Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-25
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
Major General Winfield s. Hancock

Major General Winfield s. Hancock
Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, who
was unanimously nominated for the presidency
by the democratic national convention in Gin
ciDnati yesterday bears a family name which
long before his birth had been celebrated In
revolutionary annals. To this family belonged
John Hancock, of revolutionary fame, who in
1,76, as president of the Continental Congress,
signed the the Declaration Of Independence.
Gen. Hancock was born in Montgomery county,
February redaveo II 1s HIS
academy in Norristown, where he
spent the first years OF his youth He gradl-
ated from West Point June SO, 1874, served In
the Mexican war with distinction. and at its
close was brevetted first lieutenant for gallant
and mer1torious services at the battles OF Con-
treras and CberubuscO. From 1S4S to 1855 he
was engaged In frontier duty, and when the
southern district of California. Offering his
services to the government he was called to
Washington, entered the Union service, and
adler general by President Lincoln. His dis
tinguished services during the war Of the
rebellion are almost too well known to
require recapitulation. During the Virginia
spicuouS at the battles Of Williamsburg and
FraZer's Farm, making several daring charges
at the head CT his column. He commanded a
division at the battle of South Mountain and
Ant1etam. He also commanded a corps (the 2i)
at Fredericksburg and charlottesville Va,
having already been made major general. On
July 1868, the first day of the battle OF Gettys-
burg, he was sent by Gen. Meade to decide
whether decisive battle should be given there
or whether the army should fall back. He
reported that Gettysburg was the place to tignt,
and took Immediate command until tie arrival
OF Meade. In the decisive action of July
Sd he commanded on the left CENTER which
was the main point a5sailed by the confeder-
ateS and was severely wounded. For HIS con-
the thanks OF Congress. Having been disabled
by his wound, he was on sick leave until March,
1s64, being meaRwhile engaged in recruiting
the the second army corps which was placed un
OF this corps at the opening of the campaign OF
1864, and bore prominent part in the battles
OF the Wilderness (May 5,6), Spottsylvania Court
House MAY 9, 20), and North Anna MAY 90, 24).
the operations around Petersburg until June
-, when, his wound breaking out, he
was for short time On sick leave.
was detached from the army of the Potom nc
and placed iii command OF corps OF 30 900 vete-
rams, with his headquarters at Winchester, Va.
Before he had an opportunity for active service,
however, the surrender OF Gen. Lee at Apo
mattOX put an end to the war. When Presi-
dent Lincoln was asSaSsinated he was sum-
moned to Washington and took command Of the
military forces there. 1t thus happened that
he was called upon in his official Ca
pacity to perform the painful duty OF at
fencing the execution of Mrs. Surratt
Later In July General Hancock was trane-
tered to the middle department. His
headquarters were at Baltimore. He remained
in command OF this department until July,
1866 when he was put In command OF the de-
partment OF Missouri. About the same time he
was made major general In the regular army,
having already been breveted to the same grade
for gallant and meritOriouS services at Spott-
sylvania-" While in the west he conducted
several campaigns against hostile Indians in
the Indian territory. Kansas and Colorado.
His subsequent commands have been those of
louisiana and Texas, OF Dakota and Of the de-
"a of
charge, with headquarters on Governors
island. The civil record OF Gen. Hancock was
Chiefly made While In command of the fifth
military district embracing the states of Louis
lana and Texas. On taking command of the
district, Gen. Hancock issued an order assert
Ing the supremacy OF the civil over the military
power in time of peace. This order brought
him into such prominence before the national
democracy that In the convention OF 1865 he re-
ceived 144H votes. Again In 1876 at the st.
Louis convention be received IS votes. In per-
scnal appearanceGen. Hancock is remarka-
bly, fine looking man, over six feet high. of fine
ply sique and weighs nearly 800 pounds Per
sonaily he is very popular with all who come
In contact with him, and will undoubtedly ex-
cite great enthusiasm among the democracy.
William III. English.
William H. English, the democratic candidate
for Vice President, was born in Scott county,
Indiana, August 81. 1922 In the village of INx,
1Igt0n. He studied law and was admitted t.
practice in the circuit court at the early age OF
United states when only twenty-three. Be-
fore he was Of age he served as delegate from his
native county to the democratic state conven-
ton that nominated General Tilghman A.
Howard for governor, and took the stump in
advocating his election. After the election of
James x: Polk he accepted an appointment
as clerk In the Treasury department., which
he filled during that administration. In
1850 he was secretary Of the convention
to revise the constitution OF Indiana and in 1851
he was elected member OF the state legislature
Under the new constitution. In 1852 he was
elected to Congress, and entered that body at
the commencement of President Pierce'S admin
istration, being then only q years of age He
served four terms in Congress Immediately pre-
cedlng the war. He took an active part In Op-
position to the bill for the admission of Kansas
under the LecOmptOn constitution, which did
not prohibit the Institution OF slavery The
Senate had passed the bill, but Mr. English
moved to concur in the proposition for COM
mittee of conference. The vote of the House
stood los to los, but the speaker voted In the
affirmative and the motion prevailed, From
that committee Mr.. English reported what lis
known as the English bill, which became the
law. By 1t lthe question OF admission under
the Lecompton constitution was referred back
to the people OF Kansas, and they refused it, as
was expected. Mr.. English was reelected to
Congress after this exciting question was set
tied, but after the close of the Both Congress he
retired from official life He then entered into
the banking business and for IA years was
president OF the First National Bank OF Indian
apons retiring In 1877 to private life