The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-10
Weather forecast for Fred
erickS5urG and oictnftV.
SATURDAY Fair and colder.

He died on the 9th day of February
1886.
There were very few subordinate
commanders in either the Union OF
Confederate armies who made more
reputation or was oftener placed al
the pivotal points at the critical
periods Of great battles than was Gen
eral Hancock, and there were none
who acquitted themselves more hand
somely. II he was not successful 10
what he attempted there was always
some good and sufficient reason for
his failure, which his Government
and country accepted without weak
ening their confidence in him.
At the battle of Fredericksburg, on
the 18Th of December, 1862, Gen.
Hancock was selected to lead the
charge against the stonewal. How
gsllantly he did that duty no one
knows better than the Confederstes
who were posted behind that same
wall and defended it. Charge after
charge was made, and repeated fer
hours, eliciting the highest praise for
daring from officers Of high rank on
both sides, Gen. Longstreet declaring
that such conspicuous gsllantry de-
served success. Several men and Off =
GERS were killed within thirty yards OF
the stonevall, and the ground within
hundred yards Of it was strewn with
the dead and dying. General Hancock,
in his report of the battle, says " the
bravery and devotion Of the troops
could not have been surpassed, and
of the FIVE thousand and six men
composing the attacking column, the
loss was two thousand and thirteen
over forty per cent. of the number
engaged.
At Charlottesville on the 2nd Of
May, 1868, he was placed in front of
the Chancellor house facing in
the direction Of Fredericksburg, the
place Of the greatest danger. This
position was held against the gallant
assaults OF the Confederates at differ.
ent times during the day. On the
following day, the Bird, when Jack
sons crops renewed the attack from
the rear Of the Federal army, and the
works were carried and the troops
were retresting in confusion, Gen.
Hancock faced about his supporting
column and established a line Of hat
tie facing the victorious Confederates
and stopped their advance. For
hours Gen. Hancock held this posi-
tion-one line Of battle facing to-
wards Fredericksburg, and the rear
line facing the opposite direction
towards Gordonsville, the two lines
being about half mile apart. South
Of these parallel lines, had been en-
gagged, and were then in the greatest
confusion, some twenty-five or thirty
thousand Federal troops, and
their only way Of escape was to the
rear, passing between these lines.
Now, the question was can Hancock
Lold out 7 All eyes were turned to
him. II be could hold out, the army
was safe; if he could not no one
could tell what the loss to Hooker
would be. Hancock was equal to the
emergency. With great gallsntry he
held his position until that portion of
the army had passed between his
lines, and then retired with small
loss. Ia this daring movement and
the heroic conduct of himself and
men Hancock became the savior of
the army in that battle.
At Gettysburg on the 3rd of July,
1868. Gen. Hancock was stationed on
Little Round Top to receive the gallant
charge of the brave Pickett.And never
was q charge more handsomely made,
and never did troops behave more
gallsntly than on that terrible after
noon at Gettysburg, when Pickett
moved against that stronghold with
his determined band. On and on they
went amidst murderous rain Of shell
and shot until the stonewall was
reached. Here they were met by the
equally determined band of Hancock,
and for q time success trembled in
the balance, while each party man
fully and heroicslly contended for the
mastery. Finally the Confederate
line gave way, and the victory be-
longed to Hancock and his men.
At the Wilderness, on the 9Th of |
May, Hancock formed line Of battle
on the Brock road to receive the rapid |
rush OF the gallant Longstreet, who |
had made forced march from Cor
donsyille, where he had arrived from |
Tennessee, to take bis place again in |
the army of Northern Virginia.
Longstreet attacked with great en-.
ergy, driving back the advanced |
lines OF the Federal army and captur-
ing the temporary works. On reach
ing Brock Road, the main line Of the
Federsls, Hancock was found to be