Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-08

fesh wound coming out otherwise
unharmed, though with uniform per-
forated with the enemy's bullets. In
this battle Hancock lost one-half of his
command, killed and wounded, and
all of his aids were wounded.
AT Charlottesville, in May, 1868,
he commanded his division and cover
ed the roads leading towards Freder-
icksburg, where, amid surrounding
disaster, although constantly attacked,
his troops maintained their position to
the last, and formed the rear guard of
the army in moving off the field. The
general had his horse shot under him
in the battle. Early in June he re-
lieved General Couch in command of
the Second corps, and later in the same
month was assigned by Mr.. Lincoln to
be its permanent commander.
1t was at Gettysburg Hancock again
loomed up before the country as a
hero. When he arrived on the field
he found the army in confusion and q
retreat had already begun. Planting
some infantry and batteries on Gene
terry Hill he threw his whole energy
into the battle and checked the enemy.
Schwerin and SAKE were said to be
worth each a reinforcement of 10000
men to an army; Torstensin was rated
as equal to $4,000, and the Duke of
Wellington said the arrival of Napo-
leon on battle field was better re-
enforcement to the French army than
the accession of 10000 fresh troops.
What, then, shall we say of the value
of General Hancock's arrival at the
critical moment on the battle field of
Gettysburg, battle that by common
consent is now admitted to have de-
cided the fate of the Union and fixed
the final result of the war?
OF General Hancock's individual
action at Gettysburg it would require
a volume to tell. His was really the
action of the army, and Round Top,
Culp's Hill and Cemetery Heights
were his creations. He sent word to
General Meade that was the place to
fight, and seizing the favorable posi-
tions, with the eye of consummate
general, hung on to them with the adj
vance until Meade brought up the
whole army and delivered his battle.
THE INCARNATION OF WAR.
Hancock was grand and magnii-
cent in the battle of Gettysburg and
seemed the very incarnation of war.
On the second day he was at Cemetery
Heights during the frightful cannon.
ade, 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
everywhere; it seemed as though
nothing could live under that terrible
fire-men and horses were torn limb
from limb; caissons exploded one
after another in rapid succession,
blowing the gunners to pieces. The
Infantry hugged the ground closely
and sought every slight shelter that
the light carthworks afforded. 1t was
literally n storm OF shot and shell,
like the fall of raindrops or the beat
of hailstones. Those who had taken
part in every battle of the war never
had seen anything like that common
ade, and the oldest soldiers began to
be uneasy for the result. Hundreds
and thousands were stricken down
the shrieks of animals and screams of
wounded men were appalling still
the awful rushing sound of flying
missiles went on and apparently never
would cease. 1t was then when the
firmest hearts had begun to quail, the
army witnessed one of the grandest
sights ever beheld by any army on
earth. Suddenly n band began to
play "The Star Spangled Banner"
and General Hancock, with his staff
Major Mitchell, Captain Bingham,
Captain Parker, Captain Bronson
with corps flag flying in the hands of
Private Wells, appeared on the right
of his line uncovered and rode down
the front of his men to the left. The
soldiers held their breath, expecting
every moment to see him fall from his
horse pierced by dozen bullets, but
still he rode on, while the shot roared
and crashed around him, every mo-
ment tearing great gaps in the ranks
by his side.
Stormed at by shot and she'll
Boldly he rode, and well.
Every soldier felt his heart thrill
rs he witnessed the magnificent cour-
age 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 in
fantry, $4,000 strong, were seen
emerging from the woods and advanc-
ing up the hill. Hancock knew the
artillery fire had been intended to de-
moralize his men and cover the adj
vance of their infantry. which was tn