St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-21
THE CANDIDATES..
Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock,
The Patriot and Soldier Statcsmam.
Hon. William H. English,
The Pride of Eudiuma and of the West

Mai. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, son of Ben
jamn Franklin and Elizabeth Hancock was
born in Montgomery county, Pennsy ylvani;t, Feb.
a. 1924. He comes from sound Anglo Saxon
stock, the ancestral line on the maternal side
leading back to the English and Welsh. and on
the paternal to the English. irish and Scotch.
His fathers family were EpiscopalanS and
Friends, and his mothers Baptists. His moth
er's family have resided in Pennsylvania from
the time OF William Penn, and have been living
in what is now Montgomery county for the past
$50 years. In Hatfield township may now he
seen the old family homestead, with the figures
1864 on the gable end Of the more recent part
the older part, built long before, falling into de-
cay.
Gen. Hancock's father was native of Pllila-
delphia, and, as a boy of 10, sought the field
when the British threatened the city during the
war Of 1912. 1t was at Swede's Ford, OH the site
of NorristOwn, that Washington had crossed the
Schuylkill on his campai gn of Valley Forge, and
it was here in full view of the historic hills, that
young Hancock s carly years were passed. Born
aud raised i'll Il patriotic atmosphere, with hero
ic blood in his veins, his martial spirit and love
of justice soon gave promise of the brilliant 1u-
ture he was destined to achieve
in 1910 he entered the Military Academy at
West Point and was there cadet with Grant,
Mcclellan, Franklin, John 7. Reynolds (wlo was
at south Mountain), "Stonewail' jackson, Long
street, A. 2. Hill, D. III. Hill, and other officers
of distinction on both sides during the late war.
SECOND lieutenant in the Sixth Infantry, and as
signed TO iiItv IN the Western frontier. He Par
ticipated with his resipeAt ip the gar with Me-
xc0, and was conspicuous for his gallaiittg at
san Antonio, ChcrubuscO, M0lino Gel Rey, and
the assault and capture of the city OF Mexico.
He served either as regimental quartermaster
or adjutant, from June, 184S, to May, 1855, hay
ing been meanwhile promoted to first lleuten-
ant From June to November of that year lie
acted as Assistant Adjntant General of the De-
partment of the West, headquurters at Sc. Louis
1t was there that he had married rev years pc
fore, the daughter OF Samuel Russell, pronl-
nent merchant of that city. Hancock was pro-
NOTED to captain and assistant quarterlnasser
in the fall OF 1s55 alI serye1 On the stan OF Gen
memorable political troubles OF twenty-five
years ago. Afterwards he went with Harney TO
Utah. and rode across the continent to the Pa,
cifie coast. He was stationed IN Call1o ornla untll
the outbreak OF the rebellion
HIS RECORD In THE LATE WAR.
When the news of the firing on Fort Sumpter
reached his distant post, he sent request to the
Governor OF his State for assignment to q com
AMI elements in California at that time, and Il
manifest 81 yrnpathy with secession, which threat
cned to isolate the Golden State from tho pnian
While awaiting Il reply from the Governor OF
PENNSYLVANIA he took an active part i'll encOur-
aging and organizing the loyal sentiment.
His influence in Southern California was OF
signal service in saving the state to tpe Union.
Impatient at delay in hearing from the Govern
or he applied to Gen. Scott to be ordered East
for active duty. His request was granted, and
he was assigned as chief quartermaster on the
IL.
ztIg IN army at Louisville, KY, but before Ell
tering on those duties he was appointed by Mr.
Lincoln a Brigadier General OF volunteers, a!ia
assigned TO to command N the Army of ~ tsf ,, Io-
ade were the Fifth Wisconsin, the Sixth Maine,
the Forty-rinth Pennsylvania, and the Forty
third New York. III the spring OF 1862 he ac-
companied the Army Of the Potomac to the Pc
ninsllla, and was actively engaged II the siege
of Yorktown during the month OF April. For
his gallantry during the siege he was specially
Il ,f,l,n nf In
mantiipg General OF the Army. The phrase,
"HaneOck was superb" ran through the coun-
try, from Maine to Califarnig, His subsequent n
o1t oo9s@fInSw @ whte SffeteeS ak ~ and other
ments during the Seven Days Fight, which
closed with the victory at Malvern Hill. led the
General-in-Chicf to urge his promotion to MAJOR
General Of volunteers.
In the fall of 1852, after the return OF the Army
of the Potomac from the Peninsula ne tp0h PART
in the movement on Centreyille, Va. In the
manded his brigade at Champions Pass, South
Mountain, on the 18th OF September. Three
days afterWarf., on the battlefield Of Antletam.
he was placed in command OF Gen. Richardson's
division when that gallant officer fell n0Gta!iy
wounded.
At the battle of Fredericksburg. in December,
he led his division i'll the assault on Marys
Heights, where he lost half his command III
killed and wounded, and where he and all Ills
aids were wounded. Al the battle OF Cgahces-
lorsvile in May, 1868, he covered the roads lead
ing towards Fredericksburg, where his troops
maintained their position to the last, aud formed
the rear-guard of the army in moving OF the
field. The Generals horse was shot under him
in that battle. Early in June he relieved Gen.
Couch in command Gf the Second Corps and
later In the same month WIS assigned by MI.
Lincoln to be its permanent commander.
Hancock guarded the rear of the army on the
march to Gettysburg. Reynolds was in advance
in command OF three army corps, and after he
had fallen OH the first day, Gen. Meade sent
Hancock forward to take command OF the forces
on the battle field. Upon his arrival he checked
the enemy'S advance, and sent word to Gen.
Meade that the position should be held, as Get
tysburg was the peint where the great impend-
ing battle should be fought In accordance with
these suggestions Gen. Meade hurried forward
all his forces. On the second day Hancock e0m=
manded the left centre of the army, and fecOn-
strueted the line of battle pierced by the enemy
In many places, 80 that at night his position
stood intact as in the morning. On the third
day it was his high fortune to repulse the assault
of Gen Longstreet, but only after a contest OF
the most stubborn and sallguinary character.
Five thousand prisoners. thirty-seyen stand of
colors and many thousand stand of arms were
among the trophies of this victory. At the mo-
ment Of his triumph Hancock fell desperately
wounded. While lying on the gF0und an bis line
Of battle he sent an aide to Gen. Meade, com
the Army of the Potomac: .Teil Gen.
Meade, ~ he said, 1.-THE troops nndermy command
have repHised the enemy's assault and We have
gained q great victory. The enemy is now fly
Ing in all directions from my front" The officer
- ;c 20 Cnx