attacked were those of SMITH's brigade, GIBBON'S division, HANCOCK's Corps. It was a sharp attack, and began with the customary rebel yells. The battle raged with great fury for some time; but the enemy were gallantly repulsed, and prevented for that day from trying their assault again. They were driven back still further, their entrenchments occupied, and lost over three hundred prisoners, beside many killed and wounded.

The Heavy Artillery of HANCOCK, under TYLER, rendered signal service on this occasion. The latter General was severely wounded..

CHAPTER XXIX.

IN THE CHICKA HOMINY BATTLES.

"How are the mighty fallen,

In the midst of the battle."

Holy Writ.

N reviewing the battles leading from the Potomac

to the James, from Washington to Richmond, in which General HANCOCK took so active a part, we continue to find much to admire in his character as a soldier. These battles constitute a series of engagements, among the most sanguinary of any on record. The purpose to advance on the part of the patriot army was fixed and unyielding. The purpose to resist was the same on the part of the rebels. Nothing carried the day for us and secured our steady progress toward our noble object, the suppression of armed rebellion, but the courage and endurance of the Union armies under GRANT, co-operated with at other points by the distinguished Generals SHERMAN, in Georgia, SHERIDAN, in the Valley of the Shenandoah,

and the equally distinguished Admiral FARRAGUT, on the Atlantic coast.

Our space will not allow us to review in detail all the battles in which HANCOCK occupied so promi nent a position. We can only follow him as he advances with the main army, and incidentally describe such scenes in which he was an actor, as come under view in our limited pages.

One of the features of his career in this campaign that cannot fail to attract attention, is the promptness with which he always moved. When he received an order, for instance, to move on a given line at thirty minutes past four o'clock in the morning, at thirtyone minutes past that hour he was in motion. There was no delay not even that of a moment. His attacks and conquests were of a similar character. Sometimes in thirty minutes from the time he moved, he had fought and won the field. His men were so accustomed to his rapid movements that lines of battle six miles in length responded to his calls, as if formed immediately around him. Here is the secret of his power as a great General. His lines were always well in hand. His power was never scattered. In all this promptness of energy, he was perfectly responded to by every one of his commanders, who richly deserve to share with him the gratitude and

praise of a ransomed country. Special mention is due here to Colonel TOMPKINS, Chief of Artillery in the Second Corps, as well as to the cavalry, for their invaluable services in securing our continued advance. It is not too much to say that the artillery practice of the United States army is among the best in the world..

On the 7th of June the advancing siege lines of HANCOCK had materially increased the uneasiness of the enemy. They could not understand what he meant by continuing to approach so near to their front line of battle. It was not necessary to his purpose that they should. Every attempt they made to feel our lines met only with repulse and capture. Under cover of the thick fog peculiar to that part of the country, they had advanced to within pistolshot range of our works, intending to make a dash and surprise us. But our pickets were on the alert. A sheet of flame from the entire line of the division of the Second Corps commanded by GIBBON drove back the invaders in confusion. The fire from our ranks enfiladed their progress, and they fell back in confusion, leaving many of their number dead and wounded on the field.

The exposure of General HANCOCK at this point was so imminent, that Lieutenant McCUNE, of his

staff, had his leg shot off, while standing near the General's headquarters. But he held his ground on the extreme left of our line, stretching along the road leading to Dispatch Station, while the cavalry pickets of the dashing SHERIDAN guarded the banks of the Chickahominy.

It was evidently the firm purpose of the rebels to turn the position of HANCOCK. They opened their most furious fire on his lines, keeping up the rattle of musketry and roar of artillery with a steadiness and perseverance rarely equalled. The attempt was clearly made to break the brigade of Smith, in the Second Corps, in the hope of penetrating to the main army. Delusive hope! It was doomed to share the fate of those that had gone before it. Through all the darkness of those hours of the thunder of battle, the noble old Second stood to their guns; and, when the morning broke, their gallant lines were intact as

of yore.

A change of base was effected for strategic purposes, from the White House, near the junction of the York and Pamunkey rivers, on the 10th of June, to Harrison's Landing and other suitable points on the James. This object of GRANT had thus been accomplished. Up to this moment both armies had continued to occupy their relative positions.