Grant on Hancock

[trice]

From Ulysses S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, Chapter LXX

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Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general officers who did not exercise a separate command. He commanded a corps longer than any other one, and his name was never mentioned as having committed in battle a blunder for which he was responsible. He was a man of very conspicuous personal appearance. Tall, well-formed and, at the time of which I now write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance that would attract the attention of an army as he passed. His genial disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his presence with his command in the thickest of the fight won for him the confidence of troops serving under him. No matter how hard the fight, the 2d corps always felt that their commander was looking after them.
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Any comments?

Tim

 

[johan_steele]

I have often read how Grant didn't care for Hancock; yet everything I have ever read points the other way, I have no doubt he respect the hell out of the man.

 

[milhistbuff1]

I wonder if Hancock would have got higher command were it not for his wounds... after all he was promoted to larger commands postwar.

 

[johan_steele]

I wonder if Hancock would have got higher command were it not for his wounds... after all he was promoted to larger commands postwar.

Absolutely.

 

[trice]

I wonder if Hancock would have got higher command were it not for his wounds... after all he was promoted to larger commands postwar.

The timing makes it a little difficult. Assuming he'd been healthy, the most obvious possibilities would have been in the East. I doubt that Grant and Meade would have wanted to let him go in the Spring, while they were fighting to get down to Richmond. After that, maybe.

The first and biggest possibility might have been that Summer, as Early raided up to Washington. Hancock instead of Sheridan for the Shenandoah? Maybe. But Grant had a high regard for Sheridan, and may have wanted to seperate him from Meade.

Another chance would have been the replacement for Butler after the election. Hancock might have been perfect for that.

Tim