The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-07-13

the place to fight, and seizing the favor
able positions, with the eye of consum-
mate General, hung on to them with the
advance until Meade brought up the
whole army and delivered bis battle.
THE INCARNATION OF WAR.
Hancock was grand and magni6centin
the battle of Gettysburg and seemed the
very incarnation OF war. On the second
day he was at Cemetery Heights during
the frightful cannonade when the rebels
concentrated the fire of $50 guns on our
lines. The air was full of missiles;
streams of shot and shell screamed and
hissed every where; it seemed as thoogh
nothing could live under that terrible
ire-men and horses were torn limb
from limb; caissons exploded one after
another in rapid succession, blowing the
jfunnersto pieces The infantry husged
the ground closely and sought every.
slight shelter that the light earthwo works
afforded. 1t was literally storm of
shot and shell, like the fall of rain drops
or the beat of hailstones. Those who
had taken part in every battle OF the war
never had seen anything like that can
nonade, and the oldest soldiers began to
be uneasy for the result. Hundreds and
thousands were stricken down; the
shrieks of animals and the screams of
wounded men we're appalling; still the
awful rushing sound Of flying missiles
went on, and apparently never would
cease. It was then, when the frmest
hearts had begun to quail, the army wit
messed one of the grandest sights ever
beheld by any army on earth. Suddenly
band began to play "The Star Spangled
Banner" and Gen. Hancock with his staff
-Msior Mitchell, Capt. Bingham, Capt.
Parker, Capt Bronson-with coass flag
flying in the hands of Private Wells, ap-
peared on the right of his line uncover
ed, and rode down the front OF his line
to the left. The soldiers held their
breath, expecting every moment to see
him fall from his horse pierced by a
dozen bullets; but still he rode on. while
the shot roared and crashed around him,
every moment tearing great gaps in the
ranks by his side.
'Stormed at by shot and shell,
Boldly he rode, and WELL"
Every soldier felt his heart thrill as he
witnessed the magnificent courage of his
General,and he resolved to do something
that day which would equal it in daring
Just as Hancock reached the left of his
line the rebel batteries ceased to play,
and their infantry, $4,000 strong, we're
seen emerging from the woods and ad-
vsncing up the hill. Hancock knew the
artillery fire had heen to demoralize his
men ard cover the advance of their in
fantry, which was 10 make the real at
tack. Turning his horse he rode lowly
up his line from left 20 right, holding bis
hat in his hand, bowing and smiling to
the troops as they lay dat on the ground
Hardly had he reached the right of the
line when the men, who, inspired by the
of their General, could now
hardly restrain themselves, received or
ders to attack the advancing rebels -
Eighty guns which Hancock had concen-
trated opened their brazen mouths and
streams of blue bullets few from the
of our rifles to the breasts OF
the Confedera,es. 1t was an awful day,
and Longstreet's "Old Guard of the
South" melted away like wax under TIA,
terrible FIRE. Of the $4,000 who came
to the attack, 5000 fell or were captured
on the hillside. Thirty sand of colors
and an immense number Of small arms
were taken. Hancock was every where,
riding the storm Of battle as if he bore
q charmed life. Al last, just in the mo
ment Of victory, he was seen to reel in
his saddle and would have fallen to the
ground had he not been helped from his
horse. A ball had pierced his thigh, and
for time il was thought the wound was
mortal.
"Tell Gen. Meade" said Hancock ad.
dressing bis aide, Col. Mitchell, "that the
troops under m y command have repulsed
the enemy and gained a great victory.
Tie enemy are now flying in all direc-
tions in my front"
When the aide delivered this message
to Gen. Meade, and added his General
was dangerously wounded, Meade said:
Say to Gen. Hancock that am sorry
he is wounded, and that thank him for
myself aud for my country for the servi-
ces be has rendered to-day"
Gen. Meade afterward, in commenting
on the battle of Gettysburg, said to Gen.
R. C Drum: "No commanding General
ever had a better lieutenant than Han.
cock. He was always faithful and relia
ble."
UNDER GRANT.
Hancock did not recover from his
wound until December, 1868, when, al
though quite lame, be reported Tor duty,
and was sent North to recruit bis corps.
He was rendered reception at Inde
pendence Hall by the citizens OF Phila-
delphia, and received the hospitalities of
the cities of Boston, Albany ana New
York. In March, 1864, he rejoined bis
corps and participated in the BATTLES of
the Wilderness with Grant. He COM
manded the Second and parts of the
Fifth and Sixth Corps, amounting in all
to $4,000 men. He fought at Alescp's
House and at Spottsvlvanis Court House,
capturing "Stonewall'' Jackson's old
brigade, 1000 prisoners and 80 colols.
He was al North Anna, and did most of
the fighting there. He commanded at
the bloody assaults on Cold Harbor, and
did his best to execute Grants orders.
The fighting was desperate, and Han
cocks loss could not have fallen far short
of $4,000. He was on the south side of
the James River, and made the assaults
on Petersburg. He was with Sheridan,
and attacked the enemy at Deep Bottom,
taking A pieces Of artillery, 900 priso-
ners and stand Of colors. He was at
Petersburg and witnessed the explosion
of the mine on the morning of July 80
The advance up the James River, Au-
gust IL, 1864, was under his command,
and he handled the Second and Tenth
Corps OF the Army of the James and
Gregg's division OF cavalry with such
consummate skill as to elicit expressions
of admiration from even Gen. Grant. He