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 Hancock 
 
 The Life and Puhlic Services 
 
 WiNFiF.ij) Scon Hancock, 
 
 Alajor-Citteiiii I'nileii Shties Army; Deiiiocrnlic Noininvc for /'risideiil in 1880. 
 
 " '"- i g^J P" 
 
 IJ V A . T. V R E li IJ 
 
 n'aH Of 
 
 
 CHICAGO; 
 
 HENRY A. SUMNER & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 
 
 1880. 
 
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 (JOPYBIOHTKD: 
 
 II K N U V A . S U r.I N E K A O. 
 
 \b80. 
 
 •• -. 
 

 
 U¥\i AND I'Ur.UC SKIIVICKS 
 
 WiNFiELD Scott Hancock. 
 
 )o. 
 
 CHAPTER I . 
 
 WiNiriBLuScoTT Hancock whs born noiU-Mont^oniory 
 Sqiiaro, MoiiLtjomery County, I'cnnsylviiniii, on tlio 1 Uli 
 of Fcl)nuiry, 182-t. Ho is the son of Benjamin Fnmklin 
 and Elizabeth Hancock ; and has two brothers, Hihiiy, 
 his twin brotlier, and Jolin, who is some years younger. 
 
 When Winfield was four years old, Mr. Hancock re- 
 moved to Norristown, the county seat of Montt^omery 
 County, and here the lad received his early education, 
 amid scenes calculated to awaken the enthusiasm and foster 
 the patriotism of any intelligent boy. Blessed by nature 
 almost beyond parallel. Eastern Pennsylvania might well 
 be called the garden of the Lord. Her rolling fields yield 
 rich harvests to repay the husbandman's toil ; her vast 
 sweep of broad champaign and lovely glen, of tree clad 
 mountain and bosky dell, ravish the eye of the tourist ; 
 her winding streams — the broad Susquehanna and Deia- 
 
wivre, tliG " liliio Juiiiiitii," tlio placid Schuylkill, ami the 
 rotnuiiLic Wissahiokon — iiro famed in song ard story ; and 
 beneath her rich soil lie richer treasures in coal and ores 
 than are gathered from the glittering mines of California 
 and Nevada. To the patriotic American, too, the spot is 
 holy ground. Yonder at Brandywine the patriot army 
 gallantly resisted Howe's advance upon Philadelphia. 
 There at Germantown the sudden dash of Washington 
 upon the foe, almost successful, was suddenly turned into 
 disaster. Away to the east lies the place where the bril- 
 liantly-conceived and ably-executed passage of the Dela- 
 ware resulted in the victory of Trenton. And close at 
 hand is the spot which lies nearer to the American heart 
 than any of her storied fields of fame — Valley Forge, the 
 camp in which, when all the heavens were black and all 
 the air was full of dismay, a little band of stern patriots, 
 encouraged and cheered by their loved chief, kept alive 
 the fires on liberty's altar. 
 
 Winfield received his schooling at the village academy ; 
 but his education was largely carried on at home. Mis 
 parents never entertained the delusion that their responsi- 
 bility for their children ended when tl\ey ^)aid the bills for 
 their clothing and education. The watchful eye was al- 
 ways upon them ; and the successful general probably owes 
 more to his father's tireless help, and his mother's loving 
 counsel in those early days than to his native abilities or 
 his own.«xertions. Winfield was an apt scholar, proficient 
 in all his studies, with a special taste for scientific investi- 
 
uluiylkill, ami tliu 
 iig aiul story ; iiiul 
 J8 in coal and ores* 
 nines of California 
 an, too, the spot is 
 the patriot army 
 pon Philadelphia, 
 sh of Washington 
 Ideidy turned into 
 ice where the bril- 
 lasage of the Dela- 
 on. And close at 
 he American heart 
 -Valley Forge, the 
 wevti black and all 
 lI of stern patriots, 
 }d chief, kept alive 
 
 le village academy ; 
 on at home. Mis 
 that their responsi- 
 ey paid the bills for 
 atchful eye was al- 
 iieral probably owes 
 his mother's loving 
 3 native abilities or 
 >t scholar, proficient 
 or scientific investi- 
 
 gation and an instinct, early doveloimd, for childish parade 
 and the mimicry of war. In tiie sclu)()ll)oys' juvonilo drills 
 he was always chosen captain : indeed, lie was always a 
 leader among his fellows. But he had the respect and 
 good opinion of his elders as well as of his playmates ; and 
 it is evidence not only of his proficiency as a scholar, but 
 of his high standing as a boy that, whenoidy fifteen years 
 old, he was selected by the people of Norristown to read 
 in public the Declaration of Independence on his country's 
 natal day. 
 
 A circumstance, characteristic of the boy and of his 
 magnanimity and manliness, took place about this time. 
 At school with Winfield was a poor little orphan boy over 
 whom some of the larger scholars were disposed to tyran- 
 nize. Winfield at once took the part of the little fellow, 
 fought his battle, shared with iiiin his pennies, and became 
 his hero and idol. Little Johnnie Everman was poor and 
 weak then, and lame as well ; but many years later, when 
 all the world was ringing with tlie deeds of the dashing 
 soldier, John W. Everman, the wealthy and honored 
 citizen of Philadelphia, introduced into the civic council 
 resolutions granting to Hancock a public reception, and 
 the freedom of the City of Philadelphiq,. With his own 
 hand he presented those resolutions to his former protector 
 in the presence of the chivalry and beauty of Pennsylvania, 
 within the sacred precincts of Independence Hall. 
 
 To Major Renniman (Denison) we are indebted for an 
 account of the circumstances which led to WJnfield's 
 
10 
 
 Holoctioii for 11 ciulotsliip in tliu Uiiitod Stiitos Military 
 Aciuloiny, tho turiiin*^ jtoiiit of liin life. Tlio Hon. Josopli 
 Foriiaiico, the represciitiitivo in Congress for the Mont- 
 gomery District, hud tho privilege of naming a cadet. A 
 resident of Philiidel[)hia, wlio nursed ambitious views 
 concerning his son, had moved into tho district, and was 
 employing influence to secure tho appointment. Among 
 those whoso good offices he was desirous to secure, was 
 an eccentric old lawyer, a man of wealth and of much 
 local influence. Tiiis lawyer had a high opinion of his 
 Philadelphia friend, and had given him a horse, still fine- 
 looking, but which was too old for the severe work the 
 lawyer re(iuired. The I'hiladelphian was profuse in his 
 thanks, and promised to take excellent care of the animal ; 
 and not to work him too hard. Being in Philadelphia on 
 business one day, the donor, to his surprise, saw the 
 horse harnessed to a dray, the driver lashing him to make 
 him pull a load l)eyond his strength. The lawyer bought 
 him back and rode him homo. Passing Mr. Hancock's 
 house, he called that gentleman to the door and abru[itly 
 asked : •' Mr. Hancock, would you like to have Wiidield 
 api)ointed to a cadetship at West Poiiit?" ''Really," 
 said Mr. Hancock, " I have never thought of fc!uc]i a 
 thing. The matter comes upon mo so suddenly tl-at 1 
 can not answer at once : I must have time to think of it.'' 
 "Think it over then," responded tho lawyer, "and I will 
 call in the morning and learn your decision." A family 
 council was held, and, mainly at Mrs. Hancock's solicita- 
 
 f 
 
)(1 States Military 
 Tliu Hon. .I(»soi)li 
 lo.ss for the Moiit- 
 laining a cadet. A 
 (1 niTibitious views 
 
 district, and was 
 ointment. Among 
 ous to secure, was 
 jaltli and of much 
 ligh opinion of his 
 
 1 a horse, still fiue- 
 a severe work the 
 was profuse in liis 
 
 care of the animal ; 
 
 in Philadelphia on 
 
 siirprise, saw the 
 ashing him to make 
 The hiwyer bought 
 ing Mr. Hancock's 
 J door and abru[)tly 
 e to have Winiield 
 oii4t?" '-Really," 
 
 thought of auch a 
 so suddenly t^-at 1 
 time to think of it.'' 
 lawyer, " and I will 
 cision." A family 
 Hancock's solicita- 
 
 11 
 
 I tion, the (luestion was decided in the afiirniative. 'I'he 
 * lawyer's influence was potent in the matter. Mr. For- 
 
 ( nance submitted Win field's name for a|ipoinlnient ; and, 
 on July 1, 1840, he entered upon his student life at the 
 / National Military Academy at West i'oint. Among his 
 classmates was Ulysses S. Grant. 
 
n 
 
 ( 
 
 C II A V T E R II. 
 
 Hiintjock »,'ra(lii!itt!d in 1S44, aiul was assi<i[iie(l to duty 
 with tho Sixth Rogiiuunt ol" Infantry, witli thu rank of 
 Hocond lieutenant. He served in the SoutiiwoHt, on and 
 near tho Red River till the breaking out of the Mexican war, 
 when his regiment was ordered to join the army of (ien- 
 eral Winfiold Scott. Hancock was en},'a,i,'cd in no actual 
 fij,'hting till near the close of tlie struj^^'le, when he partici- 
 pated in tho battles of Contreras, Chorubusco, Molino del 
 Roy and Ciiapultei)oc. Later events in our history have 
 dwarfed tho proportions of these oM<;a;^'omonts; but at tho 
 time they were looked u[)on as very l)h)ody encounters ; 
 and tiio newspapers of that day enipl()yod their very 
 laryost display typo to tell tho public that no loss than 
 eleven hun<lrod of our ;,'allaiit men liad fallen in the desper- 
 ate strujftfle at Chorubusco. Hut it must bo remembered, 
 that to tho iiidividiuil soldier t nail eni^ajjomeul is as 
 serious as the coidlict which topples thrones aiul njakes 
 the whole world tremble. Hancock, received lionorable 
 mention and a brevet for meritorious services in those 
 battles. 
 
 On the conclusion of peace he was among the last to 
 leave Mexico, when he was stationed near Prairie du 
 Chien. In 1849 he married Almira, daughter of Samuel 
 Russell, a merchant of St. Louis. It is suflBcient to say 
 
 1 
 
f 
 
 iH asHij^iiod to iluty 
 , witli till) nink of 
 Soiitliwost, oil and 
 if the Mexican war, 
 II tlio army of (ien- 
 gat^cd ill no actual 
 le, when he partici- 
 •ubuaco, Molino del 
 in our hiwtory have 
 [ements; hut at the 
 hloody encounters ; 
 ipliiycd their very 
 ; that no less than 
 fallen in the despor- 
 iist 1)0 remeinhered, 
 II enj^aj^ement is as 
 thrones and makes 
 received honorable 
 8 services in those 
 
 4 among the last to 
 
 id near Prairie du 
 
 ilaughter of Samuel 
 
 is sufficient to say 
 
 11 
 
 that his inarrifid life has ht>(!n nnuu than usually Inippy. 
 Mrs. Ilanoock has accompanied her hiishand to most of 
 luH posts of duty. A sou and a daughter has hluwsed the 
 union. 
 
 After a brief term of service in Florida, tlio Sixth 
 ll(!gim(!iit was ordered first to Kansas and tlieii to (Cali- 
 fornia. The march was made across the eontineut, and 
 this is probably the longest coiitiniious march ever made 
 by a body of troops. In IHOI the war of secession broke 
 out. At his urgent re(iuest Hancock was transferred to 
 the East, though not without delay; and in September 
 of the year named, lie landed in New York. Without so 
 much as pausing to visit his parents, he hastened to Wash- 
 ington and reported for duty. The blunder was at first 
 made of turning him into a (/ommissary ; but General 
 Mc(ylellan recommended liim for n brigade, and aftin- a 
 delay of a few days Hancock received the commission of a 
 brigadier-general and was assigned to duty in tlic division 
 of General Smith. His command comprised the Forty- 
 ninth Pennsylvania, the Forty-third New York, the Fifth 
 Wisconsin, and the Ninth Maine. His commission bore 
 date September 23, 1861. 
 
 In October General McClellan was appointed to the 
 command of the Army of the Potomac, which he pro- 
 ceeded to organize and drill before putting it into the 
 field to fight battles. A discussion of his policy in this 
 respect does not come within the province of this memoir ; 
 but it is pertinent to say that Hancock fully approved it. 
 
 T"^ 
 
14 
 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 The Soiitlierners, more familiar with the use of arms than 
 the people of the North, had the further cdvantage that 
 they liad been prepared for war from the beginning of 
 the seceasion movement. The army of Northern Virginia, 
 too, was flushed with the victory at Bull Run, It was 
 believed that the North, vastly preponderating, as it did, 
 in wealth and in appliances for the production of warlike 
 material, could better afford to wait than could the South, 
 whose means were limited and whose ports were already 
 closed to the commerce of the world. And so for six 
 months Hancock became a drill-master. It must be borne 
 in mind that at this time not only were the privates ab- 
 solutely raw, but that their commanders were but very 
 little better instructed in the art of war. The few officers 
 who had received a military education, not oidy were com- 
 pelled to attend to the executive business of their com- 
 mands, but were forced as well to become drill-sergeants, 
 to teach the other officers what they in turn were to 
 teach the privates. To Hancock's tireless energy and 
 efficiency during this period of apparent inactivity much 
 of his later success is due. 
 
 Early in April, 1862, McClellan moved on Richmond 
 via the York peninsula. The plan was opposed by Pres- 
 ident Lincoln, who feared that so soon as Washington , 
 was uncovered tlie enemy would make a dash upon it. 
 He reasoned that the Confederates would hold the loss of 
 Richmond cheap, if by the sacrifice they could gain Wash- 
 ington with the prospect of encouraging Maryland to de- 
 
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15 
 
 3 use of arms than 
 ler advantage that 
 I the beginning of 
 Northern Virginia, 
 lull Run, It was 
 derating, as it did, 
 uction of warlike 
 n could the South, 
 ports were already 
 d. And so for six 
 
 It must be borne 
 re the privates ab- 
 ers were but very 
 The few officers 
 not oidy were com- 
 iness of their com- 
 tne drill-sergeants, 
 
 in turn were to 
 ireless energy and 
 it inactivity much 
 
 ved on Richmond 
 i opposed by Pres- 
 on as Washington , 
 ike a dash upon it. 
 aid hold the loss of 
 y could gain Wash- 
 ig Maryland to de- 
 
 « 
 
 "l clare for them. He therefore stipulated that a force suf- 
 ficient to protect the capital should be retained in its 
 front, and this was stationed at Fredericksburg under 
 General Irwin McDowell. 
 
