The National tribune., 1886-02-18

day was lost. Then came the three days fight
at Charlottesville, May PA, 1863, in which
Hancock, with Geary's Division of the Twelfth
Corps held the left center, and when the Union
lines were crumbling away checked the rebel
onslaught until a new line could be formed.
After this battle he succeeded TO the leadership
of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. He
had shown that he could be trusted to handle
large bodies of men effectively; that his BRAY
cry, though dashing, was not reckless, and that
he was an able strategist as well as good
fighter.
GETTYSBURG.
The great event of the war upon which Han
cocks fame was to rest principally, however,
was still to come, although it was very near at
hand. The campaign in Pennsylvania now be-
gan Gen. Meade had relieved Hooker in COM
mand of the Army of the Potomac, and here
began his movement into Pennsylvania in
pursuit of Lee who had invaded that State
and was pushing forward with Harrisburg as
his objective point Unless he could be in
tercepted, the war would suddenly be trans
ferred from the South to the North, and what
might have happened in that event it was diff
cult TO foretell. Gen. Meade's plan was to meet
him and fight the decisive battle at Pipe
Creek, but on July 1, 1863, he received mes
sage that the Union soldiers and COnfederates
had come in collision at Gettysburg, and that
Gen. Reynolds commander of the left wing of
the army had fallen.
Gettysburg before this historic day was q
name scarcely known outside the families of a
few honest Pennsylvania farmers whose ham,
lets were scattered about the little town. Gen.
Meade knew nothing of its situation or sur
roundings, and he ordered Hancock to hasten
forward, take Immediate command of the forces
at Gettysburg. and send him word what in his
opinion was best to be done. Gems Howard
and Sickles, officers senior to Hancock, were
both on the field, so that according to military
rule, he had no right TO the command. But
both these officers waived their privileges when
Meade's instructions were made known to
them, and Hancock took charge. The Union
army was in full retreat when he reached the
field, but he rallied and consolidated it on
Cemetery Hill. Wadsworths Division and a
battery were sent to occupy Culps Hill, and
Geary with his division, was ordered TO the
high ground toward Round Top. The enemy
was checked. confidence was restored to the
army, and now Gen. Hancock looked about
him.
TO HIS MILITARY EYE
the advantages of the situation were revealed
at a glance. He was fully aware that Meade
had determined to fight the battle on the line
of Pipe Creek, but he decided to advise him
to change his plans and meet the rebels at
Gettysburg He sent his Aid, Maj. Mitchell,
back to Meade TO tell him that he cond hold
the position until nghtfall, and that in his
judgment Gettysburg was the place to fight the
battle His advice was followed. The Second
Corps was hurried forward TO within a few
miles of Gettysburg, where it camped for the
night. aud early next morning it reached the
field of battle fresh and prepared to cope with
the rebel army.
The history of the battle of Gettysburg and
IFS results on the course of the war are too well
known 10 require any long description of the
action in this place. Gen. Meade arrived and
md iy.r fhp of Vnlv
9, and then followed two days of terrible saugh
ter, in which both sides suffered greatly. The
command of Gen. Hancock when the tornado
OF battle burst upon the army, was stationed on
the left center, and when Sickles was wounded
and his corps crushed Hancock took command
OF the entire left wing of the army, which by
vigorous exertions he succeeded in rallying and
putting into form for battle again. On the fol-
lowing day, July B. the grand charge of Pick
ett's Division fell full upon Hancocks Corps. 1t
was met calamity and repulsed, but in the ter
rible onslaught, Gen. Hancock, while dashing
over the field to give his orders was struck by
ball and severely wounded He was placed
liz an ambulance, but refused to leave the field
until he had seen the enemy beaten. On the
following day Gen. Hancock was granted leave
of absence and remained off duty until March
a. 1864; but in the meantime he was promoted
to he Major aud Quartermaster of the Regular
Army, on Nov. 80, 1863, in recognition OF his
meritoricus conduct and bravery on the field of
Gettysburg. Later on. when the war was over
the United States Congress rendered thanks to
him " for his gallant meritorious, and conspic-
uous share in that great and decisive victory
at Gettysburg.
THE WILDERNESS.
Upon returning to active duty Gen. Hancock
resumed command of the Second Corps, Army
OF the Potomac and passed through the Rich
mond campaign. He particularly distinguished
himself i'm the battle of the Wilderness, May
and G. 1864 He commanded the advance of the
left column, which he pushed far ahead and
was able to secure and hold a strategic point on
the Orange plank road, which the Confederate
Gen. Hill endeavored TO capture The effort was
unsuccessful. and ON the second day at 5 o'clock
in the morning Hancock opened the attack On
the enemy in his front, overpowered the Con-
federates, aad after an hours fierce contest the
whole hostile front was carried and the enemy
was driven mile and a half through the
woods, under heavy loss, back on the Confeder-
ate headquarters. Longstreet's arrival alone
saved Lees army from utter and complete de-
feat at that time. Indeed, the tables were
nearly turned, for fire in the woods, creeping
up toward the breastwork of logs behind which
one of Hancock's divisions was placed, set the
works ablaze. and drove the smoke and fame
back upon the men with such fury that they
were unable TO fire over the parapet, and the
enemy, pressing forward, planted their stand
ard on the breastworks. Then Hancock led the
assault Of his gallant corps in person and drove
out the invaders with rush. With the arrival
of Longstreet, however, he was obliged to fall
back.
sPoTTsYLyANIA.
At Spottsylvania Courthouse, however, he
was more successful. The two armies had been
hurled together against each other for several
days. and Gen. Grant finally determined to
strike heavy blow upon the rebel right center.
He fixed upon Hancock as the man to do this,
and on the evening of June II, 1864, the Gen
erai marched quietly TO the rear Of the enemy,
made a circuit to the designated point, and at
midnight halted close TO the rebel position.
Just before daybreak the signal for the assault
was given, and, under cover of a dense fog,
Hancock and his force moved upon the enemy,
cane upon them unaYares, and captured 5000
prisoners, with their battlcfags and 26 pieces
of artillery. The alarm was speedily given,
and the rebels, being reinforced, attempted to
regain the captured works. Five assaults were
made on Hancock's exhausted men, but in each
the foe was hurled back with terrible slaughter.
Hancock held the position. The troops cap
turcd were Gen. Edward Johnson's of Ewell's
Corps, and Johnson and Gen. Geo. IL. Stewart
were among the prisoners.
For his bravery at Spottsylvania Hancock
was commissioned Brigadier-Gcneral in the
Regular Army on Aug. y, 1864. On the 25th
of that month he fought the battle at Reams
Station against superior force, and on Oct q,
at the Boydton road, he drove off the enemy
with severe loss, capturing nearly 1,o00 prison
ol-S and fyyo Glands of colors IA Noyernh her la