The National tribune., 1888-07-19

1NLEEhlkMAhJ YIN ILEASOA A1N
Sergeant say in quite aloud voice: "TIl take
the flag down there" pointing to the stone
wall Just below, " if these men viii stand by
me-" Howard replied in low voice, trem-
ul0us with excitement, at which the color
bearer and few men started down toward
the stone wall, which was the last I ever
saw or heard Of them, although I have little
doubt IL this man lived through the battle
he was favorably mentioned in HowaTd's
report, and got his commission, as it was
brave act on the part of the color-bearer;
but can't help but think it would have
looked better Ito my eyes at least) if he
had stopped with his colors at the wall on
his way up, and not have made his little
speech for apparent effect
Perhaps some person VIII ask why Gems.
Hancock and Doubleday did not lay claim
to the credit Of this manuver at the time.
Probably they did, but Of this l know
nothing. Howard was Hancocks senior, and
as such was entitled TO the command during
Meade's absence. But through some hocus-
pocus Howard received the vote Of thanks
by Congress for doing that which he did not
do, and SO the matter stands to-day.
HAECoCK's IMPREssIvENEss.
Hancock was a noble-looking soldier.
There was something in his appearance
during a fight while on his large horse that
was wonderfully impressive. Sheridan's
ride up the Valley, In which his presence is
credited with turning disastrous defeat
into victory, was no more important IN its
results, in my estimation, than Hancocks
dashing and well-timed arrival on Cemetery
Hill on the afternoon Of the first day Of
Gettysburg There can be little doubt but
that his prompt action secured the position,
and his very presence while talking with
Howard served to check the fngitiyes who
were passing over the bill in droyes.
1t may also be asked why bring this
subject up at this late date, and after Han
cocks death? For years have avoided al
talk or the subject Of army experience. I
would have sooner asked Hancock TO take a
drink IN a public bar-room than to have
broached this matter 10 him. be was not
the sort Of man who invited eyerybody's
opinion he always impressed me, and
was near Kim often, with the feeling that he
was the ideal Regular soldier, and could
only be approached through official chan
nelE II was probably 20 this disposition to
leave everything 10 official reports that can
be attributed the fact that he did not al
ways obtain through the newspapers the
credit TO which he was clearly entitled.
/ therefore contend that Hancock is the
hero CT Gettysburg, not only Of the third,
but Of the first day; and had he been in
supreme command and remained Unharmed,
Gen. Lee would not have gotten away so
easily; the war might have ended q year
sooner than il did and more than likely
Gettysburg would have been IN history
what Appomattox now is, while Grant would
have equally divided h0nOrs with Hancock
sometimes think that. like great many
other good Generals Ia the East, Hancock
became soured by the promotion OF Grants
Western men TO the best positions IN the
Army OF the Potomac.
GRAND Old ARMY OF THE POTOMAC!
Noble, patient, long-suffering Army Of the
Potomac. its greatest battles were fought
while Meade and Hancock were subordi-
nates before Grant came out OF the West to
lead ii 10 the Wilderness and Cold Harbor
Everybody Oh Cemetery Hill did their
utmost 10 check the shattered column which
had been doubled back from the right and
the officers and men thrown into confusion
and The lev men OF the staff bad a hard time
10 rally these demOraliZed soldiers, Tor. as Il
well known to everybody who has had any
connection with the army, q body of men
ehto how Il
is a Tesistiess mountain torrent
! became so much engaged IN this work
personally, that for while ] neglected 4
look around 10 see what Was happening
elsewhere. The men had come up from IN,
town, and all stopped On the hill behind In,
wall, their guns cooked and lying across tht
top.
] was seated on my horse by the side 0
the big arched fancy gate Of the old Gene
teTy. and before i suspected that the rebel
were near minie-bail struck the brick
work Of the gate, which ] found upon ex
animation was bat few feet above "a,
head.
"EoBoDY's cHILD.n
had turned brisbly around in search @
some Of my recent companions TO tell then
that evidently the rebel sharpshooters ha
secured places on the roofs, when was al
most paralyzed 10 discover that they ha
disappeared; scarcely anybody 10 be seer
save lot Of infantry who were hugging Ia
ground all around. Not being under tn
orders Of any particular officer, ] was. q
course, like "nObody's child" and had /
look out loT myself ] huTriedly got behiu
the hill, when TO my CONSERVATION / hear
for the first time the rapid, sharp hammer
like firing over On Culp's Hill, which SCENE
70 me TO be directly IN our rear 1t is
geOmetrical fact that the rebels were almos
IN the rear Of our position On Cemetery Hill
A glance at map win explain this. Gene
terry Hill projects ike the point or promon
tory Of a peninsula out into the sea of tn
rebel army, which was apparently on thre
sides Of IL
The first thing did was to look around 70