 Reaching the York peninsula, McClelhin found the 
 enemy entrenched at Yorktown. He ouglit to have 
 attacked at once ; there can l)e no doubt of that ; but he 
 sat down and besieged for a month a place which he 
 could have carried by a coup de main in an hour. But 
 McCleilan lacked dash and moral courage. He invariably 
 underestimated his own strength and overestinnitjd that 
 of liis enemy. Tlie siege was harassing, but not bloody. 
 The people of the country sympathized with the Southern 
 cause and gave all the information in their power to the 
 rebel leaders, while Union officers were almost entirely 
 ignorant of the movements or strength of the opposing 
 force. These people possessed the greater opportunities 
 for gaining knowledge of our force and positions by 
 coming into the^Union lines under professions of loyalty, 
 sometimes bringing produce for sale at extortionate 
 prices, and sometimes bringing information never proved 
 to be correct and frequently known to be flagrantly false. 
 One of these gentlemen, named Vollin, w.as particularly 
 pertinacious in declaring his devotion to the Union cause, 
 and particularly active in bringing in totally untrust- 
 worthy intelligence. While on a scouting expedition, 
 toward the close of tlie siege, attended by a small 
 cavalry escort, Hancock was fired upon by half-a-dozen 
 
 -^— 
 
 mfrr- 
 
!; 
 
 
 i I 
 
 If. 
 
 bushwhackers. He h.istily sent his troopers around to 
 intercept their retreat, while he and his stuff rode directly 
 upon the guerillas. The result was that two were killed 
 and a third taken. The prisoner proved to be Vollin. 
 " Good morning, Mr. Vollin ; good morning, sir," said 
 the General. " We have been looking for you for some 
 time, Mr. Vollin." The fellow was oilent. " I suppose," 
 continued Hancock, " you are aware of the fate usually 
 awarded to spies, Mr. Vollin." " I— suppose— 1— am," 
 stamme-ed the latter. " Then you will please prepare 
 for it at your earliest convenience, Mr. Vollin. Good 
 morning, sir." 
 
 A few days later, while Hancock was making a recon- 
 noissance toward the enemy's position, at the head of a 
 regiment of his brigade, he came suddenly upon a rebel 
 regiment, scarce a hundred yards from him. Both parties 
 instantly sank to the ground and sought the cover of 
 stumps and trees. The rebel officer in this emergency 
 concluded to practice a little ruse. Carefully instructing 
 his men to lie still and take rood aim, he fiercely shouted 
 " Charge ! " thinking that at that terrible word the 
 " Yankees " would start frohi theii; cover to flee. But 
 the Yankees lay still as the grave. " Ch-irge I " repeated 
 the officer. His men ros.i ; but had scarce reached theii' 
 feet when a withering volley from Hancock's regiment 
 sent them to the rear at dcuble-quick, and they were seen 
 no more. 
 
 By the first of May, McClellan's batteries were nearly 
 
troopers around to 
 
 lis stuff rode directly 
 
 that two were killed 
 
 iroved to be Vollin. 
 
 morning, sir," said 
 
 ig for yon for some 
 
 ilent. " I suppose," 
 
 ! of the fate usually 
 
 — suppose — I — am," 
 
 will please prepare 
 
 Mr. Vollin. Good 
 
 was making a recon- 
 ion, at the head of a 
 iddenly upon a rebel 
 n him. Both parties 
 sought the cover of 
 r in tills emergency 
 Carefully instructing 
 1, he fiercely shouted 
 terrible word the 
 
 cover to flee. But 
 " Chiirge ! " repeated 
 scarce reached theia* 
 
 Hancock's regiment 
 c, and they were seen 
 
 batteries were nearly 
 
 completed, and the (3th of that month was the date fixed 
 for opening fire. But on the morning of the 4th it was 
 discovered that during the night the enemy had evacuated 
 his works. The pursuit was instant and vigorous. At 
 Williamsl)iirg, Longstreet, who commanded the rebel 
 rear, decided to fight to gain time for the escape of his 
 trains. Hooker assailed him furiously, but was roughly 
 handled. The impetuous Kearny dashed upon him; but, 
 to say the least, gained no ground. The enemy's extreme 
 left was defended l>y earthworks of considerable strength 
 and protected by an intricate abattis. These works had 
 been abandoned, and Hancock, seeing that they flanked 
 tlie enemy's line, promptly occupied two of them. At 
 this juncture the rebels came upon iiim in strong force to 
 drive him out. He held them at l)ay for some time, but, 
 fnidinglimselfvery nn'.cIiontnumi)ered, lie called for assist- 
 ance. General Couch sent him tlie Tenth Massaclinsetts. 
 Still the enemy pressed ujmn him. Hancock pretended 
 to retreat till tlie enemy was drawn into the open, when 
 lie suddenly faced about, poured volley after volley into 
 their astonished ranks, which threw them into confusion. 
 " Now, gentlemen, with the bayonet,"^ cried Hancock. 
 In anotiier moment the command leaped forward, the 
 rebel line broke, and the enemy's left flank was turned. 
 The rebel loss here was between five hundred and six 
 hundred; Hancock's was but one hundred and thirty. 
 Aware of the important advantage gained, and expecting 
 a determined effort to re-take the works, McClellan 
 
ir 
 
 18 
 
 sent in stron;^ reinforcements ; biit in tlie morning 
 the enemy iiad retreated.- Longsl reefs object, how- 
 ever, hiul been secured ; lime liad l)ecn gained to 
 enable ins trains to malcc good liieir (escape ; and he had 
 inliioted at least as much hiss as he liad sustained. 
 
 Hancock was the hero of the day. His l)rilliat\t 
 charge, l)ringing about sucli important results, was highly 
 spoken of by all. McClellan, in his telegraphic report 
 that evening said : 
 
 "Oincriil iliiiifork liMs liikcn two redoubts Mini repulsed EiirlyN 
 relfcl brii^ade l)y a real eliarse with tlic bnyoncl, l!\kin,i,M)ne Colonel iind 
 one liuudrcd and fil'ty other i)ris()ners, and killing at least two Colonels 
 and many privates. Ilisoonduct was brilliant in the extreme." 
 
 McClellan resumed the march on Richmond, but slow- 
 ly. A sudden push would no doubt have given him the 
 rebel capital, wiiere the defensive force, was but 50,000 
 men ; but his constitutional timidity stood in his way. 
 In justice to him it must be said that the roads were 
 almost impassable for artillery and wagon trains. On tlie 
 20th of May he readied the Chickahominy. Immediate- 
 ly he threw two divisions across that stream and stretched 
 liis army o..t over twenty miles of country. The river 
 was not fordable, and there was but a single bridge across 
 it. Tiie corps of Keyes and Heintzelman were moved up 
 to Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, only four miles from Rich- 
 mond, where, on the 30th of June, under cover of a tre- 
 mendous thunder-storm, the cemy fell upon them with 
 nearly his whole force. Tlie figlit lasted two days. At 
 the close of the first day, the Union troops, hirgely out- 
 
m 
 
 ill tlie moniiiig 
 eet's object, how- 
 I been gained to 
 u;ape ; anil he luid 
 il sustained, 
 ay. His brilliant 
 results, was highly 
 telegraphic report 
 
 s iiiul repulsed Early's 
 r, l!ikin,i,M)ni) Colonel iiiul 
 ng at. least two Colonels 
 ill the extreme." 
 
 [lichmond,but slow- 
 liave given him the 
 i-ce. was but 50,000 
 ' stood in his way. 
 hat the roads were 
 igon trains. On tlie 
 ^miny. Immediate- 
 stream and stretched 
 30untry. The river 
 I single bridge across 
 man were moved up 
 ir miles from Ilich- 
 nder cover of a tre- 
 'ell upon them witii 
 sted two days. At 
 troops, largely out- 
 
 numbered, had been forced back full two miles. Next 
 day Sumner and Hooker reached the field, and the rebels 
 wore disastrously repulsed. The last fighting was done 
 liy the division of the gallant Ricliardson, of Illinois, 
 which was that afterward commanded l)y Hancock — the 
 First Division of the Second Corps. Hurling back the 
 last desperate .assault of the enemy, and fairly crushing 
 his columns, Richardson was pushing on into Richmond, 
 when orders recalled him. Hancock was not actively 
 engaged in this battle 
 
 McClellan still hiy with his army on both sides of the 
 Cliickahominy. About the 20tl» of June he began to 
 move to the right bank. By the 'J4tli liis army was 
 across, except Porter's command of about 80,000 ; and 
 he announced his purpose to move at once on Richmond. 
 Stonewall Jackson, meantime, had joined Lee ; and tlie 
 latter, simultaneously with McClellan's movements, had 
 crossed from the right to the left bank of the Cliickahom- 
 iny, some miles higher up, with the intention of destroy- 
 ing the Union forces before aid could reach them. Ft 
 was thesciiemo of FiiirOaks over again. Then the weak 
 left was assailed; now the left had been strengthened and 
 the right weakened; and there Lee proposed to strike a 
 terriiile blow. On the 26th A. P. Hiil attacked two 
 Union iirigades of McCall's division, strongly posted in 
 advance of Porter's corps, but met a bloody repulse. The 
 Union position here was untenable, and the forces were 
 withdrawn during the night. Next day, with about 
 
m 
 
 20 
 
 65,000 troops, inclurlins the corps of Longstreet, A. V. 
 Hill, I). H, Hill, and Jackson, Lee fell upon Porter. The 
 battle is known as that of Gaine's Mill or Cold Harbor. 
 Porter was outnumbered two to one ; but he was strongly 
 posted and his men fought well. Ho was pressed at 
 every point, and be had not a man in reserve. From two 
 o'clock till four beheld his ground with magnificent cour- 
 age, hurling back charge after charge, but growing less 
 able at every onset. At four o'clock Slocuin came to his 
 relief. He sent the reinforcements regiment by regiment 
 to the weakest points, and so held on to his position with 
 a death grip for two hours more. Except a single l)ri- 
 gade the whole rebel force was in action, and fighting 
 desperately. It was half-past six, and Porter's only hope 
 was to hold on tUl dark. Suddenly a great shudder 
 passed along his line, and, as if moved by a common im- 
 pulse, his whole corps rolled back from the deadly shock. 
 All seemed lost. At that critical moment French and 
 Meagher appeared upon the scene with the Second and 
 Third brigades of Richardson's division. Inspired with 
 new courage. Porter's men faced about at once, dashed 
 upon their enemy and fairly drove him from the field. 
 
 McClellan believed that there was a very strong force 
 between him and Richmond, whereas there was only 
 Magruder's division, about 18,000 strong. This division 
 kept up a great show of assailing McClellan at different 
 points, which the nature of the country enabled it to do 
 with comparative impunity, and entire success in keeping 
 
f Longstreet, A. V. 
 
 upon Porter. Tlio 
 [ill or Cold Harbor. 
 
 but he was strongly 
 Ho was pressed at 
 reserve. From two 
 th magnificent cour- 
 se, but growing less 
 
 Slocum came to his 
 igiment by regiment 
 
 to his position with 
 Except a single l)ri- 
 action, and fighting 
 1 Porter's (»nly hope 
 y a great shudder 
 ed i)y a common im- 
 m the deadly shock, 
 loment French and 
 dth the Second and 
 sion. Inspired with 
 L)out at once, dashed 
 m from the field. 
 ,s a very strong force 
 •eas there was only 
 rong. This division 
 cClellan at different 
 ntry enabled it to do 
 fe success in keeping 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 00,000 men on that side of the Cliickahominy, while the 
 main rebel army was pounding the life out of Porter. 
 And .' the Union commander did not dare weaken liis 
 left, lest while Lee cut him off from his l)ase of sujjplies 
 at Yorktown, Magruder should cut his line of retreat to 
 the .James. Directly across the Cliickahominy from Por- 
 ter's bloody field lay Smith's division, with Hancock's 
 l)rigade on its left. During the night of the '27th Porter's 
 men were withdrawn and marclied pass Smith's rear 
 toward the left of McClellan's lir.e, destroying tlie bridge 
 across the Cliickahominy. In the morning Smith began 
 to fall back. iVIcClellan had resolved to change his base 
 to the James River, and the corps of Sumner and Heintzel- 
 man were ordered to guard the rear. As Smith was fall- 
 incrback, Toombs's rebel b 'igade made a dasii at Hancock, 
 The assailants were filing '.)aek with fiigiitfnl loss. Among 
 the prisoners were Col. L. Q. C. Lamar and his liieuten- 
 ant-Colonel. 
 
 McCIellan left Sumner and Heiiitzelman at Savage 
 Station to guard his rear, while his omer corps pushed on 
 toward the .lames. Hancock's brigade was with the rear 
 guard, but, through some misconception of his orders, 
 Heintzelman lell back. Wiien the enem'y attacked, as he 
 did repeatedly and savagely, the brunt of the fight fell upon 
 Hancock, Burns, and Hrooke, magnificently sustained by 
 Pettit's, Hazzard's, Osborne's and Bramhall's liatteries. 
 Our men had Ijeen continuously on duty since the 26th ; 
 but every desperate assault was rolled back with calm de- 
 
 I Mi WI 
 
22 
 
 ■vv, 
 
 tenniiiiitloii, iiiul wIumi iii'^lil tVll no rohol soldier Imd sot 
 his foot within tiie Union linos. Whon diirknoss put an 
 end to the carnago Suninor oidoiod a retreat, leaviii<? 
 2,000 woniidod to fall into the enemy's hands. This battle 
 is known as that of Savage Station, and was fought on the 
 20th of June. 
 
 Lee had crossed the Chickahoniiny on the 2nih with 
 his whole force ; made a forced march parallel to the line 
 of retreat and, on the 30th, foil upon McCall, Kearny and 
 Hooker, at Frazer's Farm. Jeff Davis had come down to 
 see the fray, and Lee, having onlered up every man un- 
 der his command, even calling in Wise's troops from 
 Fort Darling, had lu) doubt tliat he would pierce the 
 Union center, and capture the whole rear division. At 
 (irst he gained some success, driving in McCall ; but 
 Fighting Joe Hooker came uo, the fiery Kearny came up, 
 iind the whole rebel line was rolled i)ack in ragged rout, 
 and was fain to seek a retreat in the thick woods, beneath 
 the friendly shelter of the night. Hancock was still in 
 the rear guard, and on this another desperate assault was 
 made at Glondalo, l)y Stonewall Jackson. But yet again 
 the enemy's assaults were firmly ai'id steadily ''(.pulsed. 
 When darkness set in the wearied troops, who had now 
 l)een fighting all day and marching all night for five con- 
 secutive days, once more took the route for the new base 
 on James river. Next day the Union army took position 
 at Malvern flill ; and here Lee, on the first of July, 
 dashed once more upon its lines, only to be hurled back 
 
 ^ 
 
28 
 
 rebel soldier had set 
 lien (liirkiieHS put an 
 ed a retreat, leaviiifj; 
 y's hands. Thishatllo 
 [ind was fought on the 
 
 liny on the 2nih with 
 ch parallel to the line 
 
 McCall, Kearny and 
 vis had come down to 
 ed up every man un- 
 
 Wise's troops from 
 le would pierce tlie 
 le rear division. At 
 ing in McCall ; but 
 ery Kearny came up, 
 back in ragged rout, 
 thick woods, l)eneath 
 lancock was still in 
 lesperato assault was 
 kson. But yet again 
 id steadily '-(.pulsed, 
 roops, who had now 
 dl night for five con- 
 lute for the new base 
 )n army took position 
 in the first of July, 
 y to be hurled back 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 again with frightful slaughter. The poriion r)f the line !i1 
 which Hancock was stationed wan not atta(;kcd. After 
 once more beating off his persistent foe. M( Ch-llan re- 
 treated still again to Harrison's Landing, and. with a lit- 
 tle more deliberatic" . Lee retreati^d to Kiclimoiid, ciich 
 devoutly returning thanks to Ahuiglny CJod for iiaving 
 vouclisafed him a noble victory. 
 
 ^^.JM 
 
il 
 
 . C H A V r hUi III. 
 
