The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-31
THE CANDIDATES..
Gen. Winfield S. Hancock,
THE SOLDIER STATESMAN.
Hon. William Il. English,
The Pride of the Hoosier State"

Mai. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock,
son Of Benjamin Franklin and Eliza
beth Hancock, was bo1n in Montgom-
cry county, Pa, Feb. IA, 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 father
family were Episcomlians and Friends
and his mothers Baptists. His moth
er's family have resided in Pennsyl-
vauia from the time Of William Penn,
and have heen living in what is now
Montgomery county for the past $50
years. In Hatfield township may now
be seen the old family homestead,
with the figures 1854 on the gable end
of the more recent part; the older
part, built long before, falling into
decay.
Gen. Hancock's father was a native
of Philadelphia, and as boy Of Is
sought the field when the British
threatened the city during The war of
1912. 1t was at Swede's Ford on the
site Of Nnrristown that Washington
had crossed the Schuylkill in his cam
paign OF Valley Forge, and it was
here, in full view of the historic hills,
that Young Hancocks' early years were
passed. Born and raised in a patriotic
atmosphere, with heroic blood in his
veins, his maj tial spirit and love of
justice soon gave promise Of the brill
liant future he was destined to
achieve.
Iu 1910 he entered the Military
Academy at West Point, and was
there as a cadet Will, Grant, McClel-
Ian, Franklin, John F. Reynolds (wllo
was killed at Gettysburg), Burnside,
Reno (wl'o fell at South Monntain),
:" Stonewall" Jackson, Longstreet, A.
P. Hill, d. II. Hill, and other officers
Of distinction OIL both sides during the
late war. Graduating in 1874, he was
appointed hrevel second lieutenant in
the Sixth Infantry, and assigned to
duty on the Western frontier. He
participated will, his regiment in the
war with Mexico, and was conspicuous
for his gallautry at San Antonio,
Cherubusco, MoiiDo del Rey, and the
assault and capture of the city of
Mexico. He served either as legi-
mental quartermaster or aGjntant,
from June, l645, to May, 1885, having
been meanwhile promoted to first
lieutenant. From June to November
Of that Year he acted as Assistant Adj
jutant General Of the Department Of
the West, headquarters at st. Louis.
1t was there that lie had married a
few years before, the daughter of
Samuel Russell, a prominent merchant
Of that city. Hancock was promoted
to captain aud assistant quartermaster
in the fall OF 1855, and served Oh the
staff Of Gen. Harney, in Kansas and
Nebraska, during the memorable pn-
litical troubles of twenty-five yeais
ago. Afterwards he went with Harney
to Utah, and rode across the continent
to the Pacific coast. He was stationed
in California until 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 a request to the Governor Of his
State for assignment to command
Of volunteers. There were many dis
cordant elements in California at that
time, and manifest sympathy with
secession, which threatened to isolate
the golden State from the Union.
While awaiting a reply from the Gov
erpor of Pennsylvania be took an
active part in encouraging and organ
izing the loyal sentiment.
His influence in Southern California
was of signal service in saving the
State to the Union. Impatient at de-
ay in hearing from tue Governor, he