The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-25
GENERAL HANCOCK.



BJJs RIi,hln, ia Phll,d iphli Times, March, 1850.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born In
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, Feb
ruary u, 1924, and lis therefore aity.six
years Of age. His mothers father was
Revolutionary soldier and was captured
at sea, and confined In the Dartmoor
Prison, England, His greAtgrandiather
on bis mothers side was also a soldier IN.
der Washington Sad rendered good ser.
service, dying ut the close Of the Revolu.
ton from exposure and hArdshIps en-.
durpd In the field. llAneock's father
served In the War Of 1872 and afterwards
became a lawyer OF distinction In Mont
ROnery county, Pennsylvania. Al the
age OF sixteen Hancock was sent 10 West
Point and had for classmates U. S. Grant,
George b. Mcclellan, J. +. Reynolds, ].
l.. Reno, Burnside, franklin aud W. F.
smith. lie graduated In 1874, June 80,
and in 1856 served with his regiment In
the Indian Territory rs second lieuten.
antoI the Sixth Infantry. In lS47 we find
him in Mexico and conspicuous for gal.
lanlry at the Natural Bridge, San Antonio,
CoItreras, Cherubusco, Moline del Rey,
and the capture Of the City Of Mexico. lie
was bEeyeled tor gallAntry at the battles
OF ConlTerAs and Cherubusco. In 1870
and 1850 he served with his regiment rs
0uarIermaster and Adjutant, and In the
iall Of 1850 was married al ST. Louis TO
Mis- AlmiTA Russell, the daughter Of
prominent merchant OF that city. lie took
par in several Indian campaigns In the
Wet, and In 1857 was engaged In the
Southern Florida war. lie served in the
expedition against Utah, and In 1850 went
to California. -,
When he heard oil the rebellion he took
higl ground in favor OF the Union and
did much In 1861 to check the secession
split then seizing upon California. He
applied TO Governor Curtin, Of Pennsylva'
MIA for u commission In the volunteers,
but the Governor being slow In reply;
Ing TO his application he obtained
leave OF absence and came East
His earneslness impressed General Scott,
who ordered him TO report TO General
Mcclellan, and on the formal recommen'
dabon Of Mcclellan President Lincoln,
on The sd OF September, 1851, commits.
Sioted HBncock Brigadier General OF
Volunteers. He was assigned TO brigade
In the division OF General Badly Smith
and reported for duty at Chain Bridge,
Virginia, In the Army Of the Potomac.
HIS FIEsT BATTLE.
Els first battle In the rebellion was at
Warwick Court House, near Yorktown,
and he led his brigade in person, driving
the enemy before him. At Williamsburg
Hancock bore conspicuous part. The
rebels having repulsed Hooker and ex.
posed llancock's left flank he determined
to retire and ordered the batteries back to
the slope, where his brigade line stood.
The rebel commander, seeing the move.
mest, Of once advanced his troops, and
they came down on Hahcock's right in
two superb lines Of battle, cheering tre-
mendolsly ard calling out, Bull Run!
Bull Run That flag Is ours" Hancock
sat on his hone behind the centre OF his
line. waiting With lmpehurbable GOODNESS
The favorable moment. Calling on the
men 10 stand last and keep their pieces
loaded, Hancock waited until the rebels
were within 100 yards, then dAshing for.
yaid on bis horse, with head barred and
swinging his bat, he shouted: Forward!
ioruatd iorwafdm
The men saw the towering form OF their
General leading them, and springinR up,
Will shout that made the hills ring, they
preclpitated themselves upon the enemy.
The great, iuegulArmass Of rebels iAltered,
halted for n moment, waveTed aud then
fell back slowly. Every Inch OF ground
was siubboruly contested; still, Hancock
iorced them oil the field, nor did they
sRain advance until the Union reinforce
ments came up and rendered the victory
secure. 1t was almost night when Han
cock repulsed the enemy, and no pursuit
could be ordered In the darkness. The
ground was covered with the rebel dead
and wounded and many were cut OF and
captured. The action Of Hancock had
rendered Williamsburg untenable, and
that night the enemy abandoned u. Han
cocks name was heralded from Maine TO
California, and In a few hours, from an
unknown subordinate, he had leaped into
fame and assumed 4 national reputation.
Mcclellan ielegmphed the President,
Hancock was superb to-day" an express
sion which all who saw him towering
above his men leading them 10 battle knew
to he only Just.
For bis services in the Peninsular cam:
paign General Mcclellan recommended
Hancock for promotion to the rank oil
mSjor general Of volunteers and the bre-
vets Of major, lieutenant colonel and colo
mel in the regular army.
ALWAYS ArIT.