 MnCloIlan was nidcnid Ijiick to WuHhiir^toii, and tlio 
 ^roaUir part of liis coiinriimd was transfcnt'd to Popo. 
 Tlio second battle of Hull Run ToUowcmI, in uliicli Han- 
 cock did not take part. Po[te was l)eateii,aiid MitCIlellan 
 onco inoro took command of the army. Lov. crossed the 
 Potomac into Maryhind, leavin<,' a force to invest Harper's 
 Ferry, which was surrendered thront,'li cowardice or 
 treaeliery. Fraidclin, in whose eori)S Hancock's hrij^ade 
 was phiced, was sent to relieve that important post; hut 
 was too late. Franklin found liis road aiiross the Culoctin 
 Mountains liarred at C/iampton's (laii l»y Howc^ll (''ohh, 
 who was ordered to hold his ground at all hazards. Frank- 
 lin brushed him away, however, with the loss of a few 
 hundred men, and, hruvj; too late to relieve Hari)er'rt 
 Ferry, hastentsd on t(» the nei!4lil)orhood of Sliarpsville, 
 where, McClellau havin;jf forced the passai,'e of South 
 Mountain at Fisher's Gap, the two" armies stood glaring 
 at each other across Antietam Creek. 
 
 The passage of the Antietam could not he forced in 
 the face of the enemy; and on the 16th, Hooker was 
 sent up the river about two miles, where he crossed un- 
 opposed, and, turning southward, struck the enemy's left, 
 gaining some advantage, and desisting only as darkness 
 
 d 
 
 V 
 
 n 
 II 
 ii 
 
 ai 
 
 CI 
 
 hi 
 ri 
 
25 
 
 »- *. . 
 
 I I. 
 
 Wiisliiiii,'(()li, iilid the 
 IriinsfontMl lo I'ope. 
 Dwed, in wliicli Ilmi- 
 )(!iitoii,iiii(l M(;(^/lellun 
 ly. FiCM! crossed the 
 !•(!(! to inv(!st lliirixir's 
 rniiti;li onward ico or 
 IS Iliiiicook's liriffiido 
 iinportiiiit. post; l»ut 
 id iKiross tlifi Cidotitiii 
 iiili l»y IIo\V(^ll Col)l), 
 it ill! liiiziirds. FniiiU- 
 tli tlio loss of ii low 
 
 to rclievf! Ifiiri»(!r"s 
 irliood of Sliiirpsvillc!, 
 Hj passiitjc of Soutli 
 armies stood glarinif 
 c. 
 
 iild not be forced in 
 le Ifitii, Hooker was 
 where he crossed nn- 
 •iick the enisniy's left, 
 illy; only as darkness 
 
 fell. h\ the inorninjr F looker a.,'ain atta.iked with f^'rcat 
 fury, his coi AS still heiii- the only one west of the stmmi. 
 Hurnsid.. w::„ ordero.! to force a passaj,'e on MeClellairs 
 left, hut he considered himself iinahle to do so, and made 
 MO very serious attempt. Lee was therefore at liherty to 
 oppose nearly his whole force to Flooker, and th. latter 
 was (luiokly worsted, he himself heinj,' badly wounded. 
 Mansfield was sent to his aid, but his cort>s was pitted' 
 alone ajruinst the whole rebel left; and, when it was 
 forced baek and Mansfield was killed, Sumner came 
 ui.on the scene. FFe struck the enemy a little to the left 
 of the |»revious fighting; but he, too, was left unsup- 
 ported, and, though his troops at first gained ground, he 
 was at length forced to retire, though his First F)ivision, 
 umler Flichardsnn, held its position in the corn-field.' 
 Just as Sumner's attack was seen to have fiiiled, Frank- 
 lii. arrived on the ground. Smith's division, inclu.ling 
 IFancoek's brigade, was ordered to carry the ground so 
 long aiul so hotly contested. The men advanced at 
 •louble-quick, carried the position at a dash, eleared the 
 v^oods and the corn-field of their defenders in ten 
 minutes, and held their ground there without serious 
 molestation. Their loss was not great: l^rter and 
 IJurnside had as yet done nothing. Sumner, Mansfield 
 and Hooker had been beaten in detail, though the 
 enemy was content witii holding his position, when, 
 lute in the day, Franklin came to the relief of the 
 right, and Burnside at length made tlie long-delayed 
 
20 
 
 ,u.,n.pt to force tho wr inM^o. ''-"f '«";;;; 'j;;; 
 
 croHsu.«, but his fm-ther a.lvu,...,o was c\M and h 
 e„e,ny was once .nor« c„ncontralu.« to .rush hun, when 
 Suml-a,ain.stnu.kl.iH center. The FirKt Ihv.s.on o 
 his ccrps, led l.y Hichar.lson, an.i.l a perfect storm of 
 canister and n.nsketry advanced once more from the corn- 
 fieUl, and a^ain forced back the enemy ; hut U.chardson 
 fell in the struggle. In the middle of the ti,ht, Hancock 
 was sent to the command ..f the division, and fron» tins tune 
 till the Summer of 186«, the history of Hancock |s tluvt of 
 the First Division of the Second Army Corps. Ihc fight- 
 i„g at Antiotam was nearly over when Hancck assun.ed 
 V,s new command. Our army, fighting a single corps and 
 sometimes a single division at a time, had been out- 
 nunrbered at every point of contact and repulsed m many 
 places; yet the enemy had suffered dbout as heavdy as 
 the Union army ; and McClellan had all his troops across 
 the Antietam, except the reserve corps of Fitz John 
 Porter. The next day, the 18th, was passed in inactivity. 
 During the ensuing night Lee retreated. 
 
 Some harassing but not important operations fol- 
 lowed, including a reconnoisance to Martinsburg, led by 
 Hancock. On the 7th of November, McClellan was 
 retired from the command of the Army of the Potomac, 
 and was succeeded by Burnside, whose diffidence m him- 
 self and doubts of his ability to command so great an 
 army, were justified by events. On the 29th of Novem- 
 
IT 
 
 llo iniulo f,'on(l hirt 
 iH cheoktul, and tho 
 
 to cnirtli him, wlien 
 he First Division of 
 
 a ])C!ifect stonn c)f 
 ) move from tho corn- 
 iiy ; but Uichiivdson 
 »f tho fi«,'ht, lliincuuik 
 )n, ivi\il from this time 
 [)f Hancock is that of 
 ly Corps. The fight- 
 >ii Hancock assnmed 
 iiig a single corps and 
 time, had been out- 
 and repulsed in many 
 cl about as heavily as 
 (1 all his troops across 
 I corps of Fitz John 
 IS passed in inactivity, 
 iated. 
 
 srtant operations fol- 
 ,o Martinsburg, led by 
 mber, McClellan was 
 \.nny of the Potomac, 
 hose diffidence in him- 
 
 command so great an 
 3n the 29th of Novem- 
 
 ber, Hancock was promoted to bo major-general of vol- 
 nntoors. 
 
 In December tlu! CTnion army was concentrated at 
 Fredt^rit^ksburg, and liurnside d(ftermined to crods the 
 Iliippaliannock at tiiat place and move toward Richmond. 
 A force was detaihul from Hancock's division to guard 
 the pontoniers in laying bridges, but the fire of tho rebel 
 siiarpshooters was so destructive tliat tho attempt was 
 abandoned. Volunteers were then called for, who leai)ed 
 into the pontons, pushed across under a sharp fire, and 
 drove the enemy from his rifie-pits on the south side of 
 the river. As the boats were pushing off, Robert Ilen- 
 dershot, a drummer-boy attached to the Seventh Michi- 
 gan regiment, leaped into the water, seized the boat and 
 made good the crossing. His bravery earned him the 
 sobriquet of the Drummer Boy of tiie Rappahannock. 
 
 During the 12th the army crossed by several bridges, 
 vvhicli were now constructed without opposition. Burn- 
 side's plan was to engage the enemy warmly in front, 
 which Sumner was ordered to do, while Franklin, com- 
 manding tiie left, which had been greatly strengthened, 
 was to gain Lee's right, turn his flank, '"id render his 
 position untenable. Franklin appears .not to have un- 
 derstood his orders as Burnside intended them to be un- 
 derstood, and, instead of delivering a strong and deter- 
 mined assault he weakly engaged two of his nine divis- 
 ions, and when these were, as a matter of course, driven 
 back by superior numbers, he desisted from further effort. 
 
28 
 
 i'!.;. 
 
 I ' 
 m^ 
 
 m 
 
 IIP- 
 
 
 On the right a different state of things existed. The 
 enemy here were posted on a hill known as Marge's 
 Heights. Its sumuit was covered with batteries ; its 
 sides were seamed with rifle-pits, and at its foot ran a 
 sunken road sustained by stone walls. The front was so 
 narrow that the attacking force was formed in column by 
 brigades. Between the rebel position and the sheltering 
 streets of the town was an open common a quarter of a 
 mile in width, intersected by a mill-race, and across this 
 Sumner's men rushed to an impossible task. French 
 took the lead ; but his column melted away under a mur- 
 derous fire. Th^n came Hancock. As his men broke 
 from their cover, a storm of deadly hail broke upon their 
 ranks. The whole atmosphere was alive with invisible 
 but busy messengers of dep.th. The summit of the hill 
 was clothed with the sulphurous breath- of eighty guns, 
 and three lines of volleying musketry showed where the 
 long ranks of rebel soldiery, themselves protected, were 
 pom-ing murderous volleys into the advancing lines. The 
 ground was heavy with red Virginia mud, and through 
 this the devoted division pushed its way, like some strong 
 bird breasting the tempest and defying the very light- 
 nings of heaven. At every step dozens of men fell dead. 
 Ateverv moment great gaps were torn in the ragged line 
 by the 'relentless storm of lead and iron. Flags fell as 
 their bearers fell; were seized by new hands, rose and 
 struggled on. The foot of the hill was reached; but, 
 great God ! how few lived to reach it ! A gallant division 
 
 XJ 
 
29 
 
 ings exifted. The 
 known as Marge's 
 with batteries ; its 
 id at its foot ran a 
 The front vvas so 
 )rmed in column by 
 and the sheltering 
 tion a quarter of a 
 ice, and across this 
 ible task. French 
 [ away under a mur- 
 As his men broke 
 ail broke upon their 
 alive with invisible 
 summit of the hill 
 athof eighty guns, 
 r showed where the 
 Ives protected, were 
 Ivanciug lines. The 
 ia mud, and through 
 way, like some strong 
 fying the very light- 
 ens of men fell dead. 
 >rn in the ragged line 
 d iron. Flags fell as 
 new hands, rose and 
 11 was reached; but, 
 t! A gallant division 
 
 started on the faithful errand ; a mere handful dashed 
 itself in heroic devotion and impotent valor against the 
 solid stone wall, beyond which no man, through all that 
 fatal day, was able to go. Zook launched his comma.'id 
 forward like a catapult. Meagher's green-and-gold trap- 
 pings gleamed at the head of the Irisli brigade like a bat- 
 tle flag. Hancock was everywhere, directiug, encourag- 
 ing, commanding. But all was of no avail ; for owo mor- 
 tal hours the uiie(iual strife lasted, and the gallant band 
 rolled back, almost annihilated. Some regiments left 
 eighty per cent, of their men on the field. Other troops 
 were in turn devoted to slaughter in spite of Sumner's 
 piteous prayers to have them spared from so impossible a 
 task ; but Burnside was firm ; and when night feU, ten 
 thousand dead and wounded man lay upon a little patch of 
 ground not a quarter of a mile in extent The frightful 
 carnage may be gathered from the fact that few more 
 than 30,000 men were under fire in the whole battle, and 
 the losses were nearly 15,000. Franklin's men did not 
 suffer at all in proportion to the others, so that the mor- 
 tality in the divisions of Hancock and French was simply 
 appalling. After reporting the losses given above, the 
 Medical Inspector General added : " The return of killed 
 may be too small." Many of the soldiers engaged be- 
 lieved that the casualties had been purposely reduced to 
 hide from the array and thw country the extent of the 
 sacrifice. 
 
 After Fredericksburg the troops returned to their can- 
 
li 
 
 m 
 
 30 
 
 tonments north of the Rappahaiii.ock, and Hancock de- 
 voted himself to the care of his di^'ision. He made fre- 
 quent inspections, ordered thorough drills, adopted 
 measures to secure the full supplies of rations and cloth- 
 ing to which his men were entitled, and in every way 
 labored to restore their 7norah. The soldiers soon recov- 
 ered from the depression caused by defeat ; and when the 
 movement toward Chancellorville began, there was not a 
 finer body of men in the army, nor one more ready to 
 meet the enemy than the First Division of the Second 
 
 Corps. 
 
 A circumstance showing the conditions under which 
 our men were sometimes called upon to fight, may be here 
 related. A regiment which had just joined Hancock's 
 division, was armed with Belgian rifles. These were con- 
 tract weapons, made of miserable material, not finished at 
 all ; the bayonets were of soft iron, and many of the 
 muskets had springs so weak that they would not explode 
 a percussion cap. General Zook inspected the regiment. 
 After reviewing the men his attention was called to their 
 arms. He took a musket from a soldier, thrust the bay- 
 onet into the ground and bent it ta an angle of nuiety 
 degrees. Then he put a cap upon the nipple and pulled 
 the trigger half a dozen times, but the cap failed to ex- 
 plode. "There is one thing satisfactory about these 
 arms," said the General. "What is that?" asked the 
 Colonel of the regiment. "I am thoroughly satisfied 
 they're not worth a damn ! " returned Zook. Report was 
 
 m 
 
81 
 
 , and Hancock de- 
 )n. ile made fre- 
 h drills, adopted 
 rations and cloth- 
 and in every wa}' 
 soldiers soon recov- 
 "eat ; and when the 
 an, there was not a 
 one more ready to 
 ision of the Second 
 
 made to Hancock, but he had no power in' the matter. 
 "Tell the men," lie said, "to look around them as soon 
 C/ as they get into a fight. Tliey'U find plenty of guns on 
 the field." Two days latQi- the regiment was put into 
 the vortex of fire under Marge's Heights ; but death was 
 too busy among its members just then to leave them any 
 time to look around for new guns. They left half their 
 number on the field, and probably did not kill a man on 
 the other side. 
 
 itions under which 
 ;o fight, may be here 
 t joined Hancock's 
 }. These were con- 
 erial, not finished at 
 I, and many of the 
 y would not explode 
 3ected the regiment. 
 1 was called to their 
 lier, thrust the bay- 
 an angle of nmety 
 tie nipple and pulled 
 ihe cap failed to ex- 
 factory about these 
 s that ? " asked the 
 thoroughly satisfied 
 i Zook. Report was 
 
82 
 
 
 C II A P r E 11 IV. 
 
 The army took tho route for Chancellorville on the 
 28th of April, 18G3. Hooker's phui was very simple. 
 Leaving Sedgwick at Fahnouth to stand guard between 
 Lee and Washington, he took the Second, Third, Fifth 
 and Eleventh Corps u^) the Rappahannock, found an un- 
 defended crossing and soon liad the bodies mentioned on 
 the south side of that stream. The First Corps and part 
 of the Twelfth afterward joijied him there, leaving with 
 Sedgwick about 25,000 men. 
 
 An incident of the advance toward Chancellorville is 
 worth giving. The march was begun at four o'clock in 
 the morning, but Gen. Hancock was detained, receiving 
 orders from Gen. Couch, the commandant of the corps. 
 Riding toward the head of his division, as he reached the 
 Irish Brigade he suddenly reined in his horse, leaped to 
 the ground, kilned against a tree and threw up his break- 
 fast. The brigade h^d halted for a rest, and Hancock, 
 turning toward the men, remarked quietly, " Boys, this 
 getting up so early is very unhealthy," " Ah, thin, Gin- 
 eral dear," said a member of the Sixty-ninth New York, 
 " won't you have the laste sup in the world to take the 
 taste out av yer mouth ? It's right good shtuff— it's good 
 enough for a gineral." In the meantime Hancock had 
 taken a drink, and was handing back the canteen to its 
 
 i 
 
8d 
 
 I V. 
 
