St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-14
Gen. TIancOck's Daughter.
A MINISTERINC1 ANGEL TO WOUNDED AND
DYING SOLDIEES-A WAR REMINIS-
CENCE BIZ A FORMER OFFICER
UNDER GEN. HANCOCK,


UNDER GEN. HANCOCK.
Tn the Pueblo, Col, Democrat VIC find
an interesting "Reminiscences of the re-
bellion from the pen of E. j. Maxwell,
who was an officer in the Second Army
Corps under Gen. Hancock. He writes
as follows:
The nomination of that magnificent
specimen of Il man and soldier, Gen.
Winfield S. Hancock, recalls to my mind
an incident connected with his cele-
brated campaign in the Wilderness,
which made a strong impression upon
me at the time, and which, doubt not,
is indelibly stamped upon the memories
of those who were spectators OF the re-
markable scene.
1t was after that week of terrible and
bloody struggles, when, like two I'M
mense Pithons, the Federal and Confed-
crate armies were interlocked in a death
grip, each painting for the mastery over
the other The army of the Potomac
had commenced the grand flank move
ment by which the forces of Gen. Lee
were gradually wasted and attenuated
preparatory to the final struggle at the
gate of the Capital City. There had
been fighting and diminishing all the
way, notably at the crossing of the
North Anna and at Cold Harbor. There
the two armies once more broke away
from each other and renewed the race
for the Confederate stronghold at Rich
mond. On the evening of the 10th of
June the Second Army Corps, with the
imposing figure OF Hancock at its head,
undistin suishable, indeed, from the
humblest soldier, except by his grand
and heroic stature and bearing, crossed
the James River near Petersburg. For
two days and nights the weary veterans
who followed
TIE TREFOIL FLAG
had tramped over hot and dusty high
ways, with empty haversaclSs, thankful
for stray ear of corn with which to
appease their hunger. And yet there
was not a murmur, as at length they lay
down, worn and exhausted, behind the
hasty eartliworks they were cautioned
to throw up with tlIeir bayonets. For
the enemy was in their front, and in
the dawn of the morning hundreds upon
of these poor fellows would
awaken to enter upon that long and I'M
disturbed sleep of death. They knew
this, and yet no heart tiinched, no mus
Gle quivered. They were with Han
cock, and he had never yet deserted |
them or led them to defeat. And so
they went quickly to sleep, and not |
ing to the foe of that silent bivouac.
Long ere the first glimmer of day the |
gallant Second Corps had been awaken |
ed from their slumbers and drawn up i'll
line of battle in front of their works.
Not a man then but knew what was
before him. Scarcely had the first faint |
trace of light began to color the atmos-
phere when a hoarse and sullen boom
from the Confederate line gave the sig
nal for commencement OF the bloody
carnival which was to redden the mem
orable day. / do not propose to go into
the details of this struggle. Not a man
in the whole Clover-leaf Corps but had
an opportunity of behOlding his COM
General repeatedly during the
contest. He was among them and of
hem,
SHARING THEIR PERILs
md their work throughout the entire
lay. At the close of the afternoon, just
Is [ was assisting in a movement by
which the line Of battle was to be re-
leved, | was struck by piece Of shell,
which had spent its force, and caused
,nly flesh wound. But it bled pro-
usely, and about dusk found my way
o the field hospital in the rear. The
ambulance corps and all the
of the hospital had taken
quarters in a deserted building which
lad been the residence of a tobacco
PLANTER. By the time had reached the
louse the wounded were being brought
u from all directions, some on stretchers,
many Of them on foot. Many more
we're on their way, and frequently when
hn Itr,In ~, al IL,
hospital the poor occupants were taken
nut dead. There were grOaGs and i'm
filling the air all about me.
The terrible stencil of the unfortunate
mes who were undergoing operations ;
vas enough to sicken the stoutest heart.
from the lips of many came the most {
orrible 0aths and imprecations.
MEN WERE DYING
II around. And such death! All the
valuable space in the yard was thus
sed. It was a scene to beggar descrip-
ion. What a subject that would have
een for a Hogarth Bewildered and
onfused with the horrible sight [ wit
essed, entered the main building and /
assed into the large front room. As | ,
id so strange spectacle met my gaze. f,
here were half a dozen cots containing :
he forms Of wounded men, but there {;
lust have been a score or more of other !
oldiers PROSTATE on the floor, or finding -,
Their support. The surgeons with their :
ssistaDts and attendants, were moving
bout hither and thither, making hur-
ed inspections. and the light fell from
NO or three lamps upon the scene--it i,
lu1id sight. Upon one Of !,
le cots lay the PROSTATE figure of ,,
Mon officer. Upon inquiry learned
lat he was near and dear friend, the
1jutant of the 6sd New York, and that !,
e had been shot through the groin. | !
lvanced to the bedside, and as did so :
beheld the form OF a woman-sle could l
OF have been more than Q
A GIRL OF EIGHTEEN, !;
ON her appearance, kneeling by the
It. In her hands she held clasped s
ible, and she was offering up a prayer +
II the poor souls who We're dying about
II. After she arose the dying adjutant
eckoned to her, and, as she bent down
,r head, whispered something in her
II. Then the young girl turned to those
ho were standing about and quietly
ked them to join her in singing the
Rock Of Ages | had heard the hymn
ng before, and have since, but [ shall
,ver again hear it as ii was sung that
chit TAX in o. tho ali y,tant's hand in