The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-06-02
HANCOCK THE SUPERB.
4 Loyal, Knightly Soldier, . oLscientious
Patriot and Magnetic Leader.

imputation of Senator John j. Ingalls,
upon the memory of General Hancock,
as ''an ally of the Confederacy." may
be better appreciated by reading some
other opinions upon that gallant and
patriotic soldier. Winfield Scott Han
cock was one of the comparatively few
officers commissioned for specifically
mentioned services. his commission as
Brigadier-General in the regular army
being awarded flor gallant and distin-
guished services in the battles of the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold
Harbor. and in all the operations of
the army in Virginia under Lieutenant
General Grant" He was one of the
still fewer officers who by name re-
ceived the thanks.of Congress. joint
resolution of that body declaring that
'.the gratitude Of the American people
and their representatives IN Congress
are due, and are hereby rendered. to
Major-General w. s. Hancock for his
gallant meritorious and consp cuous
share in the great and decisive VIC
tory" of Gettysburg.
$50 long as live," wrote General
Sherman. after Hancock's death. Il
will be only too happy to bear testi-
mony to his generous and magnificent
qualities as a soldier, gentleman and
patriot" General Sheridan wished to
"join in the whole Nation in admira-
ton of his manly bearing and integ-
rity in the performance of all his du-
ties" General Schofield declared that
by his death the country had lost
zone of its purest patriots ;" General
Sickles dwelt on "that trait of I'M
swerving loyalty 10 his chief and to
the cause to which he was devoted.
No commander ever doubted for a
single instant the absolute loyalty of
Hancock, and no soldier ever received
from him command that he was not
eager and proud to obey. General
Hartranft noted that 81 his loyalty was
absolute / do not mean loyalty to
the cause only, but loyalty as soldier
to his chief. To subordinate himself
to duty had become second nature to
him." General Wilcox testified to
"his perfect loyalty to every Com
mander -in-Chief of the Army of the
Potomac. Hancock may go down to
history as the Marshal Ney of our
war. But he was greater man than
Ney, for he was incapable of infidelity
to man. woman or child"
General Cullum, who is well known
to have made a special study of the
careers of all the graduates of the
Military Academy, mentioned as the
first and browning impression derived
from Hancock's record "his unhesi-
tating obedience to superiors. his I'M
swerving fidelity in the performance of
every duty. and his steadfast loyalty
to the flag under which he was edu-
Gated" Noting that Hancock, after
graduation at West Point, was ordered
to the South, "and continued in slave
holding territory for thirteen years."
except while in Mexico during the war
with that country. General Cullum
adds that "in these thirteen years he
never for moment was swayed from
his true allegiance by the blandish-
ments of those around him." The war
found him in Southern California,
where on its outbreak he delivered a
patriotic speech to the assembled
troops. Prot. Coppee declared that
the marked virtue of Hancock's life
was "constancy." General Miles,
who served SO long under him,
said that he "never heard him
murmur or complain. The great
cause in which he was engaged
seemed to absorb his whole soul A
loyal, knightly soldier. conscientious
patriot. a magnetic leader and most
skillful General" Referring to. Gettys-
burg, General Miles wrote that .sin
that critical hour of our National exist
ence he displayed the elements of
great commander, and, together with
thousands of wounded and slain, Han
cock fell, moistening the sacred soil of
his native State with his patriotic
blood. Refusing to leave the field. and
reclining upon that memorable crest,
he still commanded, and in that con-
dition gave the final orders to complete
the victory" General Tower spoke of
him as "true to every duty"
These are only few of many trib-
utes chosen from those that turn MAIN
~ upon Hancock's fidelity to his coun-
try's cause. which were gathered in a
memorial volume by the Military Serv-
ice Institution, of which. as also of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion,
General Hancock was president the
time of his death. Mr.. Ingalls, is in
most inglorious minority in attacking
with his reckless partisan malice the