 Iiancellorville on the 
 [Ui was very simplo. 
 itiiiid guiuil between 
 Second, Tliinl, Fifth 
 nnoek, fouiul uii un- 
 bodies mentioired on 
 First Corps and part 
 I there, leaving with 
 
 rd Chaneellorville is 
 un at four o'elociv in 
 ,s detained, receiving 
 andant of the corps, 
 an, as he reached the 
 
 his horse, leaped to 
 d threw up hisbreak- 
 a rest, and Hancock, 
 
 quietly, " Boys, this 
 
 " 4t 
 
 All, thin, Gin- 
 ixty-ninth New York, 
 the world to take the 
 good shtuff — it's good 
 iutime Hancock had 
 ck the canteen to its 
 
 ' .:.:r3B 
 
 1 
 
 owner. "Too good, too good," he said ;" it's good 
 enougli for a private in the Sixty-ninth." The next mo- 
 ment he was galloping on as though nausea was unknown 
 to him. 
 
 Hancock's command crossed the river on the 1st of 
 May, and readied the battle-field about midnight. In 
 the morning it was engaged i)> feeling for the enemy along 
 the left of Hooker's line ; duty of great difficulty. His 
 men reported from time to time that large bodies of rebels 
 wei'e moving toward the right, but no adecpiate measures 
 were taken to meet the evident effort to overwhelm our 
 right. Near evening a sudden and tremendous (mset of 
 Stonewall Jackson's whole corjjs swept back our Eleventh 
 corps, under Howard, and compelled the reconstruction 
 of our line. The fugitives retired in the greatest disorder. 
 The disast(!r left Hancock exposed in front and rear, and 
 for a time he actually fought his division in both direc- 
 tions. Fortunately the rebels did not press their attack. 
 If they had the gallant division would have found itself in 
 a very perilous predicament. In the midst of the fighting 
 Hancock had his horse shot under him ; he leaped to the 
 ground, .threw his arms around the neck of the noble ani- 
 mal to bid him farewell, and then sent an aide to put him 
 out of misery. 
 
 Historians whose descriptions of battles are wholly 
 imaginary frequently have thrilling stories of the horrible 
 screams of wounded horses on the field. The writer does 
 not deny that horses ever scream, since to do so would be 
 
84 
 
 to claim that, he hiiil ohserveil tlie cjomluct of uU wouiulecl 
 steeds whatever ; but he has sf en a great nan/ horses hit 
 on the field, and has yet to liear one express itself in this 
 way. In the case referred to, General Hancock's horse 
 iiad his leg aliiiost knocked off by a shell, so that it hung 
 dangling by the skin, yet, so soon as it was left by its 
 rider, it began cropping the grass. • 
 
 On Sunday morning. May 3, Jackson's corps, now led 
 by Stuart (Jackson having received his death wound), 
 attacked Sickles with desperate fury, and forced him back 
 somewhat, though thirty thousand men lay close at hand 
 in entire inaction. Our line was then re-formed. In the 
 mean time Sedgwick had carried the heights at Freder- 
 icksburg, and was driving Ewell back on Lee's position. 
 The latter detached the main part of his force to the aid 
 of Ewell, who in turn drove Sedgwick back across the 
 Rappahannock. While this fight was going on Hooker's 
 force of sixty thousand men lay silent as the grave and 
 never fired a musket to effect a diversion in favor of their 
 comrades a few miles distant. On Wednesday morning 
 Hooker recrossed the river. 
 
 Shortly afterward. Couch withdrawing, Hancock was 
 promoted to the command of the gallant Second Corps, and 
 from that day till the close of the war the history of Han- 
 cock is ohe history of the corps ; its fortunes were his ; its 
 glory encircles his brow ; and where the trefoil battle flag 
 gleamed like a meteor through the smoke of battle, there 
 be sure was Hancock leading the charge. 
 
 'liii*!' 
 
uluot of nil wouiulecl 
 fieat nun ■ horses hit 
 express itself in this 
 ii-al Hancock's horse 
 shell, so that it hung 
 as it was left by its 
 
 kson's corps, now led 
 1 his death wound), 
 , and forced hini back 
 nen lay close at hand 
 3n re-formed. In the 
 le heights at Freder- 
 ck on Lee's position. 
 )f his force to the aid 
 wick back across the 
 as going on Hooker's 
 ent as the grave and 
 rsion in favor of their 
 Wednesday morning 
 
 rawing, Hancock was 
 ant Second Corps, and 
 ar the history of Han- 
 fortunes were his ; its 
 3 the trefoil battle flag 
 jmoke of battle, there 
 tiarge. 
 
 i 
 
 85 
 
 Soon after the battle of Chancellorviilc!, Leo resolved 
 on an invasion of the North. To tliis end he called to his 
 standard every availal)le man, and started on his errand 
 with the finest army the Confederacy ever organized. It 
 numbered fully 100,000; it was well drilled, ably led, and 
 a series of successes had given its men a conviction that it 
 was well nigh invincible. Moving up the Rapidan, Leo 
 reached the valley of the Shenandoaii, down which he 
 marched leisurely. Hooker followed with equal delibera- 
 tion, keeping between the rebel army aid Washington. 
 Hancock guarded the rear, he himself being among the 
 last to leave the lines on the Rappahannock. Moving 
 rapidly thence to the neighborhood of Alexandria, he 
 marched in a single day across the Bull Run battle field, 
 to Thoroughfare Gap in the Bull Run Mountains, which 
 he was ordered to guard, in order that a strong rebel 
 force, supposed to be moving up the Luray Valley, might 
 not break through. He retained only the First Division, 
 his Second and Third being posted at other menaced 
 points. Early in the morning picket firing announced 
 the presence of the enemy, and it was soon discovered 
 that a hostile division of 10,000 or 12,000 strong, instead 
 of being on the other side of the mountains, was rapidly 
 stealing around to capture Hancock's force, whicli. per- 
 haps, comprised 2,000 men. In this emergency a weak 
 man wouM have given up everything; a rash man would 
 have dashed himself upon the enemy, with equally disas- 
 trous results. Hancock did neither; he comprehended 
 
 I 
 
 "■TT" 
 
,~,- ii— ;-- jn-i-ui - ■■ ^-' 
 
 86 
 
 u ; 
 
 the situation at a glance, »*\vuni,' his command round, "left 
 in front," 80 as to cover his train and hisciiltle, presenting 
 a solid line of such force us he had, unlimhered a hattery, 
 whicli began shelling the woods, and moved quickly 
 northward. Order seemed to come out of chaos as if hy 
 magic; in a very few minutes his command luid slipped 
 from the rebel grasp, and he lost twelve men in the skir- 
 mish which ensued, in a position where itseemed,aquarter 
 of an hour before, that his whole division was inevitably 
 doomed to ca})ture. Sometimes better generalship is 
 required to avoid an uneqiud fight than to win a battle. 
 
 ;i;*! 
 
 mt\ 
 
 'WV: 
 
 l! 
 
 m 
 
 ill . 
 
87 
 
 :)inimi!id louiul, "left 
 . hisciiltle, preHeiitiiifi 
 iinliml)eit!(l a luitteiy, 
 
 and moved quickly 
 out of chaos as if by 
 omniand had slipped 
 ulvc uien in the skir- 
 re itHecmed,aquarter 
 i vision was inevitably 
 better generalship is 
 
 than to win a battle. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 On the 27th oi Ju-.ie, Hooker resigned the command 
 of the army, and Meade became its leader. Both armies 
 were then north of the Potomac. The rebel line was 
 farther west than tlie Union army, reaching to Chambers- 
 burg and Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, while Meade's army 
 was in the neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Fol- 
 lowing out the plan of campaign sketched by his prede- 
 cessor, Meade resolved to concentrate his army on Pipe 
 Creek, near Uniontown, and there offer battle. But 
 Reynolds's corps, which took part at Gettysburg, was 
 struck on the first of July by the rebels streaming back 
 from the north, driven out of the town with considerable 
 loss, and its leader killed. Hancock was twenty miles 
 distant. When he heard the heavy boom of the guns, 
 his quick ear told him that no mere skirmish was in pro- 
 gress. Putting spurs to his horse he galloped toward the 
 field, leaving orde.-s that his command should follow with 
 all possible speed. Meade, who was 'at Taneytown, 
 Maryland, sent orders to Hancock to examine the field 
 and to decide whether it would be better that the troops 
 at Gettysburg should fall back to the position originally 
 selected, or that the other corps should hasten to their 
 
 • I !! 
 
88 
 
 I* 
 
 iissistanco iiiid docido the buttle on the spot. Reaching 
 the sceno of conHiot about tliruc o'clock, Huncock foimd 
 the First and Eleventh corps largely outninnhered, hadly 
 beaten, and falling back in confusion. Howard had suc- 
 ceeded to the. command when Reynolds fell, and was 
 impotent to stay the lli-^'lit of his men. Hancock's pres- 
 ence acted like magic upon the fugitives. Stopping the 
 tide of retreat, ho reorganized the broken brigades; 
 formed a line along Cemetery Hill ; took in at one all- 
 searching glance the capabilities of the ground ; and seat 
 instant word to Meade that Gettysburg was the one spot 
 of all spots in the world to fight out the crisis ofthe war, 
 and to determine whether "government of the people, 
 for the people, and by the people," should or should not 
 perish from the earth. 
 
 Before morning the whole army except the Sixth Corps 
 was on the grounds. Hancock placed the troops as they 
 came up, and when daylight of the 2d of July broke, Lee 
 was confronted by 70,000 veterans. The Twelfth Corps 
 occupied the right at Culp's Hill, a steep wooded eleva- 
 tion. Then foUov ed the Eleventh, First, Second and 
 Fifth Corps. Sickles with the Third Corps, who should 
 have occupied the space between the Second and Fifth, 
 moved his command forward nearly a mile from the posi- 
 tion assigned him, to the elevation known as Seminary or 
 Oak Ridge, where his left was completely in air, leaving 
 a wide gap between himself and the Fifth Corps. Blun- 
 ders of this character seldom escaped the vigilant eyes of 
 
 iiiL- 
 
8» 
 
 tlio spot. Roaoliing 
 
 lock, Hiincock foimd 
 
 oiitiminbiTOil, Wildly 
 
 I. Ilovvaril liivil suc- 
 iiolds fell, and was 
 
 II. Ilancock'H pres- 
 itives. Stopping tho 
 le broken brigades ; 
 1 ; took in at one all- 
 ;he ground ; and sent 
 urg was the one spot 
 the crisis of the war, 
 
 iiment of the people, 
 diould or should not 
 
 xcept the Sixth Corps 
 ed the troops as they 
 2d of July broke, Lee 
 The Twelftli Corps 
 steep wooded eleva- 
 h. First, Second and 
 rd Corps, who should 
 i^e Second and Fifth, 
 a mile from the posi- 
 nown .as Seminary or 
 iletely in air, leaving 
 } Fifth Corps. Blun- 
 jd the vigilant eyes of 
 
 the robelH ; and before Sickles could be retired to the line 
 of Cemetery Itidge, the enemy was upon him. Mcl.aws 
 struck his left with great impetuosity, while Hood poured 
 into the gap to get a position in bis rear. Sickles himself 
 never lacked courage, and both be and his men did all 
 that coubl 1)0 done in the eniergeiu-y, but, taken at every 
 disadvantage, liis left doul)led up und melted away before 
 the impetuous assault of Longstreet's veterans. At the 
 very crisis of the struggle Sickles had his leg almost torn 
 to pieces and he was borne from the field. In this emer- 
 gency Hancock was the first to perceive that something 
 must be done at once, or the disaster would be serious. 
 But alas! his means were limited. He could spare from 
 his own line only a single division, the First, scarce 2,000 
 strong ; but, without a moment's hesitation, he flung that 
 gallant handful into the vortex to stay the rushing sweep 
 of five times their number. There was no time to change 
 front; but, swinging into line, "left in front," the command 
 filed down a cross road leading toward Sherfy's peach 
 orchard, paused among the boulders for a minute to catch 
 breath, and then, silent as the grave, dashed into the open 
 and fell upon the foe. For a moment the work was dead- 
 ly and then the whole rebel line rolled back. Through a 
 wheat field the gallant First followed the retiring enemy 
 till the summit of Oak Ridge was reached, and across this 
 the conflicting forces swayed and surged in the horrible 
 embrace of mutual destruction. But the rebel division 
 filled the whole line, while Hancock's brigades were a 
 
 -r^ 
 

 40 
 
 qimrtcr of a inilo apart. Tlioy liail no lino — only groups 
 of ooml>atantH. 
 
 Suddenly an officer ran down from our rii^ht, announc- 
 ing that the (MUMuy was onco more Ihuiking a division 
 into tho unfilled gap. Iloluotantly tlio coininand to retire 
 was given. The brigailes lilod off and marched from the 
 fiehl as if on parade. Tiio reliels rose witli a yell to 
 pursue, hut paused aghast, for as Haiuiocic's men drew 
 off, a dark l)lue line was seen winding across from under 
 the shelter of Little Hound Top, and our gallant boys 
 cheered once more as they caught glimpses of tho stars 
 and stripes gleaming through the smoke of war, and l)y 
 its side the battle-flag (<f the glorious Sixth Corps. When 
 the fight of the first opened, Sedgwick was thirty-five 
 miles away ; i)ut, hastily taking the road, he never 
 paused till he [daced his command on tha field, just in 
 season to thwart for the second time Hood's effort to step 
 ii»to tho gaj) which Sickles's mistake had opened. The 
 struggle of this day was desperate and bloody. Zo(;k, 
 commandiu'^ the Third Brigade, was killed. Col. Cross, 
 commanding tue First Brigade, was killed, and the Colonel 
 who succeeded him shared his fate. Fidl half tho men 
 who marched into that blood-stained wheat-field were 
 killed or wounded. Among the most deeply lamented 
 of those who fell was Lieutenant-Colonel Merwin, com- 
 manding the Twenty-seventh Connecticut. 
 
