The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-07-11

battle should be fought. In accordance
with these suggestions Gen. Meade hurried
forward all his forces. On the second day
Hancock commanded the left centre of the
army, and reconstructed the line Of battle
pierced by the enemy in many places, so
that at night his position stood intact as in
the morning. On the third day it was his
high fortune to repulse the assault Of Gen.
Longstreet, but only after contest OF the
most stubborn and sanguinary character.
Five thousand prisoners, thirty-seyen stand
of colors, and many thousand stand of arms
were among the trophies of this victory.
At the moment Of his triumph Hancock
fell desperately wounded. While lying
on the ground on his line OF
battle, he sent an aide to Gen.
Meade, commanding the army of the Poto-
mac: Tell Gen. Meade he said, 1.-THE
troop under my command have repulsed
the enemy's assault and we have gained
great victory. The enemy is now flying in
all directions from my 'front.' The officer
who conveyed this message to Gen. Meade,
added that Gen. Hancock was dangerously
wounded. Say to Gen. Hancock" said
Gen. Meade, shat am sorry he is wound
ed, and that l thank HIM for the country
and for myself, for the service he has rem
dered to-day" BY joint resolution of
congress Gen. Hancock received the unani
nous thanks OF that body for his "gallant
meritorious and conspicuous share IN that
great and decisive victory" at Gettysburg,
The resolution passed by congress was as
follows:
For the skill and heroic valor, which at
Gettysburg, repulsed, defeated and drove
back, broken and dispirited, the veteran
army of the rebellion, the gratitude of the
American people and the thanks of their
representatives in congress are likewise
due, aud are hereby rendered, TO Maj Gen.
Winfield S. Hancock for his gallant, meri-
torious and conspicuous share in that great
and decisive victory.
After the battle he was borne to the field
hospital and thence to his fathers home at
Norristown, Pa, where he lay for many
weeks and suffered great agony from his
wound. The bullet WAS finally extracted,
but he was unfit for duty until the follow
Ing December. In December, although his
wound was still unhealed, he reported
again at Washington for active duty in the
field. At this time. after the battle of Mine
Run he was prominently talked OF IN cabi
net councils for the command Of the army
Of the Potomac, and was retained
in Washington with that view, but with
characteristic nobility and magnamity he
disclaimed all desire for the position and
urged the retention of Gen. Meade Resum-
ing command of the Second corps, which
was in winter quarters, he was ordered by
by the authorities at Washington to proceed
north to recruit the decimated ranks of that
celebrated corps preparatory to the ensuing
spring operations. Accordingly he establish
ed his headquarters at Harrisburg, and visit
ed other states in enlisting volunteers. His
high reputation and great popularity made
him eminently successful in this service
While dischargng his duty, the city coun-
Gil Of Philadelphia rendered him reception
in Independence hall, and he also received
the Inequalities OF New York, Albany, Bos-
ton and other cities.
lIls sketcn cannot Detter close IMAM WIN
the language Of Hancock's first division
commander, that splendid veteran and stub
born fighter, who was himself generally in
hot water with his official superiors, Maj.
Gen. "Baldy" Smith. Said the latter of
Hancock: "He was the most loyal subor-
dinate ever knew He always tired to
carry out his orders in their spirit as we'll as
to the letter, and whatever he might think
Of them, when he received them they be-
came his own and part and parcel Of him
self"