The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-30


same month was assigned by Mr.. Lincoln to
be its permanent commander.
In one OF his battles General Hancock
PLACED one of bis brigades in a certain position
and said to its commander: General, what
ever happens, want you TO bold this ground I"
on the battle field and on that occasion seemed
TO be particularly weak and anxious. and as
the General turned 10 ride away TO another
part of the field he followed him a short dis.
lance ana called out: General, where are my
reserves?" General Hancock turned and. nd
ing mp TO where the officer standing,
said. severely: General, II Is none OF your
business where your achievements are that
is my business. L have placed you here to
hold this ground; that is all you are required
to do. and 1 want 1t done, SIR" The brigade
commander returned to his line with a sad
step ana sorrowful expression OF counteusnce.
AT GETTYSBURG.
It was at Gettysburg Hancock again doomed
up before the country as hero. He was COM
mandlDg the rear guard OF the army in its ad
vance on Gettysburg, and had reached Tarry-
town, the place where his grandfather, 100
years before, had started to escort goo Hessian
prisoners OF Burgoyne's my TO Valley Forge,
when General Meade sent him an order to
hasten 10 the front and assume command OF
all the troops there. The report had reached
Meade OF the fall OF General Reynolds and the
check and repuise OF the advance, and his
mind at once turned to General Hancock as
the man above all Others best qualified to re-
place Reynolds and restore Order TO the head
of the army: Hancock was not the ranking
General, but in the critical state of affairs
Meade, knowing him 10 be the best man, did
not hesitate to assign him.
On his way from Tarrytown to the battle
field General Hancock met the ambulance
containing the dead body of General Rey-
nods. When he arrived on the field he found
ready begun. Planting some infantry and
batteries on Cemetery Hill he threw his whole
energy into the battle and checked the enemy.
Schwerin and SAKE were said 10 be worth eacn
a reinforcement of l0,UO0 men to an army /;
Torstensin was rated as equal to l5,0C0, and the
Duke of Wellington said the arrival of Napo-
leon on q battlefield a better reinforce
ment to the French army than the accession
OF 10000 fresh troops. What, then, shall we
say of the value OF General Hancock's arrival
at the critical moment on the battlefield of
Gettysburg, a battle that by common consent
is now admitted to have decided the fate of
the Union and fixed the final result of the
war?
or General Hancock's individual action AT
Gettysburg IL would require volume to tell.
his was really the action of the army, and
Round Top, Culp's Hill and Cemetery Heights
were his creations. He sent word to General
Meade that was the place to fight, and selling
the favorable positions, with the eye of con-
summate general, hung on TO them with the
advance until Meade brought up the whole
army and delivered his battle.
THE INCARNATION OF WAR.
Hancock was grand and magnificent in the
battle of Gettysburg and seemed the very in
carnation Of war. On the second day he was
at Cemetery Heights during the frightful can
of $50 guns on our lines. The air was full of
missiles; streams Of shot and shell screamed
and Missed everywhere;it seemed as though
nothing could live under that terrible fire
men and horses were torn tlimb from limb ;
caiSsOns exploded one after another in rapid
succession, blowing the gunners to pieces
The infantry Rugged the ground closely and
sought every sllgnt shelter that the light
earthworks afforded. 1t was literally a storm
the beat of hailsJones. Those who had taken
part in every battle OF the war never had seen
anything like that cannonade, and the oldest
soldiers began TO be uneasy for the result.
Hundreds and thousands stricken
down the shrieks of animals and screams of
wounded men were appalling; still the awful
rushing sound of flying missiles went on and
apparently never would cease. IL was then,
when the FINEST hearts had begun to quail,
the army witnessed one of the grandest sights
ever beheld by any army on earth. Suddenly
a band began TO play 1.-The Star Spangled Ban
ner," and Generel Hancock, with his staff
Major Mitchell, Captain Bingham, Captain
Parker, Captain BrOnson-with corps flag fly
ing in the hands of Private Wells, appeared on
the right of his line uncovered and rode down
the front of his mSn to the left. The soldiers
held their breath, expecting every moment
to see him fall from his horse pierced by
shot rOared aud crashed around him, every
moment tearing great gaps il the ranks by
his side.
Stormed at by shot and shell,
Boldly he rode and well.
Every soldier felt his heart thrill as he wit
messed the magnificent courage of his General
and he resolved TO do something that day
which would equal 1t in daring. Just as Han
leries ceased to play. and their infantry, 1900
strong, were seen emerging from the woods
and advancing up the hill. Hancock knew
the artillery fire had been intended TO de-
moralize lbs men and cover the advance.o of
their infantry, which was TO make the real
attack. Turning his horse he rode slowly up
his line from left TO right, holding his hat in
his hand, bowling and smiling 10 the troops as
they lay fiat on the ground. Hardly had he
reached the right of the line when the men,
who, inspired by the courage of their General,
could now hardly restrain themselves, re-
ceived orders TO attack the advancing Rebels.
Eighty guns which Hancock had concentrated
opened their brazen mouths and streams of
blue bullets flew from the muzzles OF our rifles
to the breasts OF the Confederates. IL was an
awful day, and Longstreet's Old Guard of the
South" melted away like wax under that ter
rible fire. OF the ID, 900 who came to the at.
tack, 600 fell or were captured on the hill
side. Thirty stand of colOrs and an immense
number Of small arms were taken. Hancock
was every where, riding the storm of battle as
If he bore charmed life. At last, just In the
moment OF victory, he was seen to reel in his
saddle ana would have fallen to the ground
had he not been helped from bis horse. a nall
had pierced his thigh, and for a time 1t was
thought the wound YVES mortal.
"Tell General Meade" said Hancock, ad-
dressing his aide, Colonel Mitchell, THAT the
troops under my commend 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
General Meade, and added his General was
dangerously wounded, Meade SAID: "Say to
General Hancock that 1 sorry he is
wounded, and that 1 thank hun for myself
and for the country for the services he has
rendered to-day"
General Meade sfterward, In commenting
on the battle of Gettysburg, said to General
X. &. Drum: mo Commanding General ever
had better Lieutenant than Hancock. He
was always faithful aud reliable"
UNDER GRANT.
Hancock did not recover from his wound
until December, 1868, when, although still
quite lame, he reported for duty. and was sent
North TO recruit his corps. He was rendered q
reception at Independence Hall by
the citizens of Philadelphia, and
received the Inequalities OF the
cities of Boston. Albany and New York. In
March, 1864, he Joined his corps and particle
pated in the battles of the Wilderness with
Grant. He commanded the Second and parts
of the Fifth and Sixth Corps, amounting in all
to $1,000 men. He fought at Alesops House
and at SpottSylvania Court House, capturing
''Stonewall' Jackson's old brigade, 1000 pris-
oners and thirty colors 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 1900. He was on the south side of
the James River, and made the assaults on
Petersburg. He was with Sheridan, and at
fOr-