 During the conlliiit on the left a division of the 
 Twelfth Cori)s had l)een drawn from our extreme right to 
 
 H'- 
 
 Mm 
 
no — only groupa 
 
 r rii^ht, anDouni;- 
 mkiii^ II division 
 ntninaiid to retire 
 narcluMl from the 
 io with ii yell to 
 doIc'h men drew 
 cross from under 
 our j^allant boys 
 ipses of the stars 
 
 of war, and l)y 
 :th Corps. When 
 { was thirty-five 
 road, lie never 
 the. fiehl, just in 
 xl's effort to step 
 id opened. The 
 
 Idoody. Zo(;k, 
 lied. Col. Cross, 
 I, and tlie CoU)nel 
 idl half the men 
 wheat-field were 
 deeply lamented 
 lel Merwin, eom- 
 ;nt. 
 
 division of the 
 r extreme riglit to 
 
 41 
 
 resist lioni street's advanet'. In its ahsence Kwell as- 
 sanlted thatstrou'^ position and f^'ained a foothold tliero, 
 so tlnit the iiij^lit of tlie seeontl of July found the (Miomy 
 in oceupation of j^round ho had wrested from nt' on l»r)th 
 our llaiiUs. With the dawn of day Geary da-thed hack 
 into his own line aj^ain, drove out Ewell aft(!r a fierce 
 stru^j;t,de, and restored the position on Cnlp's Hill. On 
 other parts of the field all was silent. Ahout noon, how- 
 ever, the crest of SiMuinary Uidj,'<', opposite Hancock, be- 
 gan to bristle with guns. Suddenly, with one tnunendous 
 roar, the do'^'s of war o[)ened their iron throats, and all 
 the air was filled with a roar of artillery such as the west- 
 ern world has never witnessed before or since. Within a 
 space of half a mile a hundred and twenty guns launched 
 their iron hail, and mostly upon Hancock's corps. Gen- 
 eral Hunt replied as best he could ; but the ground on 
 our side was broken by rocks and trees, and he could 
 place but eighty guns to reply to the rebel line. The con- 
 test was nnecpial, and, after a tremendous duel of an hour, 
 our overmatched artillerists drew buck from the contest. 
 For another hour the rebel guns made play, our infantry 
 holding to their position with a tenacity that not even 
 that dreadful /ew c?'«ttf«r could shake. TBen the clamor 
 ceased, and from beneath the dense sulphurous masses 
 that clothed Seminary Bidge the rebel hosts once more 
 moved to the charge. This was the pick and flower of 
 Southern chivalry. Pettigrew was there, Picket*; was 
 there, Wilcox was there, Heth was there, Pender was in 
 
 I 
 
42 
 
 ,,,erve, and L«e in pe,™n direote.1 the movement and 
 ;, U. ,.e.„.t. T,>et„eate..ofthi»awr>Ut,.a,edy. 
 an open valley having a rivnlet rannu,g th,-oush .t» ce„- 
 r,- Fvom titiny »t,-eam,et the meadow .lopes gently 
 : -to Semina,.y RUl.e on the west »"'' <>--;«;; ;:°: 
 the ea,t. F,-on, Sherfy'» peaeh ovehard to Hancook 
 eft was nearly a mile ; i>nt on onv right the ln,e« ap- 
 ' lehed move neady. As the long rehel eon« opened 
 L to view Hancock saw that the decisive honv had com 
 He hastily sent an aide to the Chief of Art.llevy. 1 " 
 Major-General Hunt," said he, " to give me 'wol.at J^s 
 and more it he can spare them." In a mmnte or wo a 
 Tonple of batteries of 2i-ineh rifled gnns came ga lop.ng 
 :r . >Wi,y do yon hring those gun, ?" shonte H.vn- 
 
 oLkin wrath. "I don't want those pop-guns. I 11 
 Oener.^l Hunt to give me son.e N"!-!-" B-- ^ ' 
 I'll see Oeneral Hunt myself." Soon the iu-.ght cl unky 
 ,n.„n.e guns came wheeling down, uulimbered and p.e- 
 pared t.^ open upon the enenry. The Napo eon gun ,s a 
 brass 12.ponnder, throwing round shot camster or ^ ap- 
 nel. Itsoraetimes throws grape ; but I beUeve no g.ape 
 was used at Gettysburg. ^_ 
 
 Meanwhile ' the long line came gleammg on down 
 the opposite sh,pe. It was a gallant array No coward 
 „earts beat beneatl, those tattered battle-flags. These 
 were the men who had contested every incl> of ground from 
 Fair Oaks to Chancellcnville ; and, at "right shoulder 
 shift" they stepped forward as if on paraile. But now 
 
43 
 
 e movement and 
 awful tragedy 's 
 through its cen- 
 o\v slopes gently 
 Cemetery Uidge on 
 ird to Hancock's 
 ight the lines ap- 
 ibel corps opejied 
 ive hour had come. 
 
 Artillery. "Tell 
 e me two batteries, 
 
 minute or two a 
 ins came galloping 
 s?" shouted Han- 
 ie pop-guns'. Tell 
 )leon guns. Stop ■. 
 
 the bright cliunky 
 ilimbered and pre- 
 
 Napoleou gun is a 
 )t, canister or shrap- 
 b I believe no grape 
 
 gleaming on" down 
 b array. No coward 
 battle-flags. These 
 y inch of ground from 
 , at " right shoulder 
 )n parade. But now 
 
 the brazen bull-dogs began to bark. The range was eight 
 hundred yards, and the Napoleon guns were loaded with 
 canister. As each piece spoke there was a hurtling, rush- 
 ing sound like an awful whisper of death shuddering down 
 a storm-blast, and then a bloody chasm would open in the 
 advancing line. Again and again and again the guns 
 belched out their deadly message ; and again and yet again 
 the stern warriors closed their ranks and moved onward 
 to the charge. Dead and dying are left a. every step — 
 bloody drops of agony wrung from the giant division at 
 every fatal footfall ; but still those heroic men press on. 
 They reach within three iumdred yards of Hancock's line, 
 when suddenly that terrible Second Corps rises to its feet 
 and pours in a voUoy that smites down the battalions of 
 Pettigrew and Pickett as if God's avenging angel had 
 breatiied upon them. Whole brigades withered and shrunk 
 intoannilnlation be fore that terrible storm of death. Many 
 threw up their hands, came into our lines and sought the 
 rear as prisoniMs. Farther to the right, however, the at- 
 tacking column actually pushed on till it struck our line 
 and charged with the bayonet. There was a horrible mo- 
 ment of active death that makes the soul sick with horror 
 to contemplate; and then the remnants. of that gallant 
 eighteen thousand rolled back, blaspheming, bleeding, 
 despairing, dying, and the crisis of the war was past. Lee 
 had wasted twelve thousand veterans, and had lost the 
 flower of his army. Five thousand prisoners and thirty 
 three colors were taken in front of Hancock's line. 
 
 !'i 
 
 i^^&u^'fiq^vaMii 
 
44 
 
 Fredericksburg was avenged ! 
 
 In the very moment of victory Hancock was wounded. 
 A shell from the enemy had struck a fence and sent the 
 splinters flying. A big rusty nail struck Hancock u. the 
 thic^h and penetrated to the bone, splintering it, and mak- 
 incTun ugly flesh wound. He pulled the nail from lus leg 
 ami remarked : » They must be hard up for am.nunit,on 
 when they throw such shot as that!" He refused to 
 leave the field till it was evident the attack would not be 
 
 renewed. 
 
 Hancock dispatched an aide to Gen. Meade, saying : 
 "Tell Gen. Meade that the troops under my command 
 have repulsed the enemy, who are now flying in all direc- 
 tions in my front." Meade replied : " Say to Gen. Han- 
 cock [ regret exceedingly that he is wounded, and that I 
 thank him, for the country and myself, for the service he 
 
 has rendered to-day." 
 
 On each of the three days of this greatest of Ameri- 
 can conflicts, Haucock liad been the savior of the army. 
 On the first he had stayed the retreat of our troops, 
 brought order out of confusion, selected the line of oper- 
 ations, decided upon the place to figbt, and assigned to 
 the troops their positions. On the second, Meade had 
 asked him to take command on the left, where he had re- 
 paired Sickles's disaster, stopped Hood's career, and pre- 
 servcl our line. Ou the third, he had repelled the last 
 desperate assault with a carnage that broke the spirit of 
 the enemy and practically ended the battle. 
 
 g 
 
 t- 
 
45 
 
 )ck was wounded. 
 Mice and sent the 
 k Hancock in the 
 ering it, and niak- 
 e nail from his leg 
 p for ammunition 
 ' He refused to 
 tack would not be 
 
 n. Meade, saying : 
 der my command 
 flying in all direc- 
 Say to Gen. Han- 
 (unded, and that I 
 , for the service he 
 
 "•reatest of Ameri- 
 Lvior of the army. 
 Bat of our troops, 
 id the line of oper- 
 ht, and assigned to 
 second, Meade had 
 t, where he had re- 
 d's career, and pre- 
 lad repelled the last 
 broke the spirit of 
 battle. 
 
 Meade thanked him on the field of battle ; the Con- 
 <Tress of the United States returned liim the tlianks of the 
 country, and the people ratified the resolution. 
 
 His wound was found to be severe, and he went to 
 ills parents' home at Norristown to recover. So soon as 
 he was able to walk with a crutcli, he paid a hasty visit 
 to West Point, and thence retired to his own home at 
 Longwood, near St. Louis. Ft was Winter before lie re- 
 joined his command ; and, even then, his wound contin- 
 ued to give him much trouble. The tliigh-bone had been 
 more or less shattered, and from time to time pieces would 
 work out and reopen the wound. In the Winter he was 
 ordered North on special recruiting duty, the intention 
 being that his corps should be strengthened up to 50,000. 
 In carrying out ^his object lie went from city to city, and 
 was everywhere received with ujibounded honor. In 
 Philadelphia he received a most graceful compliment, be- 
 ing tendered a public reception in Independence Hall. 
 B'ollowing is a copy of the resolution passed on that occa- 
 sion by the City Council : 
 
 SELECT AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OP IMIILADELPIItA. 
 
 Welcome to Ma.ioh Genekal Winfiuld ScOtt Hancock. 
 
 Resolved, by the Select and Common Uouneil of the City of Philadel- 
 phia, That the thanks ot the citizens of Philadelphia are eminently 
 due and are hereby tendered to 
 
 J«ajoc ffienccal Jftancocft, 
 
 for his brilliant services in the cause of the Union, during the present 
 
46 
 
 unholy rebellion ag.unst the ..uthovity of tUe governnu-nt and ,>eo„lo 
 of the Unitcil Hliites. 
 
 7 ; , Th.a ihe use of Independence Hall b', -ranted to Major 
 n """"; Tit,<^fck t^r ception of his friends, and in order to afford 
 ?h"'' iuln " PU u e I hi^^ opportunity to testify their pe.-sonal 
 ^^a Jr^: alulte^r'appreciat!;. of his gallantry and pamot.n. 
 , 7 .rf That ihe Mayor of Philadelphia and the Trcsulent ot 
 n It re e ted to en rv the resolution into effect, and that the 
 
 ^;:r ^f «nst re.u..ted to i.rnish a copy of the same to 
 General Hancock. 
 
 The ovatiott was one of the most gratifying ever 
 accorded an American citizen. On the very spot made 
 sacred by ovtr revohttionary history; in the very hall 
 where the Declaration of Independence was signed ; at the 
 very desk on which it was signed ; beside the very chair 
 in which John Hancock sat wheii he sigt.ed it, and .n 
 which George Washington sat when he presided over 
 the first Congress of the United States; beneath the 
 great bell which " proclaimed liberty throttghoat the 
 land to all the inhabitants thereof"; sttrrottnded byi^Ucs 
 of the days that tried men's sonls-Winfield Scott Han- 
 cock was congratulated by his fellow citizens for h.s hero- 
 ism in defending that Union which Joht: Hancock hud 
 done so much to create. 
 
 From Philadelphia Hancock's duties took him to New 
 Yovk Here another magnificent reception was tendered 
 him in the Governor's room at the City Hall. At Albany 
 the Legislattire paid him honor ; and in Boston the Gen- 
 eral Court invited him to a seat on the floor of the House. 
 At a later date a magnificently-mounted swora was voted 
 
 t( 
 
 ti 
 
 SI 
 
 L 
 
.. ,-1 
 
 ovcrnnu'Dt and people 
 
 1 Im! i^ranted to Major 
 s, and in order to iitrord 
 ) t«8tii'y their personal 
 llanlry and patriotism. 
 
 and the Trcsident (4' 
 into etrect, and that the 
 
 copy of the same to 
 
 st gratifying ever 
 be very spot made 
 in the very hall 
 B was signed ; at the 
 •side the very chair 
 le signed it, and in 
 1 he presided over 
 tales ; beneath the 
 L'ty throughout the 
 surrounded by relics 
 Vinfield Scott Han- 
 citizens for his hero- 
 John Hancock hud 
 
 ies took him to New 
 seption was tendered 
 ty Hall. At Albany 
 i in Boston the Gen- 
 tie floor of the House, 
 ited sword was voted 
 
 47 
 
 to him at the Mississippi Sanitary Fair; and at the Cen- 
 tral Sanitary Fair in Pliiladelphia a costly and beautiful 
 set of horse equipments was voted iiiin as the most popu- 
 lar soldier of the war. 
 
 J 
 
4ft 
 
 C H A P T E R VI. 
 
 Before Spring he resumed liis command. Grant had 
 come east to iissiime personal direction of the Army of the 
 Potomac, which was divided into three grand divisions, 
 the right of which, the Second Corps, was placed under 
 the command of Hancock ; the center, the Fifth Corps, was 
 under Sedgwick. Burnside, with the Ninth Corps, was 
 added to tlie army after crossing the Rapidan, and this 
 swelled the total force under Grant's command to more 
 than a hundred tliousand. The opposing army, under 
 Lee, probably numbered about seventy-five thousand. 
 
 On the 4th of May Grant crossed the Rapidan, and 
 entered upon one of the most protracted, desperate and 
 bloody struggles recorded in history. On reaching the 
 south bank of the Rapidan, the army entered the desolate 
 wooded region known as the Wilderness, a few miles west 
 of the Chancellorville battlefield. Grant's design was to 
 cross this region, then mass against^ Lee, crush him in 
 battle if possible, if not, turn his right and cut him off 
 from his base of supplies. Lee would then have the op- 
 tion of fighting to regain his communications with Rich- 
 mond, or of making a sudden and determined dash on 
 Washington. In the former c^.se Grant would intrench, 
 and would of course laugh at all attempts on Lee"s part 
 
 t 
 (] 
 t 
 t 
 
 V 
 ii 
 
 t( 
 
 t( 
 
 I> 
 
 P 
 ri 
 
 ai 
 
 w 
 
 oi 
 
 w 
 
 SI) 
 
 bi 
 in 
 
 si( 
 
 CO 
 
 nc 
 H 
 
 ca 
 
 ac 
 
 -"**^Ty«- *a 
 
49 
 
 mand. Grant bad 
 of the Army of the 
 ie ffraiid divisions, 
 , was placed under 
 he Fifth Corps, was 
 i Ninth Corps, was 
 
 Rapidan, and this 
 , command to more 
 posing army, under 
 y-five thousand. 
 I the Rapidan, and 
 :;ted, desperate and 
 On reaching the 
 sntered the desohtte 
 iss, a few miles west 
 rant's design was to 
 
 Lee, crush him in 
 ht and cut him off 
 d then have the op- 
 nioations with Rich- 
 letermined dash on 
 ant would intrench, 
 :empts on Lee"s part 
 
 to break his lines ; in the latter case, the strong defences 
 of the capital would be able to hold the enemy at bay 
 till Grant, following on Lee's heels, could catch him in a 
 trap and capture him. 
 
