Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-08-26


anyfhsng II Tefessnee % gen. Has
dash though shs DVildsrnres Inns ID
line Of The Pc River, wIkhouI # s. q
mere reference 10 &c ssrfss of -
meats had with ahe rebels dufiN
lirst dsys Of The Grsat sdvanee ca
mond. 81.
That General EIaneoek had 1eEz
feFed ifse eomnand of the entire NEi
of the Rol0mae was generally EEI
ere the srmy bad moved OF d
t. qnaFt6ss end started O. ~ -. =.
Richmond under CeDeFal Usant and
General Meade. Bat the experiences
Of Generals Mcclellan. Hooker, Pope
and Burnside with the government bad
cansed . settled conviction in the army
that the success Of any movement upon
General Lee depended ia large mdas-
ure upon the support the government
was disposed to grant the general 10
command, and while the government
was ceRsured BY the rank and file ofthe
army for ITS shortcomings" in support
of the general commanders, no doubt
exists that General Hancock. seeing the
way in which his associate commanders
had one by one dropped out OF place
under the persuasive powers ofthe gov
eminent, felt no desire 10 take up ihe
sceptre Of command and run the gaunt-
let of . political ire IN the rear. He
was content with the simple command
of the best corps in the army. His de-
eislon was Q wise one as the sequel
shows. To be commander then was
but sinecure. To command corps
the way was open 20 do q service 10 the
country alike Of profit to the cause for
which the army was contending and
the men whom he had The honor TO lead
into the thickest Of the fight. III
Il was well understood in the com
mencement Of the memorable campaign
OF sOn to Richm0nd' that General
Grants relisnce Of individual support
and cooperation, as well as in an ad.
vIsoFy capacity, was in General Han
cock. The confidence Of the army was
IN Hancock. He was equally as popu-
lar with the army as was Mcclellan In
his palmiest DAYS. Grant saw In Han
cock the makeup Of thorough soldier
and disciplinarian, whose banner had
never been trsiled in the dust or shad-
owed by defeat. He was the man to
lead, the one of all others in whom the
chief commander placed his reliance for
the successful encounter which must
p1~s sha kr@y - = finat -asersx Sore
one must bear the 6runt Ot ssse battle
aud Hancock was chosen, so to speak.
as the right-hand man TO Grant.
At the dawn Of day, May ~, 1864,
sheltered by dim twilight and dense
mist, the Hancock corps moved quietly
and cautiously up from its position on
the south side OF the Po TO the north
side aud towards the enemy's lines.
Imagine o bluff covered from base 60
top with rife pits and breast works, with
a half dozen tiers Of cannon-eighteen
and thirty-two pounders-stretehing
along over the rugged and woody space,
and you have fair idea of the position
OF the two rebel divisions when attacked
by the Hancock corps.
The troops gallantly suFmounted all
the difficulties in reaching the base OF
the hill, tho excitement increasing until
il broke out into splendid rush at the
rebel intrenchments, which the troops
leaped with loud cheers, dashing into
the enemy's camp and compelling their
surrender en- nasse. Three thousand
men, forty guns and two msjor-gener-
ais; with several stands of coIors, was
the trophy Of the first dash on the rife
pits. The charge Of the Second Corps
was followed By heavy eannoaading ali
along the line, and under the cover OF
which the whole line moved ND 10 the
support Of Hancock's corps, aad imme-
diately an incessant rattle aud roar OF
battle arose along the whole line. Often
rival bayonets interlocked, and fierce
and death-like grapple overthe inlFench-
ments lasted for hours, The rebel nags
now surging up side BY side with those
of the Union, and anon torn and riddled
disappearing IN the woods.
Il was here that Hancock exhibited
the true ideal OF general. Finding his
men likely TO wasefs they beng consid-
erably outEambered, he rode up close
10 the lines and in loud voice called
to his men to ssssand GFm," and as IL
necessary 20 encourage them at this
critical moment. he drew has sword and
led the column forward until they had
scaled the pits. Then the air was rent
with huzxas and cheers Of the yictOrs-
ous band.
The losses bad been fearful, yet the
SerDnd CoFpsheld It's position, though re-
peatedly attacked. They went there 60
stay. grand old guard ofthe army. II
completed the first nc. in the campaign
On Lees army and closed the eighth
day If almost continuous lighting. The
Union forces suffered q. $50 hoTs de-
combat, and the rebel loss exceeded
80. GOO, forty cannons, twenty-five stands
Of colors and 5000 men taken prison
ers. II j. thus we speak OF . single en-
gsgemenl aud OF the commander OF the
Second Corps, who in all The battles oI
the campaign was conspicuous, among
the many brave officers OF the army. fos
daring enthusiasm aud steady valor.
Will he not make equally a. stead !
an executive Of the nation, and g0vern,
IS he vas won't 10 do, the men who
love and adore him rs q ruler IN lirm.
ness. yet with simplicity. given 10 mod.
Grafton and kindness.