The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-10

! report na0 reacned Meade of the II all
Of Gen. Reynolds and the check and
repulse OF the advance, and his mind
a, once turned 10 Gen. Hancock as
the man shove all others best qualified
10 replace Reynolds and restore order
to the head of the army. Hancock
was not the ranking general, but in
the critical state OF affairs Meade,
knowing him TO be the best man, did
rot hesitate u assign him. On his
way from. m.rarfytogn to the battlefield,
Gen. Hancock met tle ambulance
containing this dead body of Gen.
Reynolds. When he arrived ON the
field he found the army ia confusion,
aud a retre6t had already begun.
Planting some infantry and batteries
on Cemetery hill he threw his
whole energy into the battle,
and checked the Confederate advance.
OF Gen. Hsncoeks individual action
at Gettysburg it would require vol
ume TO tell. He was really the action
OF the army, and Round Top, Culp's
H,ll aud Cemetery Hights Nere his
creations. He sent word to Gen.
Meade that that was the place to fight,
and seized the favorable positions
with the advance until Meade brought
up the whole army ald delivered his
battle. He was severely and il was
supposed for time dangerously
wounded-a ball had pierced his thigh.
Sending a message OF his mishap to
the commanding General, he said 10
his aid, Ool. Mitchell;
Tell Gen. Meade that the troops
under my command have repulsed
the enemy and gained a great victory.
The enemy are now flying in all di.
rect 'ons in my 'front.'" Wnen the aid
deli 5ered this message TO Gen. Meade,
ald added hie general was dangerous
y wounded, Meade said: "Say TO
Gen. Hancock that | am sorry he ie
wounded, and that | thank him for
myse I and f)r the country for the ser
vices he has rendered to-day" Gen.
Meade, afterward, in commenting on
the battle OF Gettysburg, said 10 Gen.
Drum; "No commanding general ever
had better lieutenant than Hancock.
He always WAS faithful and reliable"
UNDER GRANT.
Hancock did not recover from his
wound until December, 1863, when,
although still quite lame, he reported
for duty, and was sent Moth TO recruit
his corps. He was rendered q reception
at Independence Hall by the citizens
OF Philadelphia, and received the hos
pitsllties Of Boston, Albany and New
York. In March, 1864, ha rtjoined
his corps and participated in the bat
ties the Wilderness with Grant. He
commanded the Second aud parts OF
the Fifth and Sixth Corps, amounting
in all to $4,000 men. He fought ct
Alesop's house and ST Spottylvanis
Court.HOuse, capturing "Stonewallp
Ja,kson's old brigade, 1000 prisoners
and thirty colors. He was at North
Anna, and did most tf the fighting
there. He commanded at the bloody
a,sIults on Gold Hsrbor, and did his
heat TO execute Grants orders. The
fighting was desperate, and HauOock's
loss could not have fallen far short Of
1000. He was on the south side ol
the James river, and made the assaults
on Petersburg. He was with Sheridan,
and attacked the enemy at Deep Bot
tom, taking four pieces of artillery, 500
prisoners and three stands of coos.
He was at Petersburg and wit.
messed the explosion OF the mine on
the morning OF July 30th. The
advance up the James river, Au-
gust ~, 1854, was under his com
mand, and he handled the second
and tenth corps OF the Army cf the
james and GregR's division Of cavalry
with such consummate skill AZ TO elicit
expressions of admiration from even
General Grant. He fought the battle
OF Rsams Station, August 26th, and
had his horse sho. under him. He
fought the battle OF Boydtln Road,
capturing 1000 prisoners and two
stands of co'ors. With the battle OF
Boydlon General HanCock's active
fighting in the war ceased. President
Lincoln, who had learned 20 place "A
high estimft. on Hancock's abilities,
ordered him to Washing on, and di-
rected him at once TO pIoceed with
and orgsnizs an army OF $4,000 veter-
aus from discharged volunteers who
had served an enlistment. The use
OF this army was alone prevented by
the surrender OF Lee and the ending
of the war. At the close Of the war
Hancock commanded the Army OF
the Shenandoah, relieving General
Sheridan. This army consisted Of
IS 900 men of all arms, and was des.
tined to move South with Hancock'a
$4,000 veterans and 'in General |
Sherman, but Gen. Joe Johnston sur
rendered his army and 30 rendered the
unnecessary.