 Lee, however, had other views. Ho proposed to 
 plant himself s(iuarely in Grant's road to Richmond, 
 intrench aiul await his enemy's assaults undercover, and 
 to strike at every exposed flank during a movement 
 toward the South. Grant had the advantage in numbers, 
 but Lee had position and perfect familiarity with the 
 ground in his favor. And, to begin with, he did not pro- 
 pose to lot Grant march through the Wilderness unop- 
 posed. Ewell was near the Wilderness, resting on the 
 river. Hastily summoning his other corps, under Hill 
 and Longstreet, Lee placed himself on Grant's flank, 
 waited till Hancock had passed him ten miles, and then, 
 on the 5th, threw Hill with great fury on Warren. Sedg- 
 wick was soon after attacked by Ewell. Grant at first 
 supposed these were demonstra tions to retard his march ; 
 but so soon as he became convinced that he was assailed 
 in earnest, he recalled Hancock and sent word to Burn- 
 side, still north of the Rapidan, to hurry to his aid. Han- 
 cock retraced his steps with all possible speed, but was 
 none too soon to relieve Warren from the pressure of 
 Hill's attack. During the night of the 5th, Longstreet 
 came upon the scene. Hancock divined that Longstreet 
 would detach part of his corps for a flanking movement ; 
 accordingly he posted half of his own corps to resist this 
 
 
 nmiiiii 
 
60 
 
 attempt, and at 5 o'clock in the morning, attacked in front 
 with the other half. This movement was brilliantly Buc- 
 cossful, the enemy being driven back abont two m.les 
 As the other corps had not advanced, Hancock consulered 
 a fnrthcr advance dangerous, and rested here. Lee then 
 recalled Longstreot's flanking division, and massing the 
 whole of Longstreet's and Hill's corps, made • o most 
 desperate assaults on the Second Corps. The fighting 
 ranks among the most determined and deadly of the 
 whole war. The ground was thicldy wooded ; artillery 
 could not bo used at all; and the contending forces 
 could not see each other until they were at close quarters, 
 lu the afternoon Stevenson's division of Burnside s corps 
 was driven back and Hancock's right was threatened. 
 The latter sent Carroll's brigade to encounter this new 
 enenw, which, taking the rebels in flank, routed them 
 with great slaughter. Up to four o'clock our men held 
 their lines against the most determined assaults; but 
 now a new foe assailed them, against which they were 
 powerless to contend. The dry leaves lying thick 
 beneath the trees had cauglit fire, and the wind blowmg 
 toward Hancock's position, his whole line of wooden 
 breastworks was soon in a blaze. The position was 
 dreadful, for those of our wounded who were unable to 
 crawl off were literally roasted alive. Our line retired; 
 and, the flames passing on as soon as the lighter material 
 was consumed, the rebels, with a yell, rushed into th. 
 work and occupied it. They had scarce done so, how- 
 
51 
 
 attacked in front 
 8 brilliantly Buc- 
 about two miles, 
 incock considered 
 [ here. Lee then 
 and massing the 
 
 made • o most 
 ps. The fighting 
 id deadly of the 
 wooded; artillery 
 3on tending forces 
 3 at close (quarters. 
 f liurnside'a corps 
 
 was threatened, 
 iicounter this new 
 lank, routed them 
 lock our men held 
 ned assaults; but 
 
 which they were 
 eaves lying thick 
 
 the wind blowing 
 »le line of wooden 
 
 The position was 
 ivho were unable to 
 Our line retired ; 
 the lighter material 
 11, rushed into thi 
 arce done so, how- 
 
 ever, before Hancock charged them again, drove them 
 out with loss, and regained tlie position. This ended the 
 fighting on Hancock's front. At a later hour, Ewell sud- 
 denly swooped down on Sedgwick, captured the greater 
 part of two brigadec., and got safe off witli his prize. On 
 the morning of the 7th, Lee was found to have drawn off 
 and intrenclied himself in a position ■ liich Grant did not 
 deem it prudent to assail. Our h wore 20,000, includ- 
 ing 6,000 prisoners. Hancock was sligiitly wounded 
 during the battle of the 6th. 
 
 On the evening of the 7th, Grant again turned his face 
 toward Richmond. IJut lio had to move with great cau- 
 tion, guarding well his flanks against his vigilant foe, who 
 was ever oa the watch to take advantage of tlio slightest 
 error. Tliis gave Lee plenty of time to again post him- 
 self across Grant's line of niiirch ; and when the latter 
 readied Spottsylvania Court House, he found himself 
 once more in front of a strong natural position, made 
 doubly strong by art, and manned by the whole rebel 
 army. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that during this whole series 
 of maneuvers and battles, from tlie Wilderness to Cold 
 Harbor, the enemy did not fall back before Grant ; the 
 armies marched side by side. Wlien they came in con- 
 tact they fought ; when they got tired fighting they turned 
 southward again ; but Lee always had the shorter line, 
 and was always able to secure a position threatening 
 Grant. Grant did not appear able even to gain a position 
 
 li 
 
 mrm 
 
52 
 
 threatening Lee. Again, when Grant made a mistake 
 Leo was always ready to pounce upon and punish him ; 
 while we are forced to conclude either that Lee never 
 made any mistakes, or that if ho did. Grant was never 
 ready to take advantage of them. When Lee struck our 
 troops they were always on the march or in the open ; 
 when we attacked the rebels, they were always in a strong 
 position, well fortified. Why Lee was always able to 
 march on the shorter line, while Grant was always com- 
 pelled to make detours ; why Grant was always compelled 
 to lose time in guarding his flanks from assault, while Lee 
 was always able to move with celerity and lose no time in 
 guardingagainst Grant-these are matters the military 
 
 critics must settle. 
 
 Lee's position was on a ridge, his center touching the 
 River Po, but botli of his wings refused,. his whole line 
 forming a crescent. On the 9th there was some skirmish- 
 ing, during which General Sedgwick was killed. On the 
 lOt'h Hancock moved upon the enemy's right, forced the 
 passage of the river and gaii.ed some advantages. But 
 Grant had determined to make his grand attack on Lee's 
 center, and ordere J Hancock back. As soon as the latter 
 began to retire ho was of course attacked, and the fight- 
 ing was obstinate. To add to its horrors, the woods again 
 took fire, and many of the wounded were burned to 
 death. The losses here were about equal; the rebel 
 attack was beaten off, and Hancock re-crossed in safety. 
 Two of his divisions were then withdrawn to reinforce 
 
68 
 
 made a mistake 
 lid pnniah him ; 
 that Lee never 
 Jrnnt was never 
 I Lee struck our 
 or in the open ; 
 Iways in a strong 
 always able to 
 was always com- 
 iilways compelled 
 issault, while Lee 
 id lose no time in 
 iters the military 
 
 liter touching the 
 ud,.hi8 whole line 
 'na some skirmish- 
 is killed. On the 
 3 right, forced the 
 idvantages. But 
 id attack on Lee's 
 J soon as the latter 
 ed, and the fight- 
 's, the woods again 
 were burned to 
 equal; the rebel 
 -crossed in safety. 
 Irawn to reinforce 
 
 Wurron in his assault upon the enemy's center. Two 
 chartjjos were made and repulsed by the enemy, witii a 
 loss to our side of r),000 men. The indomitable spirit of 
 the Union leader displayed itself on this occasion, for it 
 was on tlio evening of this i)loody repulse that ho sent a 
 dispatch to Washington containing the famous sentence, 
 " J propone to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." 
 Some rain fell during the afternoon, and the night was 
 dark, gloomy and foggy. If Grant was able to adhere 
 more firmly to his set purpose after a disaster, Hancock 
 was n man after his owr heart. No sooner had night 
 fallen than he moved his whole command to the left, once 
 more re-cros?ed the river, and halted for a few liours 
 of needed rest. The morning had not come wlien he was 
 again in motion. Silentl)^ as death his lines moved 
 through the dark woods, concealed by the heavy fogs. As 
 soon as the enemy's pickets were seen, the whole corps 
 dashed forward with a cheer, leaped over the rebel works 
 and carried them with a bound. Four thousand prisoners 
 and thirty guns were taken. Hancock hastily scribbled 
 to Grant: "I have captured from thirty to forty guns," 
 he said ; " I have finished up Johnson and am going into 
 Early." He found, however, that the enemy's second 
 line was too strong to be assailed, and he was soon con- 
 vinced that he need not go beyond the works he had 
 already captured in search c' fighting. Scarce had our 
 own men reversed the rifle-pitd to serve as a cover against 
 rebel attacks, when strong and determined attempts were 
 
 J 
 
54 
 
 ,n,i.l« t.» lo-tuko l)..m. 1.00 was ..Hi.ally tho .nost lUMulont 
 .,f c(,.n.nan<kMH, HeMom iiski..« un aHsault unlcHH tlu, 
 ol.j^ct ainuul at waH fully ccpuvl to tho rrnkK attondiuK >t. 
 c<,nMU0Ht. In tho i.r.Hont caKO, howovor, ho appoarcd to 
 allow hiH fooliuKH to .11.. away with hin .lisciot.on. Tho 
 captiuoa tr..oi.H woro ir,ocovo.-al.ly Ko..e ; tho km.hb ha<l 
 nearly all boo.. ro...ovoa ; tho works tl.«.nsolvoH woro ..ot 
 os««..tial to tho i..tepity of his position ; yet ho appearod 
 i„Ha.,«ly bont o.. regai.ib.g tho.n, .lo .natter what tho cost 
 might be. He had boo.i i.. tho works, a..d was very .loar 
 capture who.i Ha,.cock so u..core.no..iously made h.s 
 morni..« call. Indeed the Confodorato louder is sa.d to 
 have departed toward tho rear i.. a .nan..or .noro expedi- 
 tious tha.. dig..ified. A..d he evidently fo.med a vo.y 
 firm determinatio.i that th*o Second Corps should ..ot 
 retain tho positio.. it had gained. Accordb.gly ho col- 
 lected every .na.. that could be spared from tho rest of Ins 
 lines, and hu.-lodtwo full corps at Ha.icock. Tho hght 
 that e.isued was amo.ig the most deter.ni.ied ever wit- 
 nessed. Our me.i voro well protected; a.id they poured 
 the most mu.derous volleys i..to their antago.iists as they 
 charged. Lino after line dashed up to^tho earthworks i.i 
 tho very mad.iess of heroic resolve ; but they wore met 
 by men no less brave than they. Again and again the 
 desperate assault was made, but ever without success. 
 Sometimes the troops in gray would actually reach the 
 rifle-pits, and then the musketry ceased and the men 
 fought over the low earthen prapet with the bayonet. 
 
66 
 
 tlio inortt priulunt 
 siviilt uiileHrt tlu) 
 iskrt iitUiiuUnK' >t>* 
 r, ho iippoarcd to 
 disciotion. Tho 
 le ; the f^iiiia luul 
 mnolvos were not 
 ; yet ho iippeaied 
 ;ter whiit the cost 
 ,n(l was very near 
 liously made Ids 
 louder is said to 
 mor more expodi- 
 tly formed a very 
 Corps should not 
 ccoidingly ho col- 
 iom tho rest of his 
 ncock. Tho fight 
 Lerinined ever wit- 
 ; and they poured 
 [antagonists as they 
 
 tho earthworks in 
 but they were met 
 .sain and again the 
 I- without success. 
 
 actually reach the 
 [vsed and the men 
 , with the bayonet. 
 
 lUit, in spite of thuir sui>orliiiinan elTorts, tho rebel niiikH 
 wore surely forced buck from every vain endeavor, and 
 always left their dead and wounded behind in thousands. 
 All day long that Titanic contest wont on. Cartriilge- 
 boxes wont out of fashion, and Hancock's mon fought 
 with open ammunition boxes beside them. Tho frightful 
 iHituro of tho contest may be judged by tho fact that 
 everywhere within musket range of that fiery vortex tho 
 forest trees were killed ; "and one tree eighteen inches in 
 diameter was cut clean in two by tho bullets." Tho day 
 passed away and night came once more, but the awful 
 confiict never paused, t'ive times tho rebel hosts shrunk 
 back from tho terrilile ordeal ; but every time Leo re- 
 formed them anti ordered them back to tho fight. Tho 
 forest was filled with the smoke of battle, dindy lighted 
 up with tho incessant fiashes of the musketry. Tho 
 troops, hungry, thirsty, worn with their tremendous 
 efforts, seemed mad with tho very mania of battle — their 
 faces black with powder, their throats parched with thii*st 
 — crazed, insane, furious, they dashed upon each other 
 like warring fiends, till pandemonium itself offered no 
 parallel to the scene. At length human nature could 
 endure no more ; and at midnight Leo withdrew his ivholo 
 army to a second lino, stronger than the first, and relin- 
 quished to the victors their hard-won prize. It may well 
 be imagined that, after twenty hours of such a desperate 
 struggle, our men had no desire to pursue. 
 
56 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Some days were now devoted to strategy, Grant en- 
 deavoring to turn Lee's right flank, but without success. 
 Lee, on the other hand, had had enough of fightnig for 
 the present, and stood on the defensive. Every where he 
 threw up works in his front, and was quite wilhng to be 
 attacked. On the 18th, Gibbon and Barlow made dem- 
 onstrations against Lee's right, but made no impression^ 
 On the 19th, Ewell drove in Tyler's division of the Fitth 
 Corps. Hancock sent assistance, and Ewell was driven 
 off with considerable loss in killed and wounded and sev- 
 eral hundred prisoners. 
 
 In two weeks after crossing the Rapidan, our army 
 
 had lost forty thousand men. 
 
 On the night of the 20th, Grant withdrew from the 
 front of Lee's position, and turned once more toward 
 Richmond, Hancock in the advance ; but on reachiug the 
 North Anna River, his indefatigable enemy was, as usual, 
 found en-enched in a strong position, barring the road 
 While our troops were on the march, on the 2l8t, Hill 
 attacked the Sixth Corps, now Wright's, but was easily 
 beaten off. On the 23d, Griffin's division was assailed 
 with like result; and on the same day Cutler, being 
 ^s^ulted, beat the rebels badl^, and took a tho^sa^d 
 
 V 
 
 tl 
 
 o 
 r 
 
 2 
 
 t 
 
 E 
 ( 
 
 I 
 c 
 
itegy, Grant en- 
 without success, 
 h of fighting for 
 Every where he 
 ito willing to be 
 arlow made dem- 
 le no impression, 
 ision of the Fifth 
 Ewell was driven 
 wounded and sev- 
 
 apidan, our array 
 
 nthdrew from the 
 )nce more toward 
 ut on reachibg the 
 emy was, as usual, 
 , barring the road. 
 1, on the 2l8t, Hill 
 it's, but was easily 
 vision was assailed 
 day Cutler, being 
 i took a thousand 
 
 57 
 
 prisoners. About the same time Hancock advan'jed on 
 the enemy's riglit, beat McLaws, took a work of some 
 strength, and gained a strong position on the south bank 
 of the river. But after a careful examination of the 
 rebel position, Grant decided not to assault it, and on the 
 26th he again executed his favorite flank movement 
 toward Richmond, leaving Hancock to guard his rear. 
 
 The Pamunkey River was crossed without serious op- 
 position, and the army entered upon the, scene of Mc- 
 Clellan's campaign of 1862. Skirmishing and minor com- 
 bats were frequent, with the advantage somewhat on our 
 side. On the 2d of June, the armies confronted each 
 other at Cold Harbor, almost on the scene of the battle 
 with Porter, two years earlier ; but this time the positions 
 were reversed — Lee, largely outnumbered, intrenched 
 himself and awaited Grant's attack. The latter had been 
 reinforced by Smith's Eighteenth Corps. 
 
