Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-07-08

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every moment tearing great gaps in the rank
by his side.
Stormed at by shot and SHE'LL
Boldly he rode. and we'll
Every Union soldier felt his heart thrill a
he witnessed the magnificent courage of hi
General, and he resolved to do s""'ethinl
that day which would equal it in u'ring
Just as Hancock reached the left of his linz
the Confederate batteries ceased to play, ant
their infantry were seen emerging from th'
woods and advancing up the hill. Hancoci
knew the artillery fire had been intended te
demoralize his men and cover the advance
of the infantry, which was to make the rea
attack. Turning his horse he rode slowly uE
his line from left to right, holding his hat ii
bis hand, bowing and smiling to the troops a:
they lay fiat on the ground. Hardly had hf
reached the right of the line when the men
who, inspired by the courage of their Gener
al, could now hardly restrain themselves, re
ceived orders to attack the advancing Con
federates. Eighty guns, which Hancock hac
concentrated, opened their brazen mouths ano
streams of blue bullets few from the muz
zles of the Union rifles to the breasts Of the
Confederates. 1t was all awful day, and
Longstreet's "Old Guard Of the South,
melted away like wax under that terrible fire
Thirty stands of colors and an immense mum
Der of small arms were taken. Hancock
was everywhere, riding the storm of battle a;
if he bore charmed life. At last, just in
the moment of victory, he was seen to reel
in his saddle and would have fallen to the
ground had he not been helped from his
horse. A ball had pierced his thigh, and for
some time it was thought the wound was NOR
tai.
"Tell Gen. Meade" said Hancock, ad-
dressing his aide, Col. Mitchell, "tbat the
troops under my command have repulsed the
enemy and gained great victory. The
enemy are now flying in all directions in my
front"
When the aide delivered this message to
Gen. Meade and added his Genera was dan.
gerously wounded, Meade said: Say to Gen:
Hancock, that am sorry he is wounded and
that l thank him for myself and for the
country for the services he has rendered to-
day"
Gen. Meade, afterwards, in commenting on
the battle of Gettysburg. said to General K.
C. Drum: "No commanding general ever
had better lieutenant than Hancock. He
was always faithful and reliable"
UNDER GRANT.
Hancock did not recover from his wound
until December, 1863, when, although still
quite lame, he reported for duty, and was
sent North to recruit his corps. He was ten
dered reception at Independence Hall by
the citizens of Philadelphia, and received the
hospitalities of the cities of Boston, Albany
and New York. In March, 1864, he rejoined
his corps and participated in the battles of
the Wilderness with Grant. He commanded
the Second and parts of the Fifth and Sixth
Corps, amounting in all to $4,000 men. He
fought at Alesop's House and Spotlsylvania
Courthouse. He was at North Anna, and did
most of the fighting there. He commanded
at the bloody assaults on Cold Harbor, and
did his best to execute Grants orders. The
fighting was desperate, and Hancock's loss
could not have fallen far short of 10000.
He was on the south side of the James Riv-
er, and made the assaults on Petersburg. He
was with Sheridan, and attacked the Confed.
crates at Deep Bottom, taking four pieces of
artillery, 600 prisoners and three stands of
colors He was at Petersburg and witnessed
the explosion of the mine on the morning Of
July 3d. The advance up the James River,
August II, 1864, was under his command
and he handled the Second and Tenth Corps
of the Army of the James and Gregg's Di.
vision of cavalry with such consummate skill
as to elicit expressions of admiration from
even Gen. Grant. He fought the battle Of
Reams' Station, August 25, and had his
horse shot under him. He fought the battle
of Boydton Road, capturing 10000 prisoners
and two stands of colors.
With the battle of Boydton, Gen. Han
cocks active fighting in the war ceased. Pres.
ident Lincoln, who had learned to place a
high estimate on Hancock's abilities, ordered
him to Washington and directed him at once
to organize an army of $4,000 veterans from
discharged volunteers, who had served an en-.
listment The use of this army was alone
prevented by the surrender of Lee and the
ending of the war; At the close of the war
Hancock commanded the Army Of the She
nandoah, relieving Gen. Sheridan. This ar
my consisted of 35, 900 men of all arms, and
was destined to move South with Hancock S
$4,000 veterans and join Gen. Sherman, but
Joe Johnston threw up the sponge and rem
dered the movement unnecessary.
AFTER THE WAR-sUBoRDINATION OF THE
MILITARY TO THE CIVIL AUTHORITY.
When the assassination Of Mr.. Lincoln
took place, General Hancock was ordered to
Washington to take command Of the troops
collected there, and was subsequently kept
there, by President johnson, during the days
of the trial and execution Of the conspirators.
He had nothing whatever to do with the
details of guarding or care Of the prisoners
that duty was devolved upon General Hart
ranft, who had command of the Arsenal,
where the prisoners were confined, and who
was charged with seeing that the order for
their execution was properly carried out.
The day before the execution General Han
cock, as military head of the Department,
had served upon him by the Marshal of the
District a writ Of habeas corpus, which had
been sued out by the counsel of Mrs. Surratt.
He promptly forwarded it to President John.
son, his superior and Commander in, Chief
Its reception was acknowledged by the Presi-
dent, who directed the suspension of the writ.
General Hancock could do no more. He
saw then that the only hope for Mrs. Surratt
lay in the power of her daughter to move the
Presidents heart. He so informed her, and
gave her every facility in his power to gain
access to the President. So great was his
anxiety in regard to the looked-for pardon
or reprieve, that he placed line of mounted
sentinels from the White House to the place
of execution, that the words of grace, if