The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-25
The HERALDAND COMMERCIAL
CINCINNATI.
W, S. HANCOCK.

Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, (as was
his father before him. on the l4th day of
February, 1924, SO that he is consequently
now few months past dfty-six years of age.
ANCESTRY AND YOUTH,
Winfield Scott Hancock comes of revolu'
tionary and patriotic ancestry. During the
struggle of the colonies with the mother
country his paternal grandfather experienced
the seventies ofthe English authorities, hay
NO been captured at sea, claimed as q Brit
is6 subject, and imprisoned in the famous
Dartmooor prison, in England. His mater.
nal grandfather and great-grandfather served
in the revolutionary armies with fidelity, the
latter taking up arms when mere boy Of
fifteen Both took part 10 important engaag-
ments, the elder, in TACT, giving his lie Tor his
country and dying at the close OF the war
from the effects OF exposure and hardship IN
the field He was Il promising student and
among the youth of his own age was looked
up TO with respect and reyerenced as a leader.
When only fifteen years old the honor OF
reading the declaration Of independence at n
public celebration of the national anniversary
was conferred on him, not less on account OF
his illustrous descent than for the abilities he
had displayed as a student. With such n
family history it might be expected that the
bow would choose the profession OF arms. AT
the age of sixteen he received the appoint
ment to the military academy at West Point,
passed his examination with credit, and en-
tered on the service Of his country. He found
himself in the national academy the associate
of Young men who, like himself were des-
tined to be famous in the country's history.
He took higher than average rank MS a.
scholar, graduating in large class as num-
Der eighteen, on the 30th day Of June, 1874,
receiving the commission Of brevet second
lieutenant Of the Sixth infantry. The war
with Mexico gave him his first opportunity
for distinction as soldier. The young
second lieutenant won his spurs at the
National Bridge, and he was conspicuous for
gsllantry at San Antonio, Oontreras, Cheru.
busco, Moline del Rey, and the assault and
capture of the City of Mexico. His first
breyet was given him August 20, lS47, for
gallant and meritorious conduct at Contre-
ras and Cherubasco."
OPENING OF THE CIVIL WAR.
When the news of the momentous struggle
which the firing on Fort Sumter announced
to the world to have begun reached the Pacific
slope, the intrinsic character of the man at
OuGb ulsDlh1bl ilstll' Npukhtlh ShllAhllllu
was almost IS little disposed to be loyal rs any
southern state. 1t was not q popular thing
for man TO advocate Union sentiments
there. Secession opinion was everywhere
rampant, and there was imminent danger
that civil war would be inaugurated west as
well as east Of the Rocky mountains. Han
cock declared himself without hesitation. He
first applied TO the governor Of his native
state for command among the troops being
raised in Pennsylvania, and without awaiting
an answer applied himself to sustaining and
spreading Union sentiments in California, by
public speeches and by loyal example. His
services were OF the greatest value in pre-
serving California to the Union. But the
governor of his own state was slow in re-
spending to Captain Hancock's request, and
unable to brook delay, burning to serve his
country in the field, he applied to the general
Of the army at Washington to be ordered
East for active service. 1t was character
istic and fortunate step for the young sub
ordinate. Regular army officers of pro-
nounced loyalty were in demand in the East
then. There was no installing Hancock's
metal, and General Sect, who knew the inn
petuous gallantry of this officer while serving
in his command in Mexico, at once ordered
him East.
After serving in various engagements
IN VIRGINIA,
always with distinction, and after he had
baen promoted to a brigadier, and then to
msjor-generalship for meritorous service, he
won renewn by his skill and gallantry at
Gettysburg. This was the decisive battle of
the late war. Had the Federal forces been
defeated the Confederacy would have estab-
lished its independence. The burthen of the
Union rested upon the shoulders of the Off.
GERS Of the Federal army on that fated day
and with them it was necessary that there
should be no mistake or all was lost. Chief
among the men on whom fate or providence
had laid this mementous duty was Hancock.
How he performed it the country knows In
the march to the North his corps had COW
cred the rear, probably with the idea that
should Lee,whose whereabouts was unknown,
by some sharp strategy, strike for Washing-
ton, the second corps would be the resdiest
to oppose him. Hancock had reached Taney-
town. Nearly one hundred years before his
maternal grandfather had been one Of rev
olutiorary escort to march body of Bur-
goynes captured troops from this very point
to Valley Forge. The news had reached
General Meade here that the enemy ha been
encountered by the advance
AT GETTYTBURG,
and he directed Hancock to push forward
personally with all speed to that point and
take command of all the forces on the field
and such as should arrive. Taneytown is
fourteen miles from Gettysburg. The first
days struggle was well advanced when the
general reached the field. From Cemetery
Heights he saw the Union forces retreating in
disorder before the overpowering numbers of
the enemy. Reynolds was dead, and the first
and eleventh corps were falling back through
Gettysburg to the heights. General Han.
cock saw at glance that the place on which
he stood was the place designed by nature
for struggle for an empire, and having re-
stored the line of battle, he sent his couriers
back to General Meade with word to hurry
up the troops, that Gettysburg was the place
to fight, and General Meade at once acted on
the information. AS the other corps of the
army came up during the night and got into
position, to Hancock was given the command
of the left centre. Here, in the afternoon of
no second day, he sustained desperate at
tack, which he repulsed and followed up
with counter charge, after the manner for
which he was celebrated. On the third day
Hancocks lines sustained cannonade Of
two hours from one hundred and twenty |
guns, under cover of which Longstreets !
corps Of eighteen thousand men were massed, |
like Nspoleon's Old Guard at Waterloo, for
final assault on the Union position During |