The daily gazette., 1880-03-20
FIRST EDITION.
From the Times.
White House Gallery.
General Winfield Scott Hancock.

HIS RECORD Ab CHAMPION OF CIV
IL LAW-H0w, AS A HARD FIGHT
ING GENERAL, HE BECOMES A SHIELD
FOR HIS NATIVE sTATE--PERsoNAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Few men have served their country
better than Winfield 8. Hancock and
few deserve more from their country
men. A big man, with a big head, a
big heart and big brain, Hancock is
the very personification of honor, hon
esty and capacity. Gallant and unas-
suming, q soldier in three wars, the
hero of hundred battles, he is q man
on whom all Democrats might consist
emily unite for President, and who, as
candidate, would perhaps command
larger degree of respect and sup
port from Republicans than any other
man in the Democratic party. Clear
headed and self-reliant, his career as
judicial statesman and Military Gov
ernor while in command of Louisiana
and Texas gives evidence that, if
strong man is needed for President,
there is no man in the nation moro fit
for that position than Winfield S.
Hancock With him as the candidate
of their party the Democrats would
have nothing to explain or defend, and
could proudly point to his rccoad and
challenge comparison of it with that
of the Republican cand date, whoever
he might be. The people of this coun-
try will not soon forget there was
day in its history when, if General
Hancock had not shown the highest
capacity for military commander,
there might have been no Republic to
govern. 1t was on that day when the
gallant General Reynolds fell at Get
tysburg and Lees forces were driving
back the Union Army. Like thun-
derbolt Hancock precipitated his
troops upon the victorious enemy,
hurled them back, and seizing Gene.
terry Heights and Round Top wrested
order from confusion and restored
confidence to our half beaten army.
A YOUNG PENNSYLVANIA.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born in
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
February IA, 1924, and is therefore fif-
| ty-six years of age. His mothers
father was Revolutionary soldier and
was captured at sea and confined in the
Dartmoor Prison, England His great
grandfather on his mothers side was
also soldier under Washington and
rendered good service, dying at the
close of the Revolution from exposure
and hardships endured in the field
Hancock's father served in the War of
1912 and afterwards became a lawyer
of distinction in Montgomery county,
Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen
Hancock was sent to West Point and
had for classmates U. s. Grant, Geo.
B. Mcclellan, J. +. Reynolds, j. l..
Reno, Burnside, Franklin and w. L.
Smith. He graduated in 1874, June
80, and in 1886 served with his regi-
ment in the Indian Territory as a sec
ond lieutenant of the Sixth Infantry.
| In 1847 we find him in Mexico and
conspicuous for gallantry at the Natu-
raj Bridge, San Antonio, Contreras,
Cherubusco, Molno del Rey and the
capture of the City of Mexico. He was
breveted for gallantry at the battles of
Contreras and Cherubusco. In 1S49
and 1850 he served with his regiment
us quartermaster and adjutant, and in
the fall of 1850 was married at st.
Louis to Miss Almira Russell, the
daughter of prominent merchant of
that city. He took part in several In
dian campaigns in the West, and in
1857 was engaged in the Southern
Florida war. He served in the expe-
dition against Utah and in 1850 went
to California.
When he heard of the rebellion he
took high ground in favor of the Union
and did much in 1861 to check the
secession spirit then seizing upon Cali
fornia. He applied to Governor Cur
tin, of Pennsylvania, for commission
in the volunteers, but the Governor
being slow in replying to his applica-
ton he obtained leave of absence and.
came East. His earnestness impressed
General Mcclellan, and on the formal
recommendation of Mcclellan, Presi-
dent Lincoln, on the 23d of September,
1861, commissioned Hancock Briga-
der General of Volunteers. He was
assigned to a brigade in the division of
General Badly Smith and reported for
duty at Chain Bridge, Virginia, in the
Army of the Potomac.
HIS FIRST BATTLE.
His first battle in the rebellion was
at Warwick Court House, near York
town, and he led his brigade in person,
driving the enemy before him. At
Williamsburg Hancock bore con-
spicuous part. The rebels having re-
pulsed Hooker and exposed Hancock's
left flank he determined to Attire and
ordered the batteries back to the slope
where his brigade line stood. The
rebel commander seeing the move
ment, at once advanced his troops,
and they came down on Hancock's
right in two superb lines of battle,
cheering tremendously and calling out
"Bull Run Bull Run That flag is
ours" Hancock sat on his horse be-
hind the centre of his line, waiting
with imperturbable GOODNESS the favor
able moment. Calling on the men to
stand fast and keep their pieces loaded
Hancock waited until the rebels were
within 100 yards. then dashing for
ward on his horse, with head barred
and swinging his hat, he shouted :
forward forward - The men saw
the towering form of their General
leading them, and springing up, with
a shout that made the hills ring, they
precipated themselves upon the enc
| my. The great, irregular mass of
). rebels faltered, halted for a moment,
wavered and then fell back slowly.
| Every inch of ground was stubbOrnlv