Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-06-26
At Qettysbun

NcucIh hcduc tcnt nun All OfucT u
hasten to the front and assume com
msnd OF all the troops there. The re
port had reached Meade OF the fall o
General Reynolus and the check and TO
pulse OF the advance, and his mind al
once turned 10 General Hancock as the
man above all others best qualified e
replace Reynolds and restore order to the
head OF the army, Hancock was not the
ranking general, but in the critical state
OF affairs Meade, knowing him TO be the
best man, did not hesitate TO assign him
On his way from Tsrrytown to the
battle field, General Hancock met the
ambulance containing the dead body OF
General Reynolds. When he arrived
on the field he found the army in con.
fusion, and a retreat had already begun.
Planting some infantry and batteries on
Cemetery Hill he threw his whole en-.
egy into the battle and checked the en-
emy. Schwerin and SAKE were said to
be worth each reinforcement OF 10000
men To an army; Torenstein was rated
as equal 10 $4,000, and the Duke OF
Wellington said the arrival OF Napoleon
/ on battle field was a better reinforce
ment to the French army than the az.
cessiOn OF 10000 fresh troops. What,
I then, shall We say OF the yalue,Of Gen.
eral Hancock arrival at the critical mo-.
/ ment on the battle field OF Gettysburg. u
battle by common consent is now adj
mltted to have decided the fate of The
| Union aud fixed the final result oi the
war?
OF General HancOck's individual ac.
tiOn at Gettysburg it would require u
volume 10 tell. His was really the ac-
tion OF the army, and Round Top, ,Culp's
Hill and Cemetery Heights we're his
creations. He sent word to General
Meade that was the place to fight, and
seizlng the favorable positions. with the
eye oi consummate General, hung on
10 them with the advance until Meade
brought up the whole army and dellv-
cred his battle.
The Incarnation of War.
Hancock Was grand and magnificent
in the battle OF Gettysburg and seemed
the verv Incarnation OF war On the
second day he was at Cemetery Heights
during the irlghtful CannOnade when
the rebels concentrated the fire of one
hundred and fifty guns on our
lines. The air was full of mis-.
siles; streams OF shot and shell scream
Ell aud Missed eyerywhere; II seemed
as though nothing could live under that
terrible lire-men and horses were torn
limb from limb; caissons exploded one
after another in rapid succession, blow
ing the gunners 10 pieces. The infantry
hugged the ground closely and sought
every slight shelter that the light earth
works afforded. IL was literally storm
OF shot and shell, like the fall OF rain
drops or the beat OF hailstones. Those
who had taken part in eyeSy battle .!
the war never had seen anything like
that canOnade, and the oldest soldiers
began h. bc uneasy Tor the result. Hun
dreds and thousands we're 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
tirmest hearts had began to quail, the
army Witnessed one OF the grandest
sights ever beheld by an army ON earth.
Suddenly band began 10 play The
Star Spangled Banner" and General
Hancock, with his staf-Najor Mitch
ell, Capt. Bingham, Capt. Parker, Capt.
BronsOn-w with corps flags hying IN the
hands OF Private Wells, appeared on the
right OF his line uncovered and rode
down the front OF his men to the ie.t.
The soldiers held their breath, expecting
every moment To see him tall from his
horse pierced by dozen bullets, but
still he rode on, while the shot rOared
around him, every mOment tearing great
gasps in the ranks by his side.
StOrmed al by shot and shell,
Boldly he rode, and well.
Every soldier ielt mis- heart thrill as he
witnessed the magnificent courage OF his
General, and he resolved TO do some
thing that day which would equal 1t IN
daring Just rs Hancock reached the
LETT OF his line the rebel batteries ceased
10 play, and their infantry, 5000 strong,
we're seen emerging from the woods and
advancing up the hill Hancock knew
the artillery fire had been intended to
demorallLe hIs men and cover the all
vance OF their infantry, which Was to
make the real attack. Turning his horse
he rode slowly up his line from the lett
% right, holding his hat IN his hand,
bowing and smiling to the troops as
they lay Hat on the ground. Hardly
had he reached the right OF the
line when the men, who, inspired by
the courage 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 flew from the
muzzles of ourTltles 10 the breasts OF the
Coniedera,es. 1t was an awful day, and
I,oppstreet's cold Guard OF the South
/ melted away like wax under that terri
/ ble hre. Oi the 1900 who came to the
/ attack, 5000 iell or were captured on the
| hillside. Thirty stand OF colors and all
immense number OF small arms we're
taken. Hancock was everywhere riding
| the storm OF battle as II he bore
charmed lie. At 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 ms
horse. A ball had pierced his thigh, and
for time it was thought the wound Was
mortal.
"Tell General Meade" said Hancock
| addressing his aide, Col. Mitchell, that
the troops under my command have
repulsed the enemy and gained a great
victory. The enemy are now Tying III
all directions in my front.
When the aide delivered the message
10 Gen, Meade and added his that genera
was dangerously wounded, Meade said
"Say 10 Gen. Hancock that am sorry
he is wounded and that ! thank hlu
for myseli and for the country for th'
services he has rendered to-day"
General Meade afterwards, in com
menting on the battle OF Gettysburg
said TO Gen. X. &. Drum; "No com
manding general ever had better lieu
tenant than Hancock. He was always
faithful and reliable.
His Personal Appearance.
Hancock, in personal appearance, i
tall, we'll formed and very handsome
His height cannot be less than six lee
two inches, and he weighs fully tw'
hundred and forty pounds He woul'
make the finest looking President WHIT
ever sat in the White House, except
possibly, George Washington. Hi
| hOONC Othti hcht
tracts attention by his mere looks ~her
ever he goes. His eyes are blue an'
have a beniguant and mild e1pressio'
when in repose, but inspiring when y
danger. His manner 10 dignlneu al,
knightly, and he Is courtesy itsel'
He Is always magnetic, and drAS
men 20 him by his kindness and Eenu'
interest IN thslI Ait~lsss -e--enafH n
s;asHHssIy conosTned tor the so'ro~s an
iI;erS,u1es ,ehs;eS Of others, striving in ever
x ~ relieve them, as though theI
w. w. HES we're his own Hancock sklno
nsss 10 his subordinAtes always so
- ~, only their love, but also their conf
5Snee, Seu s and caused them to rely uPo
S; a. a friend as we'll a. q commando
fIel Hs gave a. a man good opinion Of hin
, sait and made one feel he was OF mo
;mportance than he ever before sp =
, a,sd In Was this which caused nj