The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-03-21
vI.-Raising an Army Of veterans-The
Assassination Of the Prealdemt.

On the 2sth of November General Hancock was
detached from the Army Of the Potomac and ordered
10 Washington. There were then many veteran SOL
ders In the country Whose terms Of service had ex-
pred and the Government considered the best means
Of calling into the field this desirable element. Vet
eran soldiers having been once hcnoably discharged
hesitate retnter the service In regiments recruited
since their own enstments; so 1t was thought advs-
able to raise corps which should consist Of veterans
Alone The man to whom the President FIRST looked
was In regard both to the length and severity of his
service the chief Of all the veteran general officers OF
the Army. and that man was General Hancock. 1t
was determined to make this corps so 900 strong, and
It was very Justly believed that with Hancock at the
head of this the old soldiers would ut once
flock to the standard and the force be recruited In the
shortest possible time. This Idea proved correct
one. This accomplished, General Hancock was again
ordered TO the 'front.' IN command Of the Middle Mill
tary Division, and made his headquarters at WIN
CHESTER the division embracing the Departments OF
West virginia, Pennsylvania, aud Washington and
the force under his command including the Army OF the
Shenandoah, amounting TO nearly one hundred thou
sand OF all With this force II was expected
decisive blow, In one direction or the other. woul,
be struck and General Hancock under orders to b
ready to at few hours notice. either on Lynch
burg to cooperate with tho Army OF the Potomac, OF
with General Sherman, the exigencios OF the cam
paign should demand. The sudden breaking Of Lee
lines at Petersburg. and the surrender at Appomatox
rendered neither Of these movements necessary.
This, the last part OF his active military service
while marked with no shock Of opposing forces, was
nevertheless. destined TO be period OF great excite
ment to bimseif well Ms to the country. While hi
headquarters We're sti In the Valley Of the shenan
doah, in April s65, the consPirators against the live
OF the President and his Cabinet consummated, Il
part, their plot and President Lincoln murdered
Secretary Seward was nearly stabbed to death and til
country was panic stricken by the sudden evidence
a widespread deep-laid plot To destroy the entr
Government by the abominatod and nnciviliEe'
method Of secret aud concerted assassination. Tn
millions who stu live TO remember that day wi
testify that the Northern people before
shaken and unnerved. even when confronted with til
soverest disasters In tho field as on that dreadf,
Friday, In April 1864. II seemed to most patriot
people as though the sun Of liberty had gon
into perpetual eclipse. feeling OF such univei
| sal fear and distrust peryadcd the nation
that men looked In each other faces With the despa
which comes over the soul when nature experience
some awful eataclysm, and when there is no long
any hope for mankind. Happily, this feeling VI
only temporary, but while II lasted II was nniyers
aud real. General Hancock was summoned ut ON
to Washington. The extent OF the conspiracy so'
bccane known, and the measures taken by him to CO.
front the secret peril wero thorough, aud contribute
greatly ~ aay the terror. When Hancock preseis
In Washington known over the country, as It so
was announced by telegraph. men said 10 each othe
"Thank God, man is in Washington now who G
he trusted In any emergency" General liaaeo