The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-14

a iStGteDae6t q RAGS Oy OHe WHo Is IN u
Position to Kaoao- Why the Promotion
aoos not Finally Made Grant Auega-
ton Contradicted IN Another Coaspi-
efous Feature. -
a New York Sun.
A gentleman intimately eonversant
with the facts, furnished the following
statement relative to the proposed
promotion of Gen. Hancock. on
two occasions. to the command of the
Army of the Potomac: SO
Late IN the fall of 1868, some months
after the battle of Gettysburg. Gen.
Meade made an advance from the Kappa
hanuock against Lee, which ended in
Interpretations near Mine Run. After
fewedays, Meade was foiled, and returned
to bis cantonments. Congress was about
assembling. and great dissatisfaction and
gloom weresfelt throughout the country.
Members of Congress demanded change
of commanders. Gen. Hancock having pre-
Viously heard of the advance on
Richmond as he was recovering
from his Gettysburg wound in ST.
Louis, and being the permanent cOmman-
der of the Second Corps of the Army of
of the Potomac, mprising from 10000
to 10000 men, proceeded6at once, though
far from well, to Washington TO resume
command of it, Before he reached this
city tho action of Mine Run had been
fought and the army had returned to its
csntoument north or Rapidan. Gen.
Hancock was detained by Stanton aud
Gen. Hallock, under the auspices of
President Lincoln. for q month, with a
view of placing him in command of the
/ A &c 81 in Eo
ion demanded a change. Gen. Hancock
advised that no change should be made, as
he believed Gen. Meade to be perfectly
competent as commander in chief 1t.
however, any change should be decided
on it should be deferred until spring, as
the weather was bad and the time had
arrived for the army to enter into canton
ments for the winter.
s'Gen. Hancock was still suffering from
his wound, and his doctors stated that he
was in no condition to take the field.
After his thirty days detention, awaiting
the action of public opinion it was finally
decided that Gen. Meade was not neces-
ssrily responsible for the Mine Run fail
ure. and that 1t might have been owing to
the untavorable weather. or to mistakes OF
others which might happen in s17 army.
Gen, Hancock was therefore to proceed to
the Army of the Potomac and take com
maud of his corps, as the government had
concluded to make no change. On arriving
at headquarters he informed Gep. Meade
of all the facts relating TO his detention as
matter of loyalty to him IS his com
mander The latter received the comb
dence in the spirit in which it was given,
and commended Gen. Hancock for his
action. This was before Gen. Grant
came to the theatre of war 10 the east and
had control of the Army of the PotoInsc.
During the campaign before Peters
burg in the summer of 1864. Gen. Meade
feeling dissatisfaction at Gen. Grant being
placed over him IN the direct field of oper
ations, desired TO command an independent
army and wished for that OF the Shenan :
doah. 1t was intended to comply vita his
desire and to confer the command OF the
| Potomac upon Gen Hancock. Gen. Grant
| assented TO this arrangement, and at an
interview with President Lincoln at Fort
ress Monroe brought the subject 10 his
attention. The President objected at Grst
thinking it might offend Gen. Meade and
his friends. but on learning that Gen.
Meade wished the change. assented- Gen.
| Sheridan. having previously been brought
| from the w est to command the cavalry OF
| the Army of the PUkomac, had been sent
| with $50 of its divisions 70 the Shenandoah
Valley to relieve Gen. Hunter of his com
mend Of com bioed cavalry and infantry,
that officer having just returned from an
unsuccessful attack upon Aynchburg,
| Gen, Grant did not wish to relieve Gen,
| Sheridan from that command at the NOM
eut uutil he had affected certain results,
and after providing him with sufficient
re enforcement of troops to give him a
preponderance over the enemy directed
| Ia ahr
piled. and won the battle OF the Opedugn.
This delayed at the time any consideration
of change in the status OF Gen, Meade,
| but in q short time the matter was revived
Shortly afterward. Gen. Sheridan won a
victory at Cedar Creek, and then, when 1t
was proposed to Mr.. Lincoln to carry out
his original Intention. the Pres
idential election was near at
hand, and be said. in bis prac
tical way Sheridan has been doing
very well up there. and we'd bstter let