Hancock blazing before them; then they followed with a thundering shout that drowned the crackling musketry, and with lowered bayonets, moving along with the line, as perfect as though the men were on parade, drove the enemy, won the fight, and settled the destinies of the day. And it is casting no reflection on other Generals to say that four out of five of them would not have crossed that ravine with such a force as Hancock had with him to meet the fierce impetuosity of the enemy.

It must not be forgotten that this was the initial period of our civil conflict, and that many of the soldiers who were most censured, among others General McClellan, fell before the criticism of the war, and before the over-anxiety of the people to hasten the overthrow of the Confederates. General Hancock expected these difficulties, perhaps on account of his extreme youth, but this gave him facilities for trial and for self-examination; and thus while McClellan and others were suffering from their somewhat sudden pre-eminence, Hancock was, so to speak, unconsciously schooling himself for a great destiny. It is the experience of all humanity, that men must grow into greatness like trees into stature. His subsequent conspicuous services at Golding's Farm, Garnett's Hill, White Oak Swamp, and other engagements, during the seven days fight, closed with the victory of Malvern Hill.

The manner of Hancock in battle has been

frequently described. He was always among his men, riding up and down his line of battle, encouraging them by voice and by example, sharing their danger and exposing himself more than themselves. He was always at the critical

point at the right moment of time. The soldiers knew they were fighting under his eye, the eye of one who never knew fear himself and would tolerate it in no one else. On the 28th of June, 1862, at Garnett's Hill, Hancock was again heavily engaged, as he was at Savage Station on the 29th, and at White Oak Swamp on July 30th, of the same year. In this latter engagement his brigade sustained, without flinching until ordered to fall back, the fire of sixty pieces of artillery, from a position on the other side of a ravine. The enemy could not be attacked, and no reply, except by two or three of the Union batteries, could be made to their tremendous bombardment. General Hancock's brigade held their position throughout the day, repelling the infantry attacks of the enemy successfully until the immense wagon trains of our retreating army were out of the way.

Gen. McClellan, the President and Congress, for these distinguished services, promoted Hancock to the rank of Major-General of volunteers, and brevetted him as major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel in the regular army, and the words of these

honors were for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the Peninsula Campaign."

After this, the campaign against Richmond was temporarily abandoned and the army of the Potomac transferred from IIarrison's Landing to the north. Hancock took part in the campaign in the ensuing August and September, having been moved to Centreville to the support of Pope. He commanded his brigade at South Mountain, when McClellan was restored to the command of the army of the Potomac. He was eminently distinguished in the victory of Antietam, and was placed in control of the first division of the second army corps, when the gallant Richardson fell mortally wounded. After the retreat of Lee across the Potomac, Hancock led the advance from Harper's Ferry to Charleston, striking the enemy's line, and driving him with sharp fighting. He moved with his division back to Fredericksburg, and on December 13th took part in the desperate assault on Mayre's Heights. In this terrible encounter he seemed to bear a charmed life; he came out of it slightly wounded, but with his uniform perforated with the enemy's bullets. When Gen. Hooker made his calamitous attempt on Lee's lines at Chancellorville, in May, 1863, Gen. Hancock had some hard work to do. His division was unmoved amid the ruin that followed the rout of the eleventh corps; he was among the last to leave the field, retiring in splendid condition, and forming the