The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-21
Is IN HANcocK's DEFENSE.
A Letter to Senator IGgalls From q Men,
Der of the Generals STAFF.

A Letter to Senator IGgalls From a Men,
Der of the Generals star,
New York Special
Colonel Finley Anderson, who was on
General Hancock 6 staff during the civil
war, has addressed the following open let
ter TO Senator Ingalls, at Washington:
NEW YORK, March 70, 1855.
To Hon. John J. ingalls,, resident pro tenn.
United States Senate, Washington d. c.:
eir-l have Just received d copy OF the Con-
gressional Record containing the Official report
oil your recent speech, in which you not only
insult the chief magistrate OF the nation, but
attempt to dshonor the memory of both Hancock
and Mcclellan by naming each of them as hav.
ing been an ally OF the Confederacy. As sur
viyiDg member Of General Hanc0cks staff, who
shared with him the tolls and the triumphs OF
the civil war, and as a friend whom he nonored
with his confidence and affection to the end of
his blameless life, can not bear in silence
your brutal blow at my old commander.
must therefore, as a sol4ler and citizen, pro-
test against any utterances that imply an i'm
pesChment Of his loyalty to his country.
When the summer flowers bloom again on
the graves OF the heroic dead q quarter of q
century viii have passed since the battle of
OettysnuIg recame the arena where the vslor
OF the North and the South alike illustrated
the greatness OF the American people, and COM
manded the admiration of the world The
name OF that peaceful Pennsylvania village
Baptized anew with their mingled blood, was
thus made immortal as the symbol of nation
al power equal to any on earth. The browning
victory OF that combat has proved under Prov
idenee as clearly as though we had heard the
voice OF God say himself that those principles of
liberty and law and fraternity aud union in
earnest devotion TO which Hancock lived and
died, are essential to the welfare OF mankind.
To this result the highest human achievement
OF this century, Hancock contributed more
than any other soldier in the field.
When Reynolds fell on the morning Of the
first day, ii was Hanc0k whom Meade selected
TO take supreme command in front with power
70 choose the ground where the great battle of
the war should be fought out. 1t was Hancock
who planted his colOrs on Cemetery Ridge,
where he rallied our d1sordered troops and
formed the lines on those historic heights, be-
you'd which the rising tide OF rebellion never
passed. IL was Hancock by the cOunter.charge
which saved the honor of the army on the even
ing Of the second day. It was Hancock who re-
puiseo tnat grand assault, with the most orilli-
ant in the annals of the war when the flower OF
the army of Northern Virginia withered and
DIED before the iortitude OF the Army of the
II was thus that Hancock won at Gettysburg
triple crown of glory.
Naturally enough, both houses OF Congress
adopted joint resolution TO the effect that, in
addition 10 the thanks which had been voted to
the officers and soldiers of the Army OF the Po-
tomac, For the skill and heroic valor which
al G6 ttSourg repulsed, defeated and drove back,
broken and displrited toe veteran army of the
rebellion, the gratitude of the American peo-
pie and the thanks of their representatives in
Congress are likewise due, and are hereby ten
dered 70 maj Gen. w. s. Hancock for his meri-
torious and conspicuous share in that great and
decisive victory"
In view OF Hancock cons tent and conspicu-
GUS service 10 his country for more than forty
years, sealed as that service was by his own
blood, and in view OF his proyerbial purity of
character, il is amazing how any man could
rise in the Senate chamber 10 defsme his men,
DRY. But having had the audaeity to do so, the
least you can do in reparati0n OF this cruel
wrong alike to Hsncoek's memory and the pa
triotc sentiment Of the country is to rise again
in the Senate chamber and make full retrac-
ton and apology, Respectfully, yours,
lSignedl FINLEY ANDERSON.