The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-07-02

OF Mcclellan President Lincoln. on the 23rC
OF September, 1861 comm ssioned Hancock
a Brigadier General of Volunteers. He wa.
assigned to brigade in the division of Gen.
era Badly Smith and reported TO duty al
Chain Bridge, Virginia, in the Army of the
Potomac.
MS FIRST BATTLE.
His first battle in the rebellion was al
Warwick Court House, near Yorktown and
he led his brigade in person, driving the enc.
my before him. At Williamsburg Hancock
bore conspicuous part. The rebels having
| repulsed Hooker and exposed Hancock g
left flank he determined to retire and order
ed the batteries back to the slope, where
his brigade line stood. The rebel command
er, seeing the moveme mt, at once advanced
his troops, and they came down on Han
cocks right in two superb lines of battle,
cheering tremendously and calirg out.
'Bull Runl Bull RUM That flag is ours. -
Hancock sat on his horse behind the centre
of his line, waiting with imperturbabe cool.
ness the favorable moment. Calling on the
men to stand fast and keep their pieces load
ell, Hancock waited until the rebels were
with 100 yards, then dashing forward on
his horse. with head barred. and swinging
his hat, he shouted, FORWARD! forwardv,
The men saw the towering form of their
General leading them, and springing up,
with a shout that made the hills ring, they
rrppi ,itataI Ibap,gal,,oy
The great irregular mass of rebels faltered,
halted for a moment, wavered and then fell
back slowly. Every inch of ground was
stubbornly contested; still, Hancock forced
them off the field, nor did they again ad
vance until the Union renforcements came
up aud rendered the victory secure. 1t was
| almost night when Hancock repulsed the
enemy, and no pursuit could be ordered in
I the darkness. The ground was covered with
rebel dead and wounded and many were cut
| off and captured The action of Hancock
! had rendered Williamsburg untenable, and
| that night the enemy abandoned it. Hau-
| cocks name was heralded from Maine to
! California, and in few hours from an un.
known subordinate, he had leaped into fame
and assumed national reputation. McClel-
Ian telegraphed the President Hancock
was superb to day an expression which all
who saw him towering above his men lead.
ing them to battle knew to be only Just.
HIS SERVICES IN THE PENINSULA
On the 9th of June. 1862, Hancock, who
was then at Golding's Farm, in the PENN
| sula, received a severe attack from the ene-
my. He repused it and continued the fight.
ing far into the night, the contending forces
firing at each other at close quarters in the
dark. This battle of Hancock 3 was one OF
the grandest spectacles Of the war, and will
never be forgotten by the Army of the Po-
tomac. On the 2sth of June, 1862, Han
cock was heavily engaged at Garnett's H
as he was at Savage Station on the 29th and
at White Oak Swamp on the 30th. His
troops fought four battles in as many days,
and in every one of them were led by Han
cock in person. He never knew fear him.
self and could not tolerate it in others. An
officer, who had his men in tight place;
rode up TO the General and said General,
my men are all being killed. may not with
draw them little out of the fire?'
NO." replied Hancock, 81 hope We shall
be able to advance soon"
Then We shall all be killed." despond-
ingly replied the officer.
VERY WE'LL" said Hancock; "return to
your troops, and il you fall you will have
the satisfaction Of knowing you have died
for your country"
For his services in the Peninsula cam
paign General Mcclellan recommended
Hancock for promotion to the rank of ma
jor general of voluteers and the brevets of
major, lieutenant colonel and colonel in the