River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-18
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO GEN
HANCOCK.

The Loyal Legion Of Minnesota held a
meeting at St Paul to take action upon
the death of Gen. Hancock and Gen. Ii IL.
Sibley delivered the following eloquent tri-
butte TO the distinguished dead:
had some acquaintance with Gen. Han
cock previous 10 the war, but II was not
until after he was assigned 10 the command
of the department OF Dakota, with head
quarters AT st. Paul, that an intimacy
sprang up between US that only ended
with his life. His residence for many
months was within stones throw Of my
own dwelling, and our interchange OF visits
became SO TTt queut that few days passed
without our coming together. Being OF
the same political faith IL was perhaps nat
ural That he should express himself with
more freedom on all subjects OF interest
connected with current events than would
otherwise have been the case, and IL Is with
great satisfaction | recall the fact that, IA
all his comments upon the prominent men
OF the county, ana at "a penod when polit-
zeal excitement was rife ia the land, Gen.
Hancock was ever ready TO defend party,
friend or foe, from what lac believed TO bc
unjust impuLations. Trere was no tInge
OF bitterness or malice in his composition.
Even when smartiug under sense of ia
Justice ON the part OF his military supe-
riOrs, he seemed less concerned for the con-
sequences 10 himself personally than for
service to which he was ardently attached,
Tearing LNdl inc rulings w us bAntiAN al
tage mig ht be made presidents 10 the Diet
rlment of other officers in the future.
Hence the vigOr and ability he displayed
in protesting against innovations upon the
established traditions ana usages OF the
army, involving questions OF relative rank
OF commissioned officers and the right OF
command connected herewith. Firm as
was his attitude ia maintaining what h.
was convinced was true construction OF
the law, he never transcribed the limits OF
- HNnaaH
spect due the higher officials of the govern
menU It was the combination OF charity
iu Judging his fellow men, OF genialty ami
knighUiy courtesy alien with true dignity,
OF patriotic devotion To his country and It's
institutions. OF kindness OF heart Ia the re
Iations of husband, father and friend, and
of stainless purity of life that made up the
character of Gen. Hancock who, like Chew
alier Bayard. was without fear and
without reproach-" My last personal
took place in New York city in May, 1853.
when he called upon me at the hotel to IN
vie me to visit him at his headquarters on
Governors island. He found me pTostrat
Ell by illness. He spent an hour or more at
N ? bedside, cOnveTsIug with me on Jne
topics az the day. When we parted little
anticipated that with his robust frame aud
annarently perfect health he would pre-
cede me TO the Great Beyond ten man
cock had troops OF warm friends IN St'
Paul. Minneapolis, and in all parts OF the
state, and in no part of the Union VIII his
death be more sincerely mouned than IN
our own. Grant, the Wellington OF the
Army of the Potomac, Mcclellan, It's Moreau
for ability as an organizer ana Cactlclall'
u,ithout his disiovalty to his native land,
and Hancock, its Marshal Ney, 1.-The brave.
est Of the brave" have in turn succumbed
10 the king of terrors, but their names ana
memories will be ever eDshrined IN the ar
tactions of their fellow citizens. Peace to
their ashes