Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-02-24
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO GEN.
HANCOCK.

The Loyal Legion Of Minnesota held .
meeting at st. Paul to take action upon
the death Of Gen. Hancock and Gen. II. 81.
Sibley delivered the following eloquent tri-
butte to the distinguished dead:
l had some acquaintance with Con. Han
cock previous to the war, but it was not
of the department. OF Dakota, with head
quarters TIL st. Paul, that an intimacy
sprang up between us that only ended
with his life. His residence for many
months was Within otOne's throw OF my
own dwelling, and our interchange of visits
became SO tit quent that few days passed
without our coming together. Being of
the same political faith it 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 it is with
great satisfaction | recall the fact that, in
all his comments upon the prominent men
of the country, aud at a period when pOllt-
lcal excitement was rife in the land, Gen.
Hancock was ever ready to defend party,
friend or foe, from what he believed to be
unjust imputations. There was no tinge
OF bitterness or malice in his composition.
Even when smarting under sense Of in
justice on che part Of his military supe-
riOrs, he seemed less concerned Tor the con-
sequences to himself personally than for
service to which he was ardently attached,
fearing that the rulings to his disadvan-
tage might be made precedents to the det-
riment of other officers in the future.
Hence the vigor and ability he displayed
in protesting against innovations upon the
established traditions and usages OF the
army, involving questions OF relative rank
of commissioned officers and the right Of
command connected Herewith. Firm as
was his attitude in maintaining what be
was convinced was true construction OF
the law, he never transcended the limits OF
professional courtesy, nor forgot the re-
spect due the higher officials OF the govern
ment It was the combination of charity
il Judging his fellow men, Of genialty and
knIghtly courtesy allied with true dignity,
of patriotic devotion to his country and it's
institutions, of kindness of heart in the re-
lations Of husband, father and friend, and
Of stainless purity Of life that % MADE ,,. up the
alier Bayard. was t'witbout fear and
mish9ot reproaeiih %ith ny Gen. Rancoef
took place in New York city in May, 1893,
when he called upon me at the hotel to in
yite me to visit him at bis headquarters on
Governors island. He found me prostrat-
Ell by illness He spent an hour or moro at
nv bedside, converslng with me on the
tonics Of the day. When we parted little
anticipa ted that with his robust frame and
apparently perfect health he would pre-
COCK cock 1s had i troops Of warm friends in 81.
Paul, Minneapolis, and in all parts Of the
state, and in no part Of the Union viii his
death be more sincerely mourned than IN
our own. Grant, the Wellington Of the
Army Of the Potomac, Mcclellan, its Moreau
for ability as an organizer and tactician,
without his disIoyalty to bis native land,
and Hancock, it's Marshal Ney, 1.-THE brave
est OF the brave" have in turn succumbed
to the king Of terrors, but their namss ~ e. ana
fections Of their fellow citizens. Pesce to
their ashes!