The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-15
HANCooK.s LOYALTY.

Col Finley Anderson EloquentIy Defends the
Generals Memory
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
NEW York, March 14-CoL Finley Anderson,
who was General Hancock's staff during the
civil war. has addressed the following open let
ter to Senator Ingalls, at Washington:
NEW YORK, March H. 1888.
Hon JohnJ. ingalls,. president pro tenn. United
SRI have just received copy OF the Con-
gressional Record containing the official report
of Your recent speech. in which you not only in
suit the chief magistrate OF the Nation but at
tempt to dishonor the memory of both Hancock
and Mcclellan by naming each of them as hav-
ing been ally of the Confederacy. AS sur
viviug member of General Haneock's staff. who
shared with him in the tolls and the tr1nmphs OF
the civil war. and as friend whom he honored
with his confidence and affection to the end OF
his blameless life, / cannot bear in
silence your brutal blow at my old commander
must therefore. as soloier and a citizen.
protest against any utterance that implies
Impeachment of his loyalty to his country
When the summer flowers bloom again on the
graves of the heroic dead p quarter of a century
will have passed since the battlefield OF Gettys-
burg became the arena where the valor of the
North and South alike illustrated the greatness
of the American people and commanded the ad-
miration of the world. The name of that peace
full Pennsylvania village. baptized anew with
their mingled blood. was thus made immortal
as the symbol of a national power equal to any
the earth. The browning victory or that
combat has proved under providence, as clearly
as though we had heard the voice of God him.
SELF that those principles of friendship. and fra
ternity; and union in earnest devotion TO
which Hancock lived and died essential
to the welfare of mankind. To this result the
highest human achievements OF this century.
Hancock contributed more than any other SOL
der in the field. When Reynolds fell, on the
morning of the first day. it was Hancock whom
Meade selected to take supreme command In
front, with power to choose the ground where
the great battle of the war should be fought Il
was Hancock who planted his colors on Gene
terry Ridge. where he rallied orr disordered
troops and formed the lines those historic
heights beyond which the rising tide of the re-
bellion passed. Il was Hancock who
turned impending disaster into victory, and by
a counter-charge saved the honor of the army
on the evening OF the second day. 1t was Han
cock who replilsed that grand assault, the most
brilliant IN the annals of the war, when the
flower of the Army of North Virginia withered
and died before the fortitude of the Army of the
Potomac in the final struggle OF the third day.
1t was thus that Hancock won at Gettysburg
triple crown of glory. Naturally enough, both
houses of Congress ADOPT joint resolution to
the effect that, in addition to the thanks which
had been voted to the officers and soldiers of the
Potomac for the '.skill and heroic valor which
at Gettysburg repulsed, defeated and drove
back, broken and dispirited, the veteran army
of tbs rebellion the gratitude of the American
people and the thanks of their representatives
in Congress are likewise due, and are hereby
rendered to Major-general W. S. Hancock. for
his gallant. meritorious and conspicuous share
IN that great and decisive vistory."
In view of Hancocks constant and conspicuous
sers,ce TO his country for more than forty years,
sealed, as that service was, by his own blood.
and in view of his prcverbial purity Of character,
it is amazing how any man could rise in the
Senate Chamber to defams his memory. But
having had the audacity to do so. the best that
you can now do in PREPARATION of this cruel
wrong alike to Hancock's memory and the
patriotic sentiment of the country, is to rise
again in the Senate Chamber and make a full
retraction and apology.
Respectfully yours,
FINLEY ANDERSON