San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-07-10

q determined stand as . Upiou man,
doiag much by private influence and
public speeches 70 stay the tide OF ss-
ioession feeling on the Pacific coast. "
is thoughtthat to his influence more
than anything else, was due the saliva
tioa Of the state from rebellion. His
public speeches wero many and potent.
Bat be, was not content with words.
On learning ofthe first shot atSumtcr
he wrote to Governor Curtin, Of Penn :
sylvauia. for commission of troops
raised In his native state. but petie'
ceiving q speedy answer be impatiently
addressed q letter to Gen. Scptts at
Washington. who WAS then Geuer-
al in chief, demanding active service,
Gen. Scott had learned his merits 10
Mexico. and ordered him Immediately
to the East.v-Upon arrival in Wash
ington he was requested to report to
Gen. Mcclellan; at whose instance
President Lincoln appointed him a
Brigadier. General of Volunteers. ole
was assigned tothe division Gof Gen.
Smith in the Army of the Potomac,
The four regiments Of his brigade were
we'll oficeyed, of excellent material
and their new commander, after Q
period Of tuition, felt that he could
rely on them in any emergency. Gen
Hancock served with distinction in all
the BATTLES Of the Peninsula, but it was
at williamsburg that his splendid
generalship madeitself most conspicu'
Gus. 'm ll
Gen. Mcclellan, in his dispatch to
the President said Hancock was su-
perb p and his name was echoed from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
MILITARY HoNoRs WON.
Gen. Hancock was again and again
cousplcuous7in spirited engagements.
After that of Malvern Hill he was
created Major, General Of Volunteers,
and breveted successfully Major, Lieu
tenant, Colonel aud Colonel 10 the
regular army. AT the fret Fredricks-
burg fight his uniform was perforated
with bullets, but he received only q
slight flesh wound. Soon after the
battle of Charlottesville he was plac-
ed in command Of the Second Corps
on the retirement of Couch. When
the news came of the opening Of
the fight at Gettysburg, he was
with Gen. Meade at Taneytown'
and was ordered by, him to take com .
mand of all the forces on the field
there, with such others as might arrive
Gen. Reynolds who commanded the
First Corps, had been killed, and that
body under Doubledayrwith the Elev-
entl,. under Howard, had been forced
to retreat. Hancock knew that Meade
intepded to fight the battle ontle line
of Pipe Greek, but sent him word BY
his senior aid, Major Mitchell, that
Gettysburg was geographically far
more advantageous. Gen. Meade,wisef
ly coincided. 70 Hancock commanded
the left centre on the second day of the
battle, and repulsed a desperate attack
following it up with counter charge,
On the third day he sustained canon :
ade of two hours from 12O guns, un-
der cover of which Lohgstreet's
men were massed. Streams OF shot
and shell hissed and screamed on every
side, men and horses were torn to
fragments, caissons exploded, blowing
the guuuers TO pieces, and the in.
fantry hugged the ground almost. in
despair. A band began to play the
"The Star Spangled Banner, :" and
Haucock with his staff. Major Mitchell
and Capts. Bingham, Parker and Bron
son. with Private James Wells carry.
ing the Second Corps flag. appeared
with heads uncovered on the right Of
his line. Cheers arose, and the brave
little group rode cody down the front
to the left. Shot and shell roared and
crashed, but not one Of them was harm
ed. Hancock knew that the artillery
fire was intended to demoralize his
men, aud to cover the advance Of Long
streets infantry. 1900 strong, which
was to make the real attack, As he
reached tn, left Of the line this infan-
try began emerging from the woods
aud advancing up the hill.
WOUNDED IL BATTLE.
Hancock turned his horse aud fol-
lowed by his ststf rode to the right
Of the line again. hat in hand, boEins
aud smiling to the men as be passed
The troops became Wild to engage.
aod on receiving orders mids terri be
hsroc With The enemy. who 10 thcir