Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1880 — HE LOVED HIS GENERAL. [ARTICLE]

HE LOVED HIS GENERAL.

4 Veteran’s Admiration and Affection for Hancock. [From the Whitehall Times.] Yesterday our sanctum door opened and a man entered. He had but one arm and on his forehead was a deep scar. He said : “ Are you the editor ?” We answered in the affirmative. “Well, sir,” said he, “I am a veterar of the late war. I was with Hancock at the battle of the Wilderness. I was three years in service altogether, never getting a scratch or being sick a day until then. You see, my regiment belonged to the Second corps of the Army of the Potomac. At the hour of daylight we pounced upon the enemy, and drove him away with much loss of life. Unfortunately for me, a shell dropped over by me and burst. Then it sent its death-dealing fragments all about us. I was struck on the arm and forehead, Of course I dropped. How long I lay there I cannot tell, but when I awoke I was in the hospital in a cot-bed. The first words I heard were : * Poor fellow, he has revived.’ Then ho quickly called to a nurse. ‘ Bring water, quick, to wet his parched lips.’ He knelt down, and, with a kind voice, said, * My poor boy, have courage ; you will, yet see your Mends. ’ Turning, he left my cot, and as I listened I heard kind words spoken by him by the side of other cots. I could see men grasp his hand and cover it with kisses. I could hear many a ‘God bless you, General,’uttered as if coming from an overflowing heart. That visiting angel was Gen. Hancock. Sir, lam a Republican. I never voted any hut a Republican ticket, hut I can toil you that Gen. Hancock will receive my vote, as well as the votes of four members of my family, all of whom are Republicans, for a man with such a tender heart cannot but make a good and wise President. Excuse me for troubling you, sir, but there is such love for the good and noble Hancock in my soldier heart that I must speak. ” The poor war-worn veteran then grasped our hand, and, looking into his face, we observed his eyes filled with tears. This is but a single specimen of the enthusiasm the soldiers have for tlieir old commander.