The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-07-03
Aolhral.
SKETCH OF OUR CANDIDATES.


WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. IA
Major General Winfield Scott Hancock,
who was unanimously nominated for the
presidency by the Democratic National i
Convention in Cincinnati, June "a. bears
a family name which long before his birth
had been celebrated In revolutionary an
mails. To this family belonged John Han.
cock, Of revolutionary fame, who in 177G
was President Of the Continental Congress
and in bold aud beautiful chirography
signed the immortal Declaration Of Inde-
pendenee. In the great struggle for hu-
man liberty aud the deliyerance Of man
from the old thraldom Of kings more ihan
one ancestor ofour subject, maternal as well
as paternal, took part That Winfield s.
Hancock should be lover of his country
is matter Of inheritance. That he is a
man who, although a soldier by profession,
holds the law aud the constitution above
the sword is au honorable aud patriotic
feature Of his character which is bis own. |
His name shines therefore with no reflect
ed luster from the past
Gen. Hancock was born 10 Montgomery
county, Pennsylvania. His father, who
was native Of the same county, partiei.
pated in the war Of 1912, and afterward
became lawyer Of prominence The date
Of Gen. Haneock's birth vas February Ia,
1924. His early education was received
at an academy in Norristown, where he
spent the first years Of his youth. He
graduated from West Point June 80, 1874,
served in the Mexican war with distinction
aud at its close was brevetted first lieuten-
ant for gallant and meritorious services at
the battles Of Contreras and Cherubusco.
From 1848 to 1858 he was engaged in
frontier duty and when the civil war broke
out was quartermaster Of the southern dis
triet Of California.
Offering his services to the government
he was called to Washington, entered the
Union service aud 10 September, 1861,
was commissioned brigadier general BY
President Lincoln. His distinguished SER
vices during the war Of the rebellion are
almost too well known to require recApitu-
latiOn. During the Virginia peninsular
campaign he was especially conspicuous at
the battles Of Williamsburg and Frazer's
Farm, making several daring charges at
the head Of his column. He commanded
division at the battle Of South Mountain
and Antietam. He also commanded n
corps (the Second) at Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville, Va, having already been
made a major general.
On July /, 1868, the first day of the
battle of Gettysburg, he was sent by Gen.
Meade TO decide whether a decisive battle
should be given there or whether the army
should fall back. He reported that Get
tysburg was the place to fight, aEd took
immediate command until the arrival Of
Meade. In the decisive action Of July 3
be commanded on the left center, which
was the main point assailed by the Con-
federates, and was severely wounded. For
his conduct at Gettysburg he received
MAY 80, 1860 the thanks Of Congress.
Having been disabled by his wound, he
was on sick leave until March, 1864, be.
ing meanwhile engaged in recruiting the
Second army corps, which was placed un.
der his command.
He took the active command of this
corps at the opening Of the campaign Of
1864, and bore q prominent part IN the
battles Of the Wilderness MAY 5, g.
Spottsylvania Court House May 8, 90, J
aud North Anna May %, "A, } the second
battle battle Of Cold Harbor June j, } and
the operations around Petersburg until
June 10, when, his wound breaking out,
be was for a short time on sick leave.
On the 2Gth Of November, 1864, Gen.
Hancock was detached from the army Of
the Potomac and placed 10 command Of a
corps of $4,000 veterans, with his head
quarters at Winchester, Va. Before he
had an opportunity for active service, how
ever, the surrender Of Gen. Lee at Apo
mattox put an end to the war. When
President Lincoln was assassinated he was
summoned to Washington aud took CON-
mand Of the military forces there II thus
happened that he was called upon in his
official capacity to perform the painful duty
Of attending the execution Of Mrs. Surratt.
He made every effort, however, consistent
with his duties 10 interfere 10 behalf Of the
unfortunate woman. On the day Of the
execution he stationed mounted soldiers
on the line from the White House to the
arsenal grounds where the execution was
to take place, so that if pardon was
granted even at the last moment he should
know it promptly aud in time 10 save Mrs.
Surratt from the halter. No messenger Of
mercy came, and the indelible disgrace
was attached TO the government OF the
United States Of hanging woman iuno-
cent Of crime, Later 10 July Gen. Han
cock was transferred to the middle depart
ment. His headquarters were at Balti-
more. He remained 10 command Of this
department until July, 1866, when be was
put ia command Of the department Of
Missouri About the same time he was
made major general 10 the regular army,
having already been brevetted to the same
grade for "gallant aud meritorlops services
at Spottsylvania." While In the wost he
conducted several campaigns against hos.
tile Indians ia the Indian Territory, Kan.
sas and Colorado. His subsequent CON-
mands have been those Of Louisiana aud
Texas, Of Dakota aud Of the department
Of the East--the last, his present charge,
with headquarters on Governors Island.
The civil record Of Gen. Hancock, which
is no less honorable than his military re-
cord, was chiefly made while Ia command
Of the fifth military district, embracing the
States Of Louisiana and Texas, aud proves
him to be statesman Of lofty principles
and Democratic TO the core. On taking
command Of the district, Gen. Hancock
issued an order asserting the supremacy Of
the civil over the military power in time Of
peace, aud In a memorable letter to Gov.
Pease, Of Texas, who had demanded the
active interference Of the Federal govern
ment in behalf of the Radical element Of
that State, he sharply rebaked the teuden
ey to subordinate popular liberties to a
military despotism, aud reasserted his pur-
pose to rclegate TO the local authorities all
tho powers which ordinarily belong to them.
In many other cases Gen. Hancock pursued
the same bold aud manly policy, thereby
earning the hatred Of the Radical element
which came into power with the election
Of Gen. Grant. But for the fact that Gen.
Hancock resigned his command rather