The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-31

applied to Gen. Scott to be ordered
East for active duty. His request was
granted, and he was assigned as chie1
! quartermaster on the staff of Gen
Robert Anderson, who was organizing
an army at Louisville, KY, but before
entering on those duties he was ap-
pointed by Mr.. Lincoln Brigade,
General of volunteers, and assigned
to a command in the Army Of the
Potomac. The four regiments COM
posing his brigade were the Fifth
Wisconsin, the Sixth Maine, the For
ty-niuth Pennsylvania, aud the Forty
third New York. III the spring OF
1862 lie accompanied the Army of the
Potomac to the Peninsula, and was
actively engaged i'll the siege of York
town during the montl, of April. For
his gallantry during the siege he was
specially comp|imented in the dis
patches of the Commanding General
of the Army. The phrase, Hancock
was superb" ran through the country,
from Maine to California. His subse-
qnent conspicuous services at Gold
ing's Farm, Garnett's Hill, White Oak
Swamp, aud other engagements dur
ing the Seven Days Fight, which
closed with the victory at Malvern
Hill, led the General in Chief to urge
his promotion to Major General Of
volunteers.
In the fall of 1862, after the return
of the army Of the Potomac from the
Peninsula, he took part in the move
ment on Ccntreville, Va. In the
Maryland campaign of the same year
he commanded his brigade at Cramp-
toms Pass, South Mountain, on the
14tll Of September. Three days after
ward, On the battlefield Of Antietam,
he was placed in command of Gen.
Richardson's division when that gal
liant officer fell mortality wounded.
At the battle of Fredericksburg in
December, he led his division in the
assault Oh Marye's Heights, where he
lost half his command in killed and
wounded. and where he and all his
aids were wounded. At the battle of
charlottesville, in May, 1868, he
covered the roads leading towards
Fredericksburg, where his troops
maintained their position to the last,
and formed the rear guard of the army
i'll moving off the field. The Generals
horse was shot under him in that bat
tie. Early in June he relieved Gen.
Couch i'll command of the Secoud
Corps, and later in the same montl,
was assigned by Mr.. Lincoln to be it's
permanent commander.
Hancock guarded the rear of the
army on the march to Gettysburg.
Reynolds was in advance in command
Of three army corps, and after he had
fallen on the FIRST day, Gen. Meade
sent HaEcock forward to take COM
mand Of the forces OF the battle field
Upon his arrival he checked the enc
my's advance, and sent word to Gen.
Meade that the position should be
held, as Gettysburg was the point
where the great impending battle
should be fought. In accordance Will,
these suggestions Gen. Meade hurried
forward all his forces. On the second
day Hancock commanded the left CEN
tre of the army, and reconstructed the
line of battle pierced by the enemy
in many places, 50 that at night his
position stood intact as in the morn
ing. On the third day it was his high
fortune to Iepulse the assault of Gen.
but only after contest
Of tie most stubborn and saDguinafy
character. Five thousand prisoners,
thirty seven stand Of colors, and many
thousand stand of arms were among
the trophies of this victory. At the
of his triumph Hancock fell
desperately wounded. While lying
on the ground on his line OF battle he
sent an aide to Gen. Meade, com
the Army of the Potomac:
$ Tell Gen. Meade he said, !" the
troops under my command have re-
pulsed the enemy's assault and we
have gained great victory. The
enemy is now flying in all directions
from my 'front.' The officer who con-
veyed this message to Gen. Meade,
added that Gen. Hancock was dan.
gerously wounded. /" Say to Gen.
said Gen. Meade, s that
am sorry he is wounded, and that / |
thank him for the country and for
myself, for the service be has rem
ilered to-day By a Joint resolution
Of Congress Gen. Hancock received