Hancock Visits Gettysburg

While playing around on the New Times website, I came across a couple of articles about General Winfield Scott Hancock's visit to Gettysburg in November of 1885. I copied them below. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind as you read these (which are fascinating by the way): a) His visit was Nov, 1885...he died Feb 9, 1886. b) It says that Wright's Brigade came "nearly to the battlefield line"....Wright claims to have broken that line. c) They don't call it "Pickett's Charge" but "Longstreet's attack". d) They went up the Round Top Observation tower. I'll have to check to see just when that was built. I wish I could have found an article about their third day visit....but none was located. I just really find all this fascinating! Read on and see if you are just as intrigued as I am!

Gettysburg, Penna. Nov 18
Gen. W. S. Hancock arrived here this evening accompanied by Gen. Francis A. Walker, Cols. J. P. Nicholson, George A. Bernard, J. B. Bachelder, Majs. W. W. D. Miller, E. W. Coffin, W. H. Lambert, Capts. J. V. Weir, and Paul Roemer, of the United States Army; Dr. F. E. Goodmand, and others. The arrival of the train was greeted with an artillery salute by Post 9, G. A. R. and General Hancock was received with great cheering, and escorted to the hotel. This evening, the General was serenaded by the Grand Army band, after which he held a reception in the parlors of the hotel. The party will visit the battlefield tomorrow, and endeavor to locate accurately the position of the different corps on the field.

Gettysburg, Penna, Nov. 19th
Although the weather was inclement, General Hancock, attended by General Walker, of his staff, historian of the Second Corps; Col. Wilson, Maj. Miller, Col. Bachelder, Government historian of the battlefield; Col. Nicholson, Recorder of the Grand Commandary, Loyal Legion, and others, visited the battlefield today. General Hancock paid particular attention to the positions of the left centre, where he commanded, identifying every point of interest. He pointed out where Willard's brigade met Barksdale of the afternoon of the Second day; where the First Minnesota charged Wilcox, of Alabama; where Wright's Georgians charged across the Emmitsburg Road nearly to the battlefield line on Cemetery Ridge, where Stannard's Vermont brigade saved Weir's battery; explained the position of Webb's Philadelphia brigade on the Third Day, and the nature of the Longstreet attack; pointed out the spot where the 19th Massachusetts and 42ns New York regiments lay, and where Col. Devereux, of the Nineteenth, asked permission to go to Webb's assistance and led the party to the positions of Stannard's brigade, whence they moved out attacking Pickett's flank. At each halt Colonel Bachelder, by request, gave a description of that particular part of the engagement. At the Wheat field Col. Wilson gave a detailed account of the engagement of Caldwell's Division, Second Corps. Other points were visited and noted, closing with the wide view from Round Top Observatory. Most of the party left for home tonight. General Hancock and Colonel Bachelder remain to visit tomorrow the position of the field in which the General was particularly engaged.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall for this tour. I would have given all my worldly goods (except maybe my books...but even that is up for debate) just to have tagged along and listened to what General Hancock was telling them. I envy every single person who was fortunate enough to have participated in the ultimate of tours.