Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-10
Death of Gen. Hancock.

The announcement OF the death OF Gen.
Hancock yesterday was received with
sorrow throughout the entire country.
he was close to the hearts OF the people,
for they recognized in him the qualities
which command universal respect.
As aman he was without fear and
without reproach, and as a soldier on the
battlefield he was great. There Is not one
among all OF those who won fame In the
great civil contest who was more con-
spicuous for s9ldierly qualities. The
orator who nominated him for the Presi-
dency at Cincinnati in 1880, spoke of him
as one who on the field of battle was
styled "The Superb" That term ex-
pressed the feeling of admiration with
which he inspired his soldiers.
He did not ask them to 20 where he did
not lead, and they were always willing to
follow him. He was prominent through
out the entire war, and had 1t not been
for fear that he was too rash 1t is not
improbable tnath he would have had greater
responsibilities placed upon him. At
Gettysburg the service he rendered was
so great that Congress thanked him, and
various municipal organizations took Oc-
casion to show the appreciation in which
he was held.
Although il was not until 1880 that he
became the candidate OF great party for
the Presidency be was popular favorite
from the close OF the war. In 1868 the
demand that he should be chosen to lead
the Democracy was very strong.
That be had the qualities Of states
man as well as those of "A soldier was gem
orally believed. His letter to Gov. Pc ase,
! of Texas, dated March 9, 1868, in which
he declared that 'the military rule shall
ever be subservient to civil power'' was
received with great favor at the North as
we'll as at the South. With reference to
one of his military orders, issued at New
Orleans In 1857, In which he declared
that he should always make the law the
rule of his conduct, President Andrew
johnson wrote: II am far from saying
that Gen. Hancock is the only officer of
the American army who is Influenced by
the example of Washington. Dou btless
thousands of them are faithfully devoted
to the principles for which the men of the
revolution laid down their lives. But
the distinguished honor belongs to him of
being the first officer in high command
south OF the Potomac, since the close of
the civil war, who has given utterance to
these noble sentiments'in the form OF
military order"
The last years of Gen. Hancock's life
were spent on Governors Island. In N w
York bay. He had his headquarters there
as commandant of the department of tine
Atlantic. With his family and military
household he spent his time pleasantly in
the discharge OF his official duties aud the
enjoyment of the society of the many
friends and admirers who were drawn to
him by his manly qualities and well
earned reputation.
In the death OF Gen. Hancock the coun-
try has lost another of the conspicuous
figures OF the war of secession. Sadly
the thought comes that the number of
them remaining is becoming very small.
One by one, in the North and in the
South, they are disappearing. Those
who are left doubtless feel that the time
is near when they must follow their COM
rades.