The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-07-01

Fate. He retired with the rest OF the
Army Cf the Potomac from the long
continued, bloody and disasterous Sew
en- Day Fight, leaving Richmond III
/ the hands Of her valiant defenders, but
enjoying for himself the enviable con-
seriousness of having deserved well of
his country. The testimony to his de-
vOtiOn when after the battle Of NAL
vern Hill, General Mcclellan recon-
mended that he be promoted to the
rank Of Encouragement Of volunteers
and at the same time his services in
this most active of campaigns were
further rewarded 10y his obtaining the
successive bevrets Of major, lieutenant
colonel and colonel in the regular
army.
The months of August and Septem-
Der, 1862, found General Hancock
with his brigade at Centerville, serving
under Pope. He fought at South
Mountain and again, ON September
II, at Antietam In this battle fell
the general commanding the First Di-
sion Of the Sec0 d Army Corps
During the progress Of the battle Gen
eraI Hancock was appointed to the
command of the division, and thus be-
gan his CONNECTION with the Second
Corps, of which iii the course of time
he became the commander.
He was commissioned major general
of volunteers in the month of Novem-
Der, and at the head of his division he
participated in the battle at Fredr IS
burg on December 10 here he was
slightly wounded. He shared in the
defeat of Hooker at Charlottesville in
1868, and his division did ellectual
service i'll staying the ill-fortunes of
the day by protecting the rear of the
retreating Union troops. In the month
of June of the same year he was as
+ signed to the command Of the Second
Army Corps.
We next hear of Hancock Mt the
great battle OF Gettysburg which, by
: some Northern authorities, it is held to
: have been the pivotal conflict of the
? war. The retreating Union forces
were stayed at this point by his advice
and here it was that General Meade
who was in general command, deter
Il mined to make a stand against Gener.
t al Lees pursuing army. On the first
, day of the battle, July LIST, he was in
:. immediate command until the arrival
of Meade. On the second day his
; crops did exceptional service and was
engaged with General Longstreet's
: corps. He had command of the lefi
n centre Of the Union army, and before
= the day he was severely wounded. II
= consideration his services in these bat
/ ties congress voted him a resolution o
thanks.
n 1t was not until the opening Of thu
e campaign of 1868 that his wounds al
y lowed him again to see active service
= Up to March of that year he was OF
U sick leaves and was engaged in recruit
Z ing the Second Army Corps. Will
the opening Of the campain he was il
the field under General Grant and il
:. command of this corps. He wa
, present at the battle of the Wilder
:, ness, SpOttsylvania Courthouse, Nortl
u Anna and the second battle of Coll
Harbor He participated in the oper
atiOns around Petersburg until Jun
18th, when he was once compelled t
retire from service for while owinj
to his wounds breaking out anew.
&c Gen. HancOck's last military com
mand was an important one. He wa
detached from the Army of the Poto
mac on the 18th of November, an
was ordered to Washington. In
n short while he was placed at the hea
of corps of veterans numbering 90
600. His headquarters were at VIII
chester, Va, and his entire command
in which was included the Army of tn
Shenandoah, numbered 100000 mel
J The surrender at Appomattox ,howeve
~ made further service in the field III
, necessary.
~ He was still at Winchester when tn
a murder of President Lincoln occurred
- Summoned to Washington, which cit
y, was included in his military division
10 he was ordered to remain there b
nc President johnson until order shout
n replace the excitement caused by tn
ne assassination of the President. 1t wa
q in his capacity as military head of tn
a division that he was compelled to loo
~ on and witness the murdet of the III
! fortunate Mrs. Surratt by order of
III military commission. But to his cred
i be it said that he made every effor
n consistent with his position and duties
to save the life of this victim conviC
: ted under martial law. Mrs. S. rrat
i and her companions were executed o
20 July 8. 1865. When Mrs. Surratt
of daughter, at his suggestion ende..vo-e
Or to reach the ear Of President Johnso
:, to intercede fer her mothers life, Gel
/ Hancock assisted her to the extent {
- his ability in carrying out her wishe.
= He hoped for a pardon for Mrs. SUI
- raft through the prayers of the unfol
= tunate woman's daughter, and on tn
n day of execution he stationed mOunte
/ soldiers on the line from the Witt
~ House to the Arsenal grounds, wher
the execution was to take place, s
10 that if the pardon were granted eve
y, at the last moment. he should know
e promptly and in time to save Mrs. SUI
u raft from the halter. No messenge
- of Mercy came, and the indelible dis
:, grace was attached to the governn Ell
of the United States of hanging a We
, man innocent of crime.
d Later in July General Hancock wa
nv transferred to the Middle Department
q His headquarters were at Baltimore
n He remained in command of this dc
a. partment until July, 1866, when h
81 was put in command of the Department
A. of Missouri A hout the same time h