 On the morning of June 3, Grant ordered a general 
 assault upon the enemy's lines, and this was made l)y the 
 Second, Sixth and Eighteenth Corps. Burnside was 
 ordered to assault at the same time, but he did not get 
 up early enough. The Sixth and Eighteenth Corps 
 charged without mu«h spirit, and were driven back after 
 suffering inconsiderable loss. Not so vfrith the Second 
 Corps. Barlow and Gibbons dashed furiously upon the 
 enemy's works through a dreadful fire of artillery and 
 musketr}'; and the former actually gained a foothold 
 vyrithiij tl^e outer works j bvjt here he foijnd himself e:?- 
 
68 
 
 posed to a direct fire from a second line in his front and 
 an enfilading fire on both flanks from the works he had 
 entered. After losing heavily, he was forced out, and 
 the whole Second Corps threw up works a few yards in 
 front of the enemy's position. In half an hour's time 
 7,000 men had been killed and wounded. After the fight- 
 ing was all over, Burnside announced that he had got into 
 position on the enemy's flank and was ready to attack ; 
 but the assault in which he was expected to join had now 
 failed, and Burnside was recalled. In the evening, the 
 rebels made a feeble attempt to drive the Second Corps 
 from the new rifle-pits It liad thrown up, but they were 
 beaten off with little loss on eitlicr side. 
 
 In all the operations around Cold Harbor, the losses 
 to the Union army aggregated 13,000. 
 
 Our army remained in front of Cold Harbor more than 
 a week, the lines in some places so close that a. biscuit 
 could be tossed from one to the other ; but neither party 
 felt like attacking the other. On the night of the 12th 
 Hancock was withdrawn and marched nearly in McClei- 
 lan's tracks to the James River, which he crossed and ad- 
 vanced on Petersburg. Grant, it seeuis, had decided to 
 attack that place at once ; but Hancock had received no 
 intimation of his design. He was ordered to march to a 
 given point on a map, but as that point had no existence 
 off of the map Hancock failed to find it. Had he been 
 told to march on Petersburg he would have done that 
 without any map. As it was, valuable time was lost, and 
 
ill his front and 
 le works he had 
 1 forced out, and 
 ks a few yards in 
 If an hour's time 
 . After the fight- 
 at he had got into 
 ready to attack ; 
 id to join had now 
 I the evening, the 
 the Second Corps 
 ip, but they were 
 
 Harbor, the losses 
 
 Harbor more than 
 ose that a. biscuit 
 but neither party 
 night of the 12th 
 nearly in McClei- 
 he crossed and ad- 
 18, had decided to 
 k had received no 
 red to march to a 
 b had no existence 
 
 it. Had he been 
 Id have done that 
 5 time was lost, and 
 
 59 
 
 night fell before the troops could be got into posi- 
 tion for operations. Late on the I6th, Hancock and 
 Burnside assailed the eiiemy's position and carried some 
 of his works ; but by this time Lee had come upon the 
 scene, and his whole army was close at hand within inte- 
 rior and stronger lines, to which the works captured had 
 but served as a mask. An assault was made on the inte- 
 rior line, which was repulsed. In the operations since 
 crossing the James, Grant had lost 10,000 men. He now 
 sat down to the siege of Petersburg. 
 
 Almost from the l)eginningof the campaign the wound 
 he had received at Gettysburg gave Hancock great 
 trouble. From time to time pieces of bone worked to the 
 surface, and any exertion more severe than usual gave 
 him the most exquisite pain. The campaign so far had 
 been one of the most exacting of which the annals of war 
 have any record. Day after day of obstinate and bloody 
 fi'Thtinrr were followed by nights of weary marching. 
 From the Rapidan to Cold Harbor was one continuous 
 battle-field. The dead and wounded of the army, laid 
 lengthwise, would have reached the entire distance. In 
 such times the generals of an army scarcely know what 
 rest is. They must direct actual fighting, accompany 
 their troops on the march, guard against surprises by the 
 enemy, plan near operations, and manage the executive 
 affairs of the army. All this Hancock did while suffering 
 from a painful and dangerous wound. Now, however, he 
 was compelled to resign liis command for a time. During 
 
60 
 
 his absence his corps was sent on an expedition to destroy 
 the Weldon Railroad, which movement was only partiall> 
 successful. Our forces were attacked by Hill ; and though 
 the enemy was finally driven off, the corps returned with- 
 out fully accomplishing its mission. Its losses were 
 about two thousand. 
 
 re 
 n< 
 al 
 hi 
 
 g' 
 hi 
 
 ej 
 
 ill 
 
 ol 
 
 R 
 
 P 
 r( 
 
 tl 
 
 le 
 
 b( 
 
 w 
 
 oj 
 
 T 
 
 d( 
 
 gi 
 K 
 
 f( 
 
61 
 
 )edition to destroy 
 
 was only partiall> 
 
 Hill ; and though 
 
 rps returned with- 
 
 Its losses were 
 
 C H AFTER VIII. 
 
 So soon as the state of his health permitted, Hancock 
 returned to his command, where liis presence was sorely 
 needed. The gallant Second Corps — the fighting corps of 
 all our armies — was but the shadow of its former self. It 
 had occupied the post of honor and of danger in every en- 
 gagement since the crossing of the Kapidan, and its losses 
 had been enormous. Its trail was a trail of blood. Dis- 
 ease and fatigue broke down thousands whom the bullet 
 iiad spared ; other thousands went home when their terms 
 of service expired ; and day by day the ranks grew thinner. 
 Regiments dwindled to companies, and brigades to the 
 proportions of very small regiments. It is true that 
 recruits were sent forward in great numbers ; but alas, 
 they were not the material that Hancock had formerly 
 led. The men who had waited till tempted by $1000 
 bounties, and those picked out by the conscription wheel, 
 were not the stuff of which heroes are made. As the eye 
 of the general glanced down his line his he{irt was heavy. 
 The gallant fellows who had charged into the very jaws of 
 death at Fredericksburg ; who had stood routed to the 
 ground in that bloody corn-field at Antietam, where 
 Hancock first found them ; who had faced both ways and 
 fought to front and rear at Chancellorville ; who had 
 
 
 f 
 
62 
 
 rolled back the fiery Southron at Gettysburg and g.nitten 
 his host as God smote Sennaclierib ; who had rwept over 
 the rebel lines at Spottsylvania and North Anna— where 
 were they ? Ah, God ! they were gone, the true and the 
 tried ; of each it might be said, as was said of another 
 gallant soldier : 
 
 Close his eyes, liiH work is done,— 
 
 Vr'liat to him a friend or fo«man, 
 Kisc of morn or set of sun, 
 
 Clasp of man or kiss of woman V 
 
 Lay him low 
 
 In the clover or the snow. 
 
 What carL's he Y He cannot know ! 
 
 Lay him low. 
 
 The new recruits were entirely undisciplined; but 
 there was little time to teach them even the rudi- 
 ments of the art of war. The duties of the siege were 
 very severe. The utmost vigilance had to be observed 
 to guard against surprise. Picket and guard duty and 
 the incessant skirmishes and alarms of the siege left 
 little time for drill. Nevertheless, duty must be done ; 
 and on the night of July 26 Hancock was started across 
 the Jamas to threaten Richmond from the north side. 
 Lee followed with five divisions, convinced that where 
 Hancock went there was business to be done. This 
 time he was mistaken. Hancock took post at Deep 
 Bottom, a short distance above Malvern Hill, where he 
 employed himself in making demonstrations to amuse 
 I^ee. Some little skirmishing was done, but no serious 
 
 fig 
 k€ 
 vl 
 oi 
 m 
 n( 
 
 Pf 
 til 
 C 
 ei 
 
 C( 
 
 tl 
 Ji 
 
 ej 
 ol 
 fe 
 tl 
 at 
 c< 
 ri 
 
 tl 
 
 tl 
 n 
 
 SI 
 
 u 
 
 fi 
 li 
 
 r 
 
88 
 
 :)urg and g.nitten 
 3 had pwept over 
 th Anna — whore 
 the true and the 
 i said of another 
 
 know! 
 
 ndisciplined ; but 
 11 even the rudi- 
 of the siege were 
 d to be observed 
 I guard duty and 
 of the siege left 
 ty must be done ; 
 was started across 
 m the north side, 
 rinced that where 
 3 be done. This 
 ok post at Deep 
 rn Hill, where he 
 jtrations to amuse 
 He, but no serious 
 
 fighting, as Hancock's business was not to fight, but to 
 keep as large a fo"ce as possible away from Petersburg in 
 view of operations which it was hoped would deliver that 
 city into our hands. For some weeks Burnside liad been 
 mining the rebel works, and had now dug under a fort 
 near Cemetery Hill. It was proposed, while a large pro- 
 portion of the garrison was away to watch Hancock, that 
 the mine should be fired, Burnside should rush in, occupy 
 Cemetery Hill and intrench liimself there l)efore the 
 enemy could concentrate against hmi ; and, as this hill 
 commanded the town, it was hoped that the siege would 
 thus be practically ended. Early on the morning of 
 July 30, the mine, containing four tons of powder, was 
 exploded ; the fort was blown into the air and i*^ 3 garrison 
 of 300 men destroyed. The rebels were paralyzed with 
 fear, and hastily ran out of the works on both sides of 
 the mine. Had the assaulting column moved promptly, 
 as was intended, the whole afifair would have been suc- 
 cessful. But Burnside was late, as usual. Instead of 
 rushing in at once and taking advantage of the panic 
 within the rebel lines, valuable time was lost, and when 
 the division did advance it halted in the hole made by 
 the explosion, called the crater. A single regiment 
 moved forward toward Cemetery Hill, but, not being 
 supported, it fell back. At length the enemy brought 
 up troops, planted guns, and begun pouring a murderous 
 fire upon the division huddled together in the crater 
 like rats in a hole. A few escaped; but our loss was 
 
64 
 
 about 4,000, of whom nearly ono half were made pris- 
 oiiora. The mining o[)eiation3 having failed, Hancock 
 was recalled. 
 
 On August I2th Hancock was again sent to the north 
 side of the James. Grant felt that his siege of Peters- 
 burg was little more than a farce. He sat on one side of 
 a line of works and Lee sat on the other. Grant received 
 supplies by the James River, Leo received his by railroads. 
 Grant desired to seize Leu's means of communication and 
 thus besiege him in reality ; and his design in sending a 
 new expedition to threaten Richmond from the north was 
 to draw away sufficient strength from the garrison to leave 
 him free to make an attempt on the Weldon Railroad, one 
 of the chief sources of the rebel supplies. Accordingly 
 Hancock once more crossed the James and advanced to- 
 ward Richmond across the old Malvern Hill battle-field. At 
 first it appeared that the rebels had not been deceived 
 into following him, and he made some serious assaults on 
 their lines. The operations, though intended only as a 
 demonstration in force, resulted in pretty hard fighting. 
 Hancock gained some advantages, and carried a portion 
 of the enemy's works ; but the purpose his expedition 
 was intended to serve had never been accomplished, and 
 he was once more recalled. His losses in this reconnois- 
 sance were about five thousand ; thoso of the enemy were 
 nearly or quite as great. 
 
 So soon as it became evident that a considerable part 
 of the garrison of Petersl)urg had been sent away to pro- 
 
were made pris- 
 failed, Huncock 
 
 sent to the north 
 siege of Petors- 
 lat on one side of 
 . Grant received 
 id his by railroads. 
 >mmunication and 
 ign in sending a 
 •om the north was 
 B garrison to leave 
 don Railroad, one 
 ea. Accordingly 
 iind advanced to- 
 [ill battle-field. At 
 ot been deceived 
 ierious assaults on 
 tended only as a 
 ity hard fighting, 
 carried a portion 
 3e his expedition 
 iccomplished, and 
 I in this reconnois- 
 f the enemy were 
 
 considerable part 
 sent away to pro- 
 
 ti5 
 
 tect ttie rebel capital, Warren moved toward the Weldori 
 Railroad, which he took without much resistance, and for- 
 tified himself before Leo could bring to the spot enough 
 troops to drive him off. The gain to our side was not 
 great, however ; for Lee continued to receive supplies by 
 the Weldon road, only being compelled to wagon them 
 from Reams Station around Warren's left. 
 
 To put a stop to this, Hancock was sent, on the 21st of 
 August, to take Roams Station and to destroy the railroad 
 for a considerable distance south of it. He ref.clied tlie 
 point indicated, destroyed some property, posted one of 
 his divisions to protect his rear, and with the other two 
 divisions began tearing up the road. Tlie next day he 
 was assailed by Hill in strong force. A severe fight en- 
 sued, in which Hill was badly punished; but some of 
 Hancock's new troops did not behave well, and he was 
 compelled to fall back with loss. He called for help ; but, 
 though troops lay within four miles of him, none went to 
 his assistance. In the end he was compelled to retire, 
 having lost two thoueand men and some guns. Hill's loss 
 was much greater. 
 
 No serious attempt was made on either side, for some 
 weeks after the failure of this expedition ; but on the 
 27th of October the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps 
 moved completely around Lee's right, with intent to cut 
 all his communications south of the Appomattox. It was 
 believed that this would compel Lee to evacuate Peters- 
 burg, and possibly Richmond also. The column moved 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
^^ 
 
 .linT^tly woBt from tl.o extromo lo^t of our lines, and then 
 nicud north. Hancock's intonti..n was to close his ripht 
 upon the left of Warr(M., and it was riiporlcd that this 
 l.ad hoon done ; l.ut in fact a space of twelve imn.lred 
 yard; had boon left unfilled. The ground was swampy 
 and so thickly wooded that it was impossible to know ex- 
 actly how the troops were posted. Heth's division of 
 IliU's corps, reeonnoiterin- our position, stumbled upon 
 this gap, and got upon Hancock's flank before they were 
 observed, and before they '.hemselvos knew of their pe- 
 (udiar situation. Hut on discovering our men, the rebels 
 charge.1 our flank and doubled up a brigade of Mott'H 
 .livis'ion. Hancock instantly sent Egan's brigade to 
 charge Heth ; but Egan had already moved on his own 
 responsibility, concluding, like the good soldier he was, 
 that the best thing to do when he saw his enemy 
 was to attack him. Thus the flankers found themselves 
 flanked, and Heth was driven back with considerable 
 
 loss. 
 
 Grant now sent word to Hancock to take comma.ul ot 
 the whole movement, and to act as in his judgment 
 seemed best. Hancock was fully aware of t in nnportance 
 of the stake for which he was playing ; but he knew also 
 the perils of his position. He might gain everything ; 
 capture all Lee's lines of communication south of the 
 Appomattox, and so compel the evacuation of Petersburg ; 
 and he might, on the other hand, have his own communi- 
 cations with the army severed, be overwhelmed by 
 
67 
 
 ir linos, and thoU 
 to close his riplit 
 ipovtoil tliiit this 
 
 twelve liiimlred 
 iiul WHS swiiinpy 
 sihlo to know ox- 
 [eth's division ol" 
 1, stumhled upon 
 
 befo'-e tliey were 
 :now of their pe- 
 ir men, the rel)el« 
 brigade of Mott'H 
 !;4air8 hrij^'iide to 
 loved on his own 
 )d soldier ho was, 
 saw his enemy 
 
 found themselves 
 with considerable 
 
 1 take command of 
 i in his judgment 
 !of I hi miportance 
 
 but he knew also 
 ; gain everything ; 
 tion south of the 
 ,ion of Petersburg ; 
 his own communi- 
 
 overwhelmed by 
 
 numbers, and compelled to capitulate. His ammunition 
 was insufficient for continued operations ; he knew that a 
 strong force was gathering in hi« front; the ground was 
 difficult for offensive operations and favorable to the 
 (sneniy ; and the troops under his command were not the 
 best in the world. Reluctantly — very r(!luctuiiMy — he 
 decided to abandon the enterprise ; and the forces engaged 
 in it returned to the lines in front of Petersi>urg. Our 
 losses in this expedition were one thousand five hundred ; 
 those of the enemy two thousand to two Ihousand five 
 hundred. 
 
