American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-07-10

cock, the Democratic Candidate for Pre.I-
dent, and William II. EnxII.h, the Demo-
cratic Candidate for VIce-FrcsIdent.
The Chicago Times presents the fol-
lowing biographical sketches of the
Democratic candidates for the Presi-
dency and Vice-Presidency:
GENERAL w. s. HANCOCK.
Almost ftom his early youth up. it may be
said, has General Hancock devoted himself to
the life of soldier, and. whether in the field,
the fight .or, rs of late years, admins G rim z
with prudence the important military depart
head, his friends have the pleasure of claim
ing for him career as blamclcsS as it is note
AT present between fifty-six and fifty-seven
years of age, he having been born in Penn
sylHania in 1871, General Hancock is in the
very prime of his mental and physical facu-
ties. lie is said to be nnticeably quiet and UNI
assuming, and particularly free f!om the
slightest disposition to dwell upon the events
of s own military career, and equally indis-
posed to indulge in harsh or adverse criticism
upon the judgment or actions of others.
He WAS born on the 18th of February, 1924,
in Montgomery CLunty, Penn, and, after an
academic education, was destined for the mil
ttary service of his country. He was named
III honor of General Winfield Scott, with whom
he was always a great favorte.
IN the war of the rehciI on win intense inter.
est, and had the qualification, notwithstand-
ing the many BATTLES in which the Army of the
20 omac participated, of seeing him rise
stea lilly from n brigade commander to that of
chief of coTDs d drmee.
General Hancock was appointed a West
Point cadet during the year 1910, and gradu-
nted on the 10Th of June, 1874. He entered the
United States army on the LIST of July, 1874,
viii the rank of Brevet Sec md Lieutenant of
infantry. He was attached to the 4th regi-
ment, and did not receive his commission as
Second Lieutenant until tho 18th of June,
1916. He then went to Mexico and served gal
lantly during the war in that country. He
was breveted on August ~, 1877. First Lieu
tenant for gallant and meritOrious conduct
busco. On his return to the United States he
was appointed Regimental Quartermaster,
and retained that position during 1s4s and
1919. He was afterward appointed Regimental
Adjutant of the 9th United States Infantry.
During January, 1853. he received his COM
mission as First Lieutenant of his regiment,
and on the eth of November, 1865, was appoint
cd Assistant Quartermast err General, with the
rank of Captain. This position he held ut the
outbreak of the rebellion. On the sd of Sep
TENDER, 1861, he was appointed a Brigadier
General of volunteers and attached to the
Army of the Potomac. ON the 9Th of October.
1861, his brigade formed part of the force
which occ ipied Lewinsviile, Va. During the
por,aut reconnoisanccs, and was generally
successful. When the Army of the Potomac,
snla in ls6s, an impor ant command in It was
intrusted to General Hancock. For meri-
1862, he was hrcvetcd a Major General. At
the attle of Williamsburg occurred his first
opportunity for making gallant and impor-
tant action, and he improved it by making one
of the most brilliant engagements of the war.
He nextdstingushed himself in the battle
of Frazer's Farm, and subsequently took an
active part in the campaign in Maryland and
was "a conspicuous commander at the battles
OF south Mountain and Antictam. At the bat
tie of Antietam, in September, 1852, Hancock
was placed in command of General Richard
sons Division of the Second Corps, after the
requirements of the extended line of battle
had SO engaged the artillery that the applica-
could not he comp mi WITH immei
ately by the Chief of Artillery, or the corps
commanders i'm his vicinity. Knowing the
tried courage of the troops. General Hancock
felt confident that he could hold his position,
although suffering from the enemy's artillery,
but he was too weak to attack them, as the
~ cat length of the line he was obliged to hold
prevented him from forming more than one
line of battle. Seeing body OF the enemy
advancing on some of the Union troops, Cen
cral Hancock obtained Hexamer's battery
from Franklins corps, and succeeded in frus-
trating the attack.
Hancock commanded a division of the SEQ
cnd Corps at the battle of Fredericksburg in
1852 and then did such valuable service as to
aterially add to his military reputation.
