СНАРТER XXIV.

ORDERED TO WASHINGTON.

"Honor and shame from no condition rise;

Act well your part-there all the honor lies."

Pope.

N the 15th of December, 1863, Hancock was

0N

again ordered to Washington. His Gettysburg wound was not yet healed, but he obeyed the order with alacrity, and immediately reported himself for duty at the War Department.

It was during this period that he was talked of in influential circles for the command of the Army of the Potomac. There is no impropriety in stating that it was at one time seriously contemplated to place him in this position. He, however, did not seek it; neither did his friends seek it for him. On the contrary, he disclaimed all such desire; and the most active of his immediate counsellors were strenuous in their efforts to dissuade him from accepting the command. On all becoming occasions he expressed the opinion that General MEADE was the man

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for the post; and that if he were continued in active. command and properly supported by the authorities and the country, he would win great victories. Passing results have shown the wisdom as well as magnanimity of General HANCOCK in this matter. He well knew by experience the obstacles in the way to success with that army, at that peculiar juncture; and, therefore, as we have said, he did not seek the appointment, neither did he desire his friends to seek it for him. There is good reason for stating, however, that if General MEADE had made a request to be relieved, General HANCOCK would have relieved him.

He was soon detailed to the responsible work of increasing the ranks of the army, by his personal presence and exertions. Authority was given him to augment his Corps to fifty thousand effective men. His headquarters were established at Harrisburg, the capital of his native State, and he immediately proceeded to the work among his fellow Pennsylvanians. His language and measures on the occasion were well chosen, and to the point, his object being to recruit in all the States represented in the Second Corps.

Addressing the people of Pennsylvania, from his headquarters, at Harrisburg, under date of January, 15, 1864, he says:

"I have come among you as a Pennsylvanian, for the purpose of endeavoring to aid you in stimulating enlistments. This is a matter of interest to all the citizens of the State. I earnestly call upon you all to assist, by the exertion of all the influence in your power, in this important matter.

To adequately reinforce our armies in the field is to insure that the war will not reach your homes. It will be the means of bringing it to a speedy and happy conclusion. It will save the lives of many of our brave soldiers, who would otherwise be lost by the prolongation of the war, and in indecisive battles.

It is only necessary to destroy the rebel armies now in the field, to insure a speedy and permanent peace. Let us all act with that

fact in view.

Let it not be said that Pennsylvania, which has already given so many of her sons to this RIGHTEOUS CAUSE, shall now, at the eleventh hour, be behind her sister States in furnishing her quota of the men deemed necessary to end this rebellion. Let it not be that those Pennsylvania regiments, now so depleted, that have won for themselves so much honor in the field, shall pass out of existence, for want of patriotism in the people.

WINFIELD S. HANCOCK,

Major General U. S. Volunteers." His success in recruiting was equal to the expectations formed. Subsequent events have well attested the efficiency of his measures. Facilities for carrying out his patriotic design were offered him in the cities of New York, Albany, Boston, and other places.

At Philadelphia, in the ensuing month of February, public demonstrations of respect awaited him. The city government passed a series of resolutions, introduced by one of his former playmates at Norristown, then a member of the Councils, JOHN W. EVERMAN, Esq., of which we here present a copy:

Select and Common Councils

of the

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.

WELCOME

ΤΟ

MAJOR GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.

Resolved, BY THE SELECT AND COMMON COUNCILS

OF THE

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

}

That the THANKS of the Citizens of Philadelphia are eminently due and are hereby tendered to

MAJOR GENERAL HANCOCK,

for his brilliant services in the cause of the UNION, during the present unholy Rebellion against the authority of the GovERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Resolved, That the use of Endependence Hall be granted to Major General HANCOCK, for the reception of his friends; and in order to afford the Citizens of Philadelphia an opportunity to testify their personal regard for him, and their appreciation of his gallantry and patriotism.

Resolved, That the Mayor of Philadelphia and the Presidents of Councils be requested to carry these resolutions into effect; and that the Clerks of Councils be requested to furnish a copy of the same to General HANCOCK.

The reception of the General and his friends followed soon after, in Independence Hall. The papers of the day describe the scene as one of the most imposing that ever occurred within the walls of the sacred old Temple of American Liberty.

On the ensuing 22d of February, the anniversary of the birth-day of WASHINGTON, General HANCOCK reviewed the volunteer troops of Philadelphia and vicinity. The parade passed off in the most spirited manner. The appearance of the General on the field, surrounded by a brilliant staff, passing along the line with the troops arranged as if in battle array, was full of excitement, and called forth the loud plaudits of the immense throng of citizens who witnessed the display. Some idea of his presence in action could be formed by the gallant bearing of the General on this popular occasion.

At the close of the review an incident of a personal character occurred, which we narrate here, as in keeping with the man and the scope of our book.

The General had dismounted, at the close of the day, and was about passing up the steps of the La Pierre House, surrounded by the officers who escorted him, when his eye caught that of one of his teachers in Norristown, Mr. E. ROBERTS, who was standing, with his daughter, near the entrance to the hotel.