 There was little more fighting in front of Petersburg. 
 The armies settled down in their Winter ([uarters. There 
 was continuous skirmishing and picket-firing and a great 
 deal of cannonading; but movements of troops on a 
 large scale were suspended. In the Spring, Graivt deter- 
 mined to make one more desperate attempt to carry the 
 enemy's works. Lee, however, did not await hi,- assault, 
 but hastily (juitted the beleaguered city, and marched to 
 join Johnston. lie would then have a hundred thousand 
 men, but he would find himself wedged in between Grant 
 on the north and Sherman, now rapidly approaching from 
 the south. He probably hoped to be able to attack and 
 beat one of these antagonists before the other could corao 
 up. But certain provision trains which he counted on 
 taking with him had been ordered by Jeff. Davis to Rich- 
 mond, and Lee found himself without supplies. His 
 army broke up, and being vigorously pursued, the portion 
 
which romiiinofl with him siuTondorod at Appomattox 
 Court IIoiiHu. 
 
 Ill thoso olosiuf? Hoonert of the struggle, Hancock did 
 not take i.ait. On November 26, 1804, he was recalled 
 t«) Washington, witli orders to rotMuit a veteran corps for 
 service on other fields. IJoforo that duty could be per- 
 formed the war was brought to a close, and the strife 
 which had cost the country a million lives and numy 
 tliousands of millions of accumulated wealtli, ended in a 
 restoration of the Union as it was, except that involun- 
 tiiry servitude was blotted out of existence. The vast 
 hosts of armed men returned to the pursuits of peace, 
 and the disunited sections agreed to " shake hands across 
 the Ijloody dmsm," and to repair so far as they could the 
 evil effects of the fratricidal conlliot. 
 
 A small army was needed for protection against 
 In<lians ; and in this Hancock decided to remain. Only 
 a few of the many gallant leaders who had gained promi- 
 nence in the struggle, could in the reorganized army 
 receive positions at all commensurate with their abilities 
 or their rank in the volunteer service. Grant and Sher- 
 man, the commanders of the two great armies, were, of 
 course, made General and Lieutenant General. Hancock 
 8to( d among the next in rank, and was made a Major 
 General. He was at first given command over the Cen- 
 tral Military Department ; then over that of Louisiana and 
 Texas, where the utmost firmi»ess and prudence were 
 required. From 1870 to 1872 he commanded the Depart- 
 
6» 
 
 i at Appomattox 
 
 glo, Hancook did 
 
 he waH reoallud 
 
 votoran corps for 
 
 iity could bo por- 
 
 80, and tho Htrifo 
 
 lives and many 
 
 iroaltli, ended in a 
 
 sept that involun- 
 
 steiice. The vast 
 
 )ursuitrt of peace, 
 
 hake hands across 
 
 as they could the 
 
 )rotoction against 
 to remain. Only 
 lad gained pronii- 
 reorganized army 
 ,vith their abilities 
 Grant and Sher- 
 t armies, were, of 
 reneral. Hancock 
 iras made a Major 
 land over the Cen- 
 \i of Louisiana and 
 id prudence were 
 landed the Depart- 
 
 ment of Dakota ; and in tho year last named, on tho 
 death of General Meade, he was removed to tho Deiiart- 
 ment of the East, with headquarters at New York, where 
 he remains at present. 
 
70 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 In politics Hancock is a Democrat. Rat during tlie 
 war he continually rged that party lines should he ahan- 
 doned. 'Die war was a war for the Union ; and that issue 
 was of sucli transcendent importance that a patriotic man 
 could, he thought, waste no time for mere partisan squab- 
 bles. When the country itself was in danger of going to 
 pieces, the first duty was to restore it to peace and pros- 
 perity ; then would come the time to consider who were 
 llie best men to hold office. 
 
 In the Democr.itie National Convention held in New 
 York in 18G8, Hancock was urged for the presidential 
 nomination. On the eigiiteentli baHot he received 144^ 
 votes, the largest number given any candidate except 
 Pendleton, who on the twelfth ballot had received 145^ 
 votes. Rut on the twenty-second, Horatio Seymour was 
 nominated by the unanimous voice of thic Convention. 
 
 Hancock is famed for his hospitality. He entertains 
 in princely style, a habit his ample fortune permits him 
 to indulge in to his heart's content. He may almost be 
 said to keep open house at his licadquarters on Governor's 
 Island. He is well read, has a fine critical taste in litera- 
 ture, and is a writer of no mean ability. In his personal 
 appearance he is fortunate. Not a few of his friends 
 
 c 
 
 tl 
 
 h 
 'I 
 
 a 
 ii 
 o 
 h 
 c 
 f{ 
 it 
 a 
 tl 
 h 
 w 
 n 
 
 S] 
 
 b 
 V 
 
 d 
 t( 
 b 
 tl 
 d 
 tl 
 n: 
 
 b 
 
71 
 
 Rat during tlie 
 J should he ahiiu- 
 n ; and that issue 
 it a patriotic man 
 •e partisan squab- 
 anger of going to 
 ) peace and prot,- 
 nsider who were 
 
 ,ion heUl in New 
 the presidential 
 lie received 144^ 
 candidate except 
 ad received XA^r^ 
 itio Seymour was 
 b Convention. 
 ^ He entertains 
 ,une permits him 
 .e may almost be 
 ,ers on Governor's 
 cal taste in lite ra- 
 in his personal 
 \v of his friends 
 
 claimed for him that he was the finest looking soldier in 
 the army. 
 
 His success as a soldier resulted almost entirely from 
 his personal qualities and his eminent fitness to command. 
 The leading point in his character is his ability to take in 
 all the details of a situation at a single glance ; to decide 
 instantly what should be done, and to give the necessary 
 orders without a moment's hesitation. This all-compre- 
 hending vision is the first requisite of a aoldier. " Tl»e 
 chess-board," said Napoleon at a peculiar juncture of af- 
 fairs, "is very much tangled ; it is I only who see through 
 it." Hancock saw through the intricacies of the game at 
 a glance. At Williamsburg, after seizing the works on 
 the rebel left he was ordered l)ack ; Siunner feared that 
 ho would be isohitod and captured. But Hancock saw, 
 what Sumner did not know, tliat the point taken com- 
 manded the whole rcl)cl position, and lie took the re- 
 sponsibility of refusing to obey orders — a grave responsi- 
 bility; but the event justified him. At Cold Harbor 
 Warren took the responsil)ility of not fighting when or- 
 dered. Swinton sa3's that after orders had been received 
 to attack the rebel works, protected by {|,battis, flanked 
 by impassable swamps, lined with skilled marksmen, and 
 tiieir front swept by a hundred guns, as the General rode 
 down his lines he saw the men preparing for action with 
 their accustomed alacrity ; but they were writing their 
 names on slips of paper which they pinned to their 
 blouses, that their bodies might be recognized when the 
 
72 
 
 fight was over. It was too much ; the itieft WefS will- 
 ing to bo led io certain death ; but Warren was not 
 willing to lead them there, and he refused to obey his 
 orders. At Gettysburg Hancock had scarce reached the 
 ground when he decided that the battle ought to bo fought 
 there and not at any other place. A single glance told 
 liira everything. His eyes svept along Cemetery Ridge 
 from Gulp's Hill to Round Top ; and, without wasting a 
 single moment in examining the details of the position, 
 ho notified Meade of the conclusions he had reached, and 
 began to post tlie troops. 
 
 His judgment is equal to this intuition. He reluctantly 
 decided not to press the advantage gained on Lee's right 
 at Petersburg, in October, 1864. But we have not found 
 a military critic to condemn his action. But this is the 
 solitary instance in his military history when he declined 
 to meet the enemy on anything like equal terms. He 
 generally marched toward the battle-field. " I always 
 know where to find Hancock," said Grant. The import- 
 ance of the two qualities mentioned — his instant perception 
 and his excellent judgment — may be appreciated from the 
 number of instances in which he saved the army from dis- 
 aster. At Williamsburg his seizure of the earthworks 
 near Fort Magruder compelled the rebels to evacuate the 
 position they had held. At Glendale, when Stonewall 
 Jackson was endeavoring to rejoin Lee and thus unite the 
 rebel army against half of ours, Hancock stood like a 
 lion in the way, and the Stonewall Division found "no 
 
 th( 
 th( 
 
 Wf 
 
 in 
 
 asl 
 hii 
 Ai 
 no 
 th 
 
 an 
 th 
 fr( 
 as 
 al 
 w 
 pc 
 
 di 
 an 
 th 
 m 
 in 
 w 
 h^ 
 tJ 
 fi« 
 ca 
 
1 
 
 78 
 
 5 men were will- 
 Wavren was not 
 sfused to obey his 
 larce reached the 
 ought to be fought 
 single glance told 
 Cemetery Ridge 
 yithout wasting a 
 is of the position, 
 I had reached, and 
 
 1. He reluctantly 
 ned on Lee's right 
 we have not found 
 . But this is the 
 when he declined 
 equal terms. He 
 field. " I always 
 int. The iraport- 
 i instant perception 
 preciated from the 
 the army from dis- 
 »f the earthworks 
 3ls to evacuate the 
 3, when Stonewall 
 and thus unite the 
 icock stood like a 
 ivision found " no 
 
 thoroughfare" there. If Jackson's way had not been barred 
 the consequences would have been disastrous. Hancock 
 was thanked in general orders for conspicuous gallantry 
 in that engagement. At Chancellorville he averted dis- 
 aster at a most critical moment. At Gettysburg he proved 
 himself the savior of the army no less than three times. 
 And it was only his magnificent fighting at the Wilder- 
 ness and at Spottsylvania that enabled Grant to pull 
 through on those terrible days without positive defeat. 
 
 Hancock is eminently a leader of men. His presence 
 animates and inspires his soldiers. They recognize in him 
 the commander who is determined to have a soldier's duty 
 from a soldier ; but also the general who knows what he 
 asks of men and who never requires impossibilities. Above 
 all, they recognize their moral and intellectual superior, 
 whose will-power moves the machine. It is this native 
 power — the power which made the old Greek heroes 
 " kings of men " — which fills up and rounds out the sol- 
 dierly character. The battle-field is a crucial test. Sham 
 and pretence go for little there. A man may as well pat 
 the padding of his coat, and call it his heart, as to look for 
 mere assumption to bear him through when armies meet 
 in the dread shock and savagery of war.- In that very 
 whirl and hell of destruction Hancock rose to his grandest 
 heights. A cup of tea or a bottle of wine brings out all 
 the reserved power a little man has stored away ; a battle- 
 field only can bring up from their depths the ultimate 
 capabilities of a gr^at soldier. 
 
r 
 
 i 
 
 J 
 
 74: 
 
 71 
 
 America will hold the name of Hancock in grateful 
 remembrance; and the world will rank him among the 
 hard fighters — the Cromwells, the Neys, the Murats, the 
 Stonewall Jacksons — who believed that war was a thing 
 of terrible earnestness, and that blows are no blows unless 
 struck with intent to hurt, He has not yet been called 
 to lead armies ; but where he has had an opportunity to 
 display generalship he has shown high ability. But he 
 will be remembered as the hard hitter, the strong fighter, 
 to whom his countrymen may point as to a paladin among 
 gallant knights, without fear and without reproach ; one 
 whose deeds our children and our children's children will 
 read with admiration and pride ; whose achievements 
 history will delight to record : and whose memory pos- 
 terity will preserve in her muster-roll of men who have 
 deserved well of their country. And the genius of fame 
 in after years will garland his brow with laurel, and, 
 pointing to the name of Hancock, will "say to all the 
 world. This was a man ! " 
 
ncock in grateful 
 ; him among the 
 , the Murats, the 
 i war was a thing 
 e no blows unless 
 )t yet been called 
 in opportunity to 
 ability. But he 
 he strong fighter, 
 
 I a paladin among 
 at reproach ; one 
 en's children will 
 3se achievements 
 lose memory pos- 
 of men who have 
 be genius of fame 
 with laurel, and, 
 
 II "say to all the 
 
 THb 
 
 BALLET DAJTCER'S 
 HUSBAND. 
 
 By ERNEST I i /DEAU. 
 
 Tbanslatbd fbom thb frknck ut Mabt Nial Shbrwood^ 
 
 "A bright and entertaining novel." 
 
 " Replete with characteristic incidents of Parisian life." 
 
 " There are few translations or ' adaptations ' from the French 
 that can be called ' as good as the original,' but Mrs. Sherwood 
 has been highly successful in this kind of literary labor, and her 
 work bears the stamp not only of familiarity with a foreign lan- 
 guage, but with her own, which is always expressed in terse and 
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 The enterprising publishing firm, Henry A. Sumner & Co., 
 Chicago, have a valuable acquisition in Mrs. Mary Neal Sher- 
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 abiding faith in the seriousness of French idioms has been 
 severely abused by the countless school-girl translations which 
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 er.il of the greatest French novels of the present day. — Gazette, 
 Boston, March 27. 
 
 For sale by all Booksellers. 
 
 Will be issued in May, and will be one of our popular 12mos. 
 at one dollar. 
 
 HENRY A. SUMNER & CO., Publishers, 
 
 Lakaald* Buildlnsi OhIoaBO* 
 
Xisr I»K,ESS. Hi. A.3DY IIST JTJiTBJ, 
 
 1 
 
 A New Edition 
 
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 BAYNES' ESSAYS 
 
 BIOGRAPHY AND CRITICISM. 
 
 The I St Series, embracing 426 pp., contains articles 
 on Thomas l)e Quincey and his Works.Tennyson and 
 his Tcacliers, Mrs. Barrett Browning, Glimpses of 
 recent British Art, Ruskin and his Critics, Hugh 
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 In the 2d Series of 392 pages, the contents will be 
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 a defence. 
 
 Uniform in size and binding, printed ,on good 
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 Address the publishers: 
 
 HEHRY A SUMNER £ COMPANY, 
 
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 .1 
 
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 lyson and 
 mpscs of 
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 Bell, etc. 
 
 ts will be 
 docs, the 
 itacaulay, 
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 L;ristics of 
 sity. The 
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 ,on good 
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 Advaiue 
 
 ANY, 
 
 , Chicago. 
 
 WHAT THE PRESS SAY OF 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 FRENCH 
 
 ODETTE'S 
 
 MARRIAGE 
 
 OF 
 ALBERT DELPIT. 
 
 Tkt N. Y. EvtHing Put, of April 19, Myi: 
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 many-sided phases." 
 
 The Pkifadtlpkia Titnei, of April n, layi : 
 
 " It is a singularly well-contrived and well-written novel. * 
 
 ♦ * As a further indication of the high literary standing of the 
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 The National Literary Montkly, of Toledo, Ohio, for May, tayi ! 
 
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 pure, and the scenes both interesting and exalting. It teaches 
 a forcible lesson." 
 
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 *• Scenes are vividly sketched, and to the life, and the characters 
 are drawn with the boldness of an able novelist. It will be read 
 by all classes." • 
 
 Uiiinue in style of binding. C!early printed on fine paper. 
 Odfttes Marriage is offered at $1.00. 
 
 Mailed, p«)at-free, on receipt of the price by the publishers, 
 
 HENRY A. SUMNER & COMPANY, 
 
 _ -, , „ , , ,.„... I-akealde Uulldlne, CIiIcuro. 
 
 ^P^For Itale by all Booksellers, 
 
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