The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-03
HANCOCK.
At Gettysburg.
Philadelphia Times.

Few men have served their country better
than Winfield s. Hancock, and few deserve
more from their country men. big man.
with big head, a big heart and big BRAIN
Hancock is the very personillcation of honor,
honesty and capacity Gallant and unassum-
ing, soldier in three wars, the hero OF II hun
bred battles, he Is Il man Of whom all demo
Gratis might consistently unite for president
and who, as candidate would perhaps com
mand u larger degree of respect and support
from republicans than any other man in the
democratic party. Clear-headed and selfre-
liant his career as judicial statesman and
military governor while in command OF Lou
islana and Texas gives evidence that, il a
strong man is needed for president, there is no
man in the nation more fit for that position
than Winfield s. Hancock. With him as the
candidate Of their party the democrats would
have nothing to explain or defend, and could
proudly point to his record and challenge a
comparison of it with that of the republican
candidate, whoever he might be. The people
of this country will not soon forget there was
day in its history when, if Gen. Hancock had
not shown the highest capacity as military
commander, there might be no republic to
govern. 1t was on that day when the gallant
Gen Reynolds fell at Gettysburgh and Lees
forces were driving back the union army.
Like u lnunucTUOlt IldUCoCk HIS
troops upon the victorious enemy, hurled them
back, and seizlng Cemetery heights and Round
Top wrested order from confusion and restored
confidence TO our halfbeaten army.
FIRST BATTLE.
| HIS first battle in the rebellion was at War
wick courthouse near Yorktown, and he led
his brigade in person, driving the enemy be
fore him. At Wllhamsburgh Hancock bore
ri In nlAa1l hnu
pulsed Hooker and exposed Hancock's left
flank he determined to retire and ordered the
batteries back to the slope, where his brigade
line stood. The rebel commander, seeing the
movement, at once advanced his troops, and
they came down on Ilancock's right in two
superb lines of battle, cheering tremendously
and calling out, Bull Run! Bull Run! That
flag Is ours" Hancock sat on his horse be
hind the centre OF his line, waiting with i'm
perturbable GOODNESS the favorable moment.
Calling on the men to stand fast and keep their
pieces loaded Hancock waited until the rebels
were within one hundred yards, then dashing
forward ON his horse with head barred and
Swinging his hat he shouted: Forward! for
ward! forward" The men saw the towering
formo their general leading them, and spring
ing up, with shout that made the hills ring,
they precipitated themselves upon the enemy
The great irregular mass OF rebels ialtered,
halted for moment, wavcred, and then fell
back slowly. Every inch of the ground was
stubbornly contested; still, Hancock forced
them. off the field, nor did they again adj
vance until the union reiniorcements came up
and rendered the victory secure. 1t was al
most night when Hancock repulsed the enc.
my, and no pursuit could be ordered IN the
darkness. The ground was covered with rebel
dead and wounded, and many were cut off and
captured The action of Hancock had rem
dered Williamsburg untenable, and that night
the enemy abandoned it. Hancocks name
was heralded from Maine to California, and in
n few hours, from an unknown subordinate
he had leaped into fame, and assumed a ma
} tional reputation. Mcclellan telegraphed the
president: Hancock was superb today" an
depression which all who saw him towering
above his men, leading them to battle knew
to be only just.
At GETTYSBURG.
: 1t was at Gettysburg Hancock doomed ~
/ before the country rs hero lie was com
manding the rear guard of the army IN It's al
- vance on Gettysburg, and had reached larry
town, the place where his grandfather on,
o hundred years before, had started TO escort on,
r thousand llessian prisoners of Burgoynes ar
my to Valley Forge, when Gen. Meade sen
n him an order to hasten 10 the front and assume
command of all the troops there. The repOr
n had reached Meade of the fall OF Gen Rev
r nolds and the check and repulse of the ad
!. vance, and his mind at dice turned to Gen
: Hancock as the man above all Others hes
If qualified to replace Reynolds and restore oil
q der at the head of the army. Hancock wa
n not the ranking general, but in the critica
i state of affairs Meade, knowing him to be tn
A best man, did not hesitate to assign him.
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