Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-02-15


front, but prudently declined to oc-
cupy them because the reinforce
ments did not come. Attacked pres
entity by the confederates in strong
force, he slowly withdrew his troops,
firing steadily, until the enemy were
in the open field, and felt victory
secure. At this moment, Hancock
dashed forward on his horse, swing
ing his hat and calling his troops to
advance, they responded, rushing
over the crest of the little hill, shout
ing, with lowered bayonets, and be-
fore their charge the rebel force gave
way and the field of Williamsburg
was lost to them. During the whole
campaign, from Yorktown to Malvern
Hill, Hancock's service was import
ant and remarkable, and Mcclellan
urged his promotion to the rank
of major-general. He also shared in
the distinction of the Maryland cam
paign of September, 1862, and espec-
tally at Antietam, where he was
placed in command On the field of
the first division of the I'd army corps,
on the death of Gen. Richardson.
After the retreat of Lee across the
Potomac, Hancock led the advance
from Harper's Ferry to CharlestOwn.
In November he received his commits.
sion of major-general. He took Il
noteworthy part in the desperate as
sault OIL Mayre's nights in the luck
less Fredericksburg fight, and receiv-
ed here his first wound. His division
formed the rear guard of the defeated
army after Charlottesville. A month
after he was put in command of the
second corps, and June %, President
Lincoln confirmed him in that posi-
ton.
At Gettysburg, where the race of
the two armies ended and the decis-
i've battle of the war was fought, Gen
Hancock reached his highest point of
achievement. 1t was given to him
in the afternoon of the first day,
when all was confusion and the I'm
ion army seemed hopelessly routed,
to rally the flying troops at Cemetery
hill, and check the confident advance
of the confederates. Order followed
his arrival as by magic; the confu-
sion in which Howard had been pow
erless was quieted, and confidence
restored. The ground where Che
checked the flight of the beaten
troops he chose as the field of battle
In the dreadful conflict which follow
ed he commanded the left center
bore the brunt of the rebel attack
, and on the third day repulsed thu
, brave and desperate onslaught o.
. Lees army, all the time in the yer,
, front of battle, and fell dangerousl,
: wounded but did not leave the fell
> until the victory was won. For sew
eral months his wounds disabled hir
4 from duty, but in December he re
sumed command of the I'd corps
f and afterward went North to haste
4 recruiting. In March, 1864, he re
: joined the army in the field, and wa
G Wilderness down to the James, con
k handing at the time 10000 men an
: winning the one positive victory {
q the summer in the capture of the Ell
1. emy's position at Spottsylvania, whe
l. he took 5000 prisoners and a gres
/, quantity of arms and supplies of wa
: He was constantly engaged, and
; the assaults on the rebel ranks b.
is fore Petersburg the wound he recei,
t, ed at Gettysburg, which had nev'
h ceased to trouble him, broke opel
2. and on the evening of June II,
le was compelled to give up the con
ID mand of his corps and remain id
|, for 10 days. He was made brig
IN dier-general in the regular army A
t. gust II. Deep Bottom, Ream's ST
r ton and Boydton Road were some
al the actions in which he was engage
a. after this time.
q, Gen. Hancock was detached fro
i, the army of the Potomac in Mover
t, Der and ordered to Washingto
e. where he recruited the corps
al $4,000 veterans. He was then Q
a. dered to the front IN command of Il
lie middle militia division, embracil
c. West Virginia, Pennsylvania al
Id Washington, the army of the She
IN andoah being included in his COZ
tn mand. He was under orders
ny move at few hours notice, when t
er surrender of Lee occurred, and |
IL active military service was at an en-
lei Upon the assassination of Preside
OF Lincoln he was summoned to Was
on ington and placed in command of t
st troops in the city, numbering abo
ri 100000 men.
mt In the democratic convention
no Cincinnati IN 1880 he was the lea
ty ing candidate on the first ballot a
az was nominated on the third by
n rather unexpected stampede, agair
IL the will of many of the leaders. f
of defeat was heavy in the electol
ne college, but he ran close on the pc
in ular vote.
NC Gen. Hancock's last public {
in pearance was as chief marshal
ia in charge of the arrangements
ed the funeral ceremonies of G.
Grant in New York city, leading
procession on horse back, and draw