, 1880-09-04
LIFE OF HANCOCK.

LIFE OF HANCOCK.
Tho biopraphcr OF Con. l1atrcook has task
which ynay well excite tho sympathy of his
friciltls. Tho Generals life tns boon without
variety. lie went to tho MItftNry Acastolny+
graduated Without special l,ullor mud huB served
n tho ARMY over sti,cc. This IL tic wtloiu Of
hta career. 1Ie nuvcr thal MI ttdcnond-
cnt command. lie rlanncd no cnnl-
pa!EnH and fought nono. Not llko tlo
Eenturi OF, h1it like one of bis soicrs. he went
whcro ho wns ordered. It is tr,ie he WIS faithful
a.sts brave rs n soldier; honoratllo and tr.tu as Il
,nan. Hut thotu hive bectl NIaty slich atnOlIg
s,'dess An'a n1no,lg .nen. Biographies nrp nut
written onty 10 cciebrntc good ehAractera COIL
apieunus virtues or great opportunities ci.t-
braccl mud followed by Elorlaus achievements
t.ro thp urnary provocations to ltfc-wrating. 1t
IL nj Inversion Of tho trug order to begin tho life
iirst and tllnH cxAmfno 1t With II inaEntfylng
glaSs for events worthy OF iI0tjec.
Tho present author, for lrstancc Is mich
rnnveal .by Gen. lfnncoUk's clElclcncy rs n rcKl-
mental Q,tNrtcrmasser; yet VIC do not icnrti fr0m
tho nArrutiyu that hts lnbors III procuring nnd
forwarding E,nrl-tnck atll snlt-hnrso for
tlla mess vcro spec[nlly trying. ltcgiinontnl
Quartermnetcrs lii tl.oso t!nyE could hot hnve
been so. .,nuch moro heroic ihnn they nro lsow.
1,ittloseus 10 10 procured, and tllt llttso was
6uru!teti f,y tho Government. Arranging for
transportation wns not mighty task. a fcw.
mules n,oru or less, a EnnR Ut drivers. and II
guRrta might he got tceottcr Without nny atrnftl
on tho Intellect OF a QuMrt6rHnnster. Yet Gen.
Hnncocks solo tftte to rct'own previous to tho
Civil Mur IL nA'o to consist af his etllcteney III
Quartcrn,nstcr or Cnnnssary, his sucecss In
.isnwIug up "pnpcrs," and bis valiant service
nB II recruiting oiI,cer tmueh aHaft,st his
will, 1t Ia truc> during m0st OF tho cx-
citing period af tho afex!cnn war llo
did not reach tho front until short tiu before
tho fnll Of the City OF Moxlco, and ho served rs
hin, tlo moro until tho breakiug out Of tho Civil
WAr.
Tho mast Interesting chapter III this volume Is
that which describes tho Dnttle Of Gettysburg
Though Gen. IIaneock fs ina1o tue principal
figure OF tho engagement, AnA tho right pTo-
purtlous OF tho narration thorcsy destroyed. tho
author has NOT oxtrnvagnntly sot forth the chNr-
nctcr ot his services to his country uA that great
tlny. OF 6on. tIancock's personal bravery and
Kttol fighting qualities th0r0 cNu ho t,U doubt.
II w0illl DO al MnRrato[ul country that should
dispute them.
Tho record of bis civil experience In New
0rleans ts menRsc. It consists nlnlnty OF bis
published orders aid tho lottors to Gen. rcasu.
NottlIar ths author nor nuy other TINT w0 havo
accm attcipts 10 tlchi With tho rca Inconsistency
OF 0cn. Iiancoaks conduct ut that post 1T duty.
tho 0oncral, aftcr having promulgated tho
most ndvNlccll doctrine concerning ctsi! liberty,
WIS removed for insisting up1n military inter-
foteNco with III election and tho organization Ut
q municipal body, 1i0 lu,lsal hia own theories
totally tmpeautlcnhlc. This was hts only cfvll
experience. II added nothing to ILLS reputation
at tho time or Blneo. It will add nothing now.
Tho only testimony to tho norft Ut it adduccd
IN tho book isa complimentary .gpssnEs from
Ant!Fow !ohns1. aud IN extract from tho
4 why ssiaii dcareo of literary merit Is evinccd
In this look. Tho tucta aro ts0t skiilfully m9'l-
If tHhvi9u1.tH fhAt