The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-14
GEMS. HANCOCK AND GRANT.
The Personal and Official Relations Be-
tween These Two Dead Chieftains.
Their Mutual Regard When Together at West
Point-Grants Persistent Pressing of
Hancock for Promotion.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Feb. 13-Hancock and Grant
were at West Point togethe r. They were good
friends there, and Hancock used to call his flu
ture chief by the familiar nickname Of ''Sam
Grant" Long afterwards during the Wilder
ness campaign-it was the day after the great
attack at Spottsylvania. when Hancock reported:
II have finished up Johnson and am now going
into Early"-Grant nominated Hancock for brig
adler general in the regular army. Hancock re-
membered the old relationship of cadettime,
and said to the brother-in-law Of the Gensralin-
chief who told him the news, II love Sam
Grant"
The regard was mutual At one moment in
the battle of tho Wilderness things looked very
dark; Warren was driven back to the center and
rush of strasglers came hurrying in toward
Grants headquarters with news that Hancock
was routed. Grant was seated on the ground
whiting stick; he simply turned his stick
around and whitfield the other end. and when it
was again reported that Hancock had been driv-
en-. he said, grimly, ~ don't believe it" In a
few moments word came directly contrary to the
earlier rumor. Instead of retreating, Hancock
had crushed the enemy. Then Grant looked up
and said with as much enthusiasm as I ever
knew him to betray: "Hancock's glorious SOL
der"
He never changed this opinion. Hancock was
always given the advance or the exposed posi-
ton. He bore the brunt of the battle of the
Wilderness; he made three terrible assaults at
Spottsylvania; he led the march to the North
Anna, and was in the thickest at Cold Harbor.
His troops were the first of the army of the Po-
tomas to come up before Petersburg. and in the
subsequent movements on both sides of the James,
at Deep Bottom and at the explosion Of = Burn
sides mine-always, until the opening of an old
wound compelled him to leave the field, Han
cock was given the command which required the
most superb daring, the clearest head. the most
sustained military ability. More than once
heard General Grant say thatif Meade were re-
moved he should give the command of the army
of the Potomac to Hancock.
In the march from Cold Harbor to the James
Grants headquarters came up with Hancock at
the point where Long Bridge had once crossed
the Chickahominy. While the troops were pass
ing the commanders dismounted and Grant,
Hancock and Meade were stretched on the grass
together. with their officers around. Never
were three great soldiers in completer personal
accord. There was no assumption on the part
of Grant, and the feeling of camaraderie was
perfect. They chaffed each other; they told
stories Of West Point and the frontier; they dis
cussed the movements in which they were en-
gagged. and finally Meade referred to some reso-
lutions of a petty Pennsylvania convention nom
mating Hancock for the presidency. Both Grant
and Meade poked fun at Hancock for this, and
he good-naturedly received it ALL Indeed, it
rather tickled him.
He was not appointed brigadier general in
the regular army for Spottsylvania, but Grant
was persistent, and in August nominated him
again. This time the promotion was conferred.
In 1866 the grade of general was created for
Grant This made Sherman lieutenant general,
and left a vacancy among the maior-generals to
which Grant promptly appointed Hancock, who
thus received both his promotions to the rank Of
general from his old cadet comrade.
During the reconstruction period they were on
different sides Grant believed that Congress
was right in the long struggle with Andrew
johnson, but Hancock espoused the views of the
President. Grant at first had no suspicion OF
the leaning of Hancock. and when it became
apparent that Mr.. johnson was determined to
remove Sheridan from command at New
Orleans and substitute Hancock, the General in
chief sent a staff officer to warn him of the pur-
pose Of the President, and Of what he considered
its mischievous tendency. Hancock however
was ordered by johnson to report at Washing.
ton before ne went to New Orleans, and Grant,
who was now convinced that Johnson's course
wa fu1 n f0 "a IN
san to visit Hancock, at his rooms in Wizards
Hotel to put him on his guard. But Hancock
mad already determined on his conduct and was
not to be affected by Grants advice or urging
From this time their relations were strained
Hancock proceeded to New Orleans against the
wish of Grant, determined to carry out Mr.
Johnson's policy, which the Genera-in- chief be-
lieved t. be almost reasonable, and which he
was directed by Congress to thwart Hancock
constantly issued orders in conformity with the
ly overruled. Finally Hancock asked to be re-
lieved, and the request was granted
They never again had any pleasant intercourse.
There were times when each supposed the other
had been discourteous. Grant was told that Han
cock came to his headquarters and wrote his
name without paying the General-in chief the
courtesy of a further visit. and remarks of each
were reported to the other, not calculated to en-
courage amiable sentiments But there was no
positive hostility.
dency Grant. in the privacy of his own house at
Galena, uttered some caustic criticisms to an in
discreet visitor which the same day were tee-
graphed to the entire world. Among other things
he said that Hancock was ambitious, vain and
weak" Hancock at first refused to believe that
Grant had used the words, but though they were
never meant for the public Grant could not and
would not dsavow them when the reporters
rushed for confirmation or denial. Then Han
cock was very much panied, and doubt whether
a reconciliation could have been effected.
In his last days, General Grant more than
once spoke to me of this circumstance, and re-
GREETED the pain he had given Hancock. He was
generous in his praise, and though he criticised
what he thought foibles and graver faults. he de-
clared that he ought not to have used the words
which Hancock disliked. This Hancock never
knew; but with equal nobility he bore his part in
the great funeral over his ancient chief ard COM
rade. The majestic character of those rites that
attracted the attention of the world was greatly
due to the tender care and chivalrous punctilio
of him who thought the dead chieftain had
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