National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-10-26
THE New York he


THE New York Herald of yesterday says
Mr.. GRACE will most likely be mayor. The
leaders of the republics machine have made
his defeat difficult. There is an impression
among those who look deeply into these matters
that KELLY will reward the republicans for
their sclr-sacrifce by helping the GARFIELD
electoral canvass. We should not be surprised.
For THE NATIONAL REPuBLIcAS.
what Know About Hancock.
Since General Hancock has been before the
rs a candidate for president lie has
been the theme Of quite Il number Of sketches,
complimentary aud otherwise. As a member
of his celebrated corps and of one of his Penn
sylvania regiments, l had n pretty ample
chance of learning some Of his leading charac-
teris lies as a man and as a general. And what
shall state can be verified by many of my
former comrades, who will likely read this
article.
General Hancock IL regular army officer
and in everything he did as n general in the
late war this fact was fully eXempifed. For
example, our regiment during the winter of
lS62-63 was cncamped on the main road lead
ing 10 Falmouth Va, and every day general
officers with their stats, were passing. We
could always tell when Hancock was coming
by the great cloud of dust, chatter of horses
hoofs and jingle Of spurs that accompanied
him. As rule he was always in full uni.
form and attended by large aud richly uni
formed staff; and voc to the luckless captain
or lieutenant who was negligent in turning
out the guard" as he passed.
While many other officers rode about camp
in undress uniform, i never saw Hancock
except in full uniform, aud l don't think he
ever appeared on duty or in public in any
other way. During the winter Of 1862 '63 We
pcketed along the banks of the Rappahan.
mock, johnny reb' on the south side, we on
the north The winter was very Indictment,
as all will recollect. By General Hancock's
order no fires were allowed on the front
picket line, although the troops of other corps
had fires, as well as the rebels across the
river. The night of the 22d of February,
1868, will long be remembered by many u
soldier of the old Second corps. 1t was ex-
cessvely cold, with pitiless wind, all night.
The northumberland -fortieth Pennsylvania
had large detail on picket, among which
was my brother, and fearing that the
men would DO frozen to death
| the officer in charge permitted the pickets to
| leave the front line and seek the fires on the
reserve limo, mile or more in tho rear, aud
| he himself set the example. When our detail
| reached camp some had their cars frozen,
| others their feet, others their scalp SO that
the hair aftorward fell off, and not a few were
so badly frozen that they mover did duty
| again. Old Captain Parker Of Washington
| county, Pa, never rose from his bed after
reaching his tent, but died in a few weeks
afterward from the exposure OF that night.
In the sping of 1868, when the pickets were
returning TO camp, one of General HancOck's
aids who had u very peculiar aud marked
| physiognomy, and who was known among the
| boys" as Jack of Dimonds," camo squirting
his horse through their ranks, as they, much
| fatigued, marched along 1T a "right-shOuldeI
IcI,i - Tho hnug did lilyo this aud
of them cried out Jack OF Diamonds" The
aid reigned up his horse, and, with many moi
| very refined adjectiYes, inquired who had
called out that name. Or course no ono
answered, but seeing tho number "l40" on oul
caps, he reported that the men Of the One-hun
drcd.and-lortieth Pennsylvania had insutet
him. and the result of it was that that detail
was ordered by General Hancock on double
duty, which in this case was, that it was sen
out on picket tue next day. The writer 0
| this SIX etch was member Of that detail
Such acts as the foregoing toward intelli
gent, thinking volunteer soldiers did not par
tIcularly endcar the name OF Hancock t,
them; aud while they might admire him TO
his soldierly qualities aud military bear
ing, they would not, could not aud did no
love him.
Without doubt General Hancock is an abb
corps commander, and us member Of hi
corps who fought with him at Getlysbur
and left a leg on that memorable field,
would not pluck one laurel from his brON
which rightfully belongs there. Bat to cal
General Hancock "ihc hero of Gettysburg"
simply absurd aud is peryeriiiig both histor
and logic. After the death of General Rey
uolds the command of the troops at Gettys
burg doyolved on General Howard, who, Il
treating through thu town At the suggcsiO
Of General Sieinwehr, missed his riiiery an
collected his scattered forces on Cemetery hill
In this position General Hancock, when sen
on by General Meade to examine the stu;
ton" found him, and dispatched
Meade that "the ground appears ne
unlavorablo with good troops" But nc al
not select the ground, as | understand Gel
eral Slocum asserts, for IL was already Occl
pied when he arrived, and our repuise on II
opposite side Of the town and conscq uent r.
treat WAS the cause Of It's occupancy. Gener
Hancock is "the hero of Gettysburg" in IL
same sense rs a ha!fa.dOzen other genera
who were there aud fought their corps wei
If any one except Meade Is entitled to thi
honorary sObriquct ID lies between Goncr
Reynolds, who with his corps lntcrDosed hin
self and prevented the rebels occupying III
advantageous ground, or General How m
who when Reynolds was killed aud his cor
repulsed, collected his shattered forces ~
posted them on Cemetery hill.
General Hancock has been accused of vani
. by that keen observer OF human nature, Gle
oral Grant, aud ii IS true he is very vain. /
3 has been accused Of profanity and this is al
? true. When he was wounded at Gettysbu
by shot striking fence near by aud knoc
ing a nail out Of the fence into his body he /
mlrked "lhey keep id poor fences
this COUNTRY"
s So far us / can learn, and have taken son
pains 10 find out, don't believe General la
cock will receive any considerable nuI
Der of votes from members Of his old corr
b except those who are aud have been idcnt
D lied with the democratic party, II he was
volunteer soldier with Ms good military re
ord as ho has, and, further, ii his qualities
q man were such us to ondear him to the rar
aud file it might DO otherwise. As IL
0 General Hancock will be worse beaten thu
D | McClellau--he cannot even carry New Jerse
I II will DO "a solid north" against him.
rather against tho party who nominated nil
70 j, j. PURMAN,
5 Veteran of the l40th Pa. Vols
| OCTanRR 2B 1880.