winter quarters he went North,
making his headquarters at Harrisburg,
and proceeded to recruit the diminished
ranks Of the Second Corps. The honors
he received everywhere he went were most
Distinguished He visited the other promi-
nent cities of the North, and was every
where greeted - hero, and rendered
the hospitalities of those cities. His re-
ception At Independence Hall, Philadel-
phia, was . marked event Visiting Al
bany Q year subsequently,, he was given .
formal reception by both houses of the
Legislature.