The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-29

command Of the Second Corps, which was in
winter quarters, he was ordered by the authorl-
ties at Washington to proceed North to recruit
the decimated ranks of that celebrated corps
preparatory to, the ensuing spring operations.
Accordingly he established his headqearters at
Harrisburg, and visited other States in enlisting
volunteers. His high reputation and great
popularity made him enlinently successful in
this service. While discharging this duty the
CITY Council of Philadelphia rendered him a
reception in Independence Hall, and he also
received the hospitalities of New York, Albany,
Boston and other cities. i
In March, 1864, he returned to the field and
assumed command of his corps, whose number
with the gallant old Third Corps. He was a
prominent figure In the battle of the Wilder
ness. On the 10th of May he commanded the
Second and Fifth Corps at the battle OF the
Po. On the 18th the Second Corps pounced
upon the enemy position, near Spottsylyanla
@. H, in dense fog, at the hour of daylight
in the morning. Hancock commanded his
corps in this assault, by which he captured the
enemy's works, nearly 5000 prisoners, twenty
pieces of artillery, more than thirty colors,
several thousand stand of small arms and other
paraphernalia of war. -.- e.e h.
He again assaulted the enemy's position in
front of Spottsylvania, May 18, and on the 18th
repulsed an attack made upon one of his divis-
ions by Ewelrs Corps. He was an active par
ticipant in the engagements of North Anna,
earlier and later operations of the army near
Petersburg that year. During all this time he
was suffering severely from the wound received
at Gettysburg, which had never fully closed,
compelling him to often leave his horse and
ride in an ambulance until contact with the
enemy again summoned him to the saddle. On
the 27th Of July, 1854, he crossed the Deep
Bottom on the north bank of the James River,
and in conjunction with Sheridan's cavalry, at
tackled and carried portion OF the enemy's
works, capturing four pieces of artillery: In
August he made another expedition to Deep
Bottom. In these operations, which continued
q week, he had a series of sharp engagements,
during which he broke the enemys lines and
carried of more Of his artillery. On the 18th
of August, two divisions of his corps were sent
to destroy the railroad at Reams' Station, thir-
teen miles distant from the established lines OF
the Union army at Petersburg. The remainder
of the troops held their position in the general
line. Anticipating trouble at that separate op-
GRAFTON, Hancock was not easy until he had pro
ceeded to join that portion Of his command in
person. The issue showed that his anxiety was
Justified. By Withdrawing troops from the
entertainments at Petersburg, and sending
them round to the railroad, the enemy concen-
trated in his front, soon outnumberlng the
Union forces three to one. Here Hancock
fought another heroic fight at close quarters,
his horse being shot from under him in the as
sault. Two months later he fought the battle
of the Boydton Road, where he captured a
At the request of Secretary Stanton, and by
order of the President, he WAS ordered to
Washington to recruit and command an army
corps Of veterans to consist OF so, 900 men.
/ While the recruiting was in progress he was
summoned to the 'front.' and assigned to the
headquarters at Winchester, Va. A force OF
$1,000 p1en was organized for the purpose Of
moving upon Lynchburg in case Lee should
retreat to that point, or to embark on trans
sea coast In case Lee should fall back on Dan
vile; but the surrender of Lee and the capture
! of Richmond removed the necessity of any suct
movements. This, the last of his active mill
| tary service while marked with no shock OF op
posing forces, was, nevertheless, destined to b
a period of great excitement to himself, as vel
as to the country. While his headquarter
were still in the Valley of the Shenandoah, IL
April, 1866, the conspirators against the life O
the President and his Cabinet consummated, II
part, their plot, and President Lincoln wa
murdered, Secretary Seward was nearly stabbet
| 10 deatli, and the country was panic-strlcken b.
the evidence of a deep laid plot to destroy tn
government by the abominated method o
secret and concerted assassination A feehni
of universal fear and distrust pervaded tn
North. Happily, this feeling was only temper
ary, but while it lasted it was universal an
real Gen: Hancock was summoned to Wash
ington. The extent of the conspiracy becam
known, and the measures taken by him to cor
front the secret peril were thorough, and cor
hibuted greatly to allay the terror.
General Hancock remained in Washington
by order of President johnson, during the day
of the trial of the conspirators, and until afte
their execution. Much interest has been e1
hibited in this part of his service, and th
prominence of his position has, in the minds c
some, made his connection with the executio
of the prisoners more intimate than is true.
must be remembered that with the details @
the guarding and care of the prisoners he ha
nothing whatever to do. A military commii
sion, ordered by the President, tried the pril
oners, found them guilty, condemned some {
them to death, and the findings of the militar
court were approved by the President It wa
unquestionably to be lamented that they shoul
have been thus tried. The conviction of Il
guilty could in all probability have bee
effected by jury. But the natio
was in bloody struggle for existence, an
martial law prevailed. 1t was particularly
be lamented that one of the condemned person
was a woman, and the regret is deeper when,
calmer times, people who considered the cal
carefully, are convinced that as far as Il
crime of assassination is concerned, she WI
guiltless. The execution had been ordered Il
the 8th day Of July. Gen. Hancock saw th'
the only hope for Mrs. Surratt lay in the pow
of her daughter to move the Presidents hear
and he so Informed the daughter, and gave b
every facility in his power to gain access to Il
President. So great was his anxiety m regal
to the looked for pardon or reprieve that
| DlacCQ q line Oh mOunUoQ B6QIlQ6lS IrOm u
White House to the place Of execution, tn
the words of grace, spoken at the last minut
should go surely and swiftly. But no sut
words were spoken, and to the now almost uI
versal regret of the people, Mrs. Surratt die
After the close Of the war, in July, 1876
Gen. Hancock was assigned to the Commal
| of the Middle Military Department, with hea
quarters at Baltimore, and in August, 1866,
the command of the Department of Missou
; In the latter capacity his services were of gre
|, Importance in harmonizing the conflicting el
!, ments in Missouri, arising out OF the occuF
, ton of the State by troops under the Sta
authorities, and the presence Of the men Of t
. Southern Confederacy, who had just return
to their homes. While still in the Southwe
: he was also engaged in campaign agar
! hostile Indians in Kansas and Colorado.
this time it was intended to place him in col
1 mand of one of the military districts of t
g South created under the reconstruction acts
. Congress. By remaining in the field and TAXI
l no part in political affairs, Hancock, althou
|, conservative in his views, had won the go
will alike of Republicans and Democrats. 7
desire to retain it was more inviting to
, than the opportunity to WELD the limit
: power which the suggested assignment p
y sented. Hence he sought to be excused frc
:, such duty in the South, and at first his inclil
IS tions we're respected. subsequently, howev
/ in opposition to his wishes, in the latter p,
a of 1867 he WAS assigned to the command of
z Fifth Military District, comprising the States
" Louisiana and Texas, with headquarters
% New Orleans. Congress had invested 81
q commanders with despotic powers, and it '
easy for them to issue military mandates in
. decision of all important questions, civil
Il military, involving the rights and interests
NJ citizens instead of following the more circuitt
I. but more constitutional course of civil metho
!. In this crisis he WAS called upon to dec
is whether in his administration he would use
y civil authorities or discarding them, resort
rf a