General, with commission dated from NOvem-
Der %, Is,S, He commanded his division, geh-
orally known as Summers mcn. at the bat
ties of Chancellorsville, May, 1868. and after
the appointment of General Couch to the COM
mand of the ID apartment of the Susquehanna,
was placed in charge of his corps. With this
he took part i'll the battles near
Gettysburg during the early part OF July, 1903;
At Gettysburg Hancock again distinguished
himself by some gallant work. On the hrst
day of the battle, July l, 1861 he was sent by
General Meade to decide whether a decisive
battle should be given, or whether the army
should fall back. He reported that Gcttys-
burg was the place TO fight, and TOOK immedi-
the decisive action of July he commanded on
the left center, sustaining the terri11c onset OF
COnfedcrates, and being severe
" wounded In the last Wild, desperate charge
made at this memorable battle iancook's Sec.
)nd Corps sustaine d the shock which the fow-
ar of the Confederate service put upon II. Inc
immense effort made by the COnfederates to |
their position Deat G Hp1n ana 10 M Tbe
nand of which, Hancock being so badly |
Gibbons was then called. Being |
disabled by wounds, General Hancock obtain |
ID sick leave until March, 1864, being mean |
while engaged in recruiting the Second Army |
When Grant as Lieritenant-G eneral assumed |
he command of the entire ARMY he issued an |
rider completely re organizing the Army or the |
still commanded Immediately by |
iene nj Meade: the five corps were reduced
o three, commanded respectively by General
Hancock, to whom was assigned the Second, |
Warren the Fifth, and Sedgwick the Sixth.
The push into the Wilderness gave this sol
,ier another opport1ny %niI he ne or1
vas in position. and when the Generals sup
'osed That there WAS no conslderaDie force on
land. Hill had secured strong position, ana
lad repealed with loss the brigades of Bartlett
md Ayrcs, of Grifiin's division, that were first
ent up against him. He did not press his adj
'antage until the approach of Hancock, when
lie attempted to interpose strong force be-
Men me h who srrented his direes
dvant and pushed rapidly upon him. Han
ock, with his Division Generals, Birney, Bar.
ow and GibbOu, struck heavily on the right OF
he enemy. and two hours stubborn and bloody
Oniict with musketfy alone resulted in great
corps saved itself from rout in this
Engagement only by the most obstinate
ghting Tne NEXT day at I'VE o,c n;i, in the
is way to Parker's store, where he
treet. but not until he had captured a great
many prisoners. At Spottsylvania Hancock
,ns ordered to advance on the earth works
Jnder cover of a dense fog which prevailed In
he morning he advanced in two lines, bar
wv and Birney's divisions forming the first,
iihbons' and Motifs tho second. Rapidly but
uictly sweeping over the intervening space,
surprising and overwhelming
hem, and capturing johnson with most of his
vision, also Brigadier-G General George Ii.
t wart, part of two bricades and thirty guns.
he number of prisoners secured was over
irce thous md, Hancock, in his dispatch to
rant, wrote: ~ have captured from thirty
, forty guns. / have finished up johnson
nd am going into Early"
This Brigadcr-G cneral Stewart was an old
ricnd of Hancock. who, when the former was
rought before him as a prisoner, held out
Is band h ing" hnebtlH rep afe
m General Stewart, of the Confederate
take " Your "i hand we And Under any other
rcumst anccs, General, l should not have Of
,red it, was Hancock's reply.
AT Cold liarbOr Hancock sustained his mill
pIcstig e nv a determined and sangIiinary
sSariit, an subsequently, north of the james,
2 admirably carried out an order to turn the
lemy's advance position, the result being
lat rebel outpost was successfully |
anked and carried, and four guns
ipturcd. His fight at Rcams Station was an
her gallant episode. Hancock, returned
ON the north of the James, had moved rap
y to the Weldon road in the rear of Warren. |
r.king ut Reams Station he had been busy |
airing II up for two three days, when his | ,
VARY gave warning that the enemy in force
ere at hand. Their first blow fell on Miles | ,
vision, and repusci, but the enemy
led it again, and finally captured the posi- |
hut wit a Hancock | .