The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-07-01
BIOGEARHIcAL> SKETCH or GEN
WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.

perhaps command larger degree OF reSpect
and support from Republicans than shy
other manin the Democratic party. Clear.
headed and sslf-reliant, his career as judi
cial statesman and military governor while
in command Of louisiana and Texas gives
evidence that, if strong man is needed TO,
President there is no man in the nation
s4hoa6 At? for that position than Winfield s.
Hancock. With him us the candidate of theil
party the Democrats would have nothing ia
J explain or defend, and could proudly
: point: TO his record and challenge COM
pariaon Of it with that Of the Republican
candidate, whoever he might be. The peo.
ple; Of this country will not soon forget
= theh was day in its history when, if Gen.
eral Hancock had not shown the highest ca
pacity "a military commander, there might
~ 1o4epublic; to govern. It was on that
day when the gallant General Reynolds fell
satGettsyharg and Lees forces were driving
Sbacksthe Union army: Like thunderbolt
Hancock precipitated his troops upon the
victorious enomy, hurled them back, aud
Selling Cemetery Heights and Round Top,
wrested order from confusion and restored
confidence to our half-beaten army.
YOUNG; PENNSYLVANIA.
Winfield Scott Hancock vas born in Mont
gonezy county, Pennsylvania, February II,
1924, and is therefore fifty-six years of age.
His mothers father was revolutionary SOL
der and was captured at sea and confined in
the Dartmoor prison, England. His great
grandfather on his mothers side was also q
soldier under Washington and rendered good
service, dying at the close of tho revolution
from exposure and hardships endured in the
field. Hancock's father served in the war OF
1872 and afterwards became lawyer OF dis
tinction in Montgomery county, Pennsylva.
mia. At the age of sixteen Hancock was sent
to West Point, and had for classmates U. s.
Grant, George q. Mcclellan, J. T. Reynolds,
J. l.. Reno, Burnside, franklin and W. F.
Smith. He graduated in 1871, June 30, and
in 1876 served with his regiment in the
Indian Territory as a second lieutenant OF
the Sixth infantry. In 1917 We find him in
Mexico and conspicuous for gallantry at the
Natural bridge, San Antonio, Contreras,
HCherubusco, Molino del Rey and the capture
Ut the city of Mexico. He was breveted TO,
gallantry at tho battles of Contreres and
Eherabusco. LII 1919 and 1850 lle served
with bis regiment as qustermaster and ad int
::At, aud in the fall vi 1850 WIS married at
st. Louis TO Miss Al,nira Russell, the
daughter of prominent lnercAsnt OF thai
city. He took part in several Indian cam
pa:gns in the West, and in 1897 was engaged
tiu the Southern Florida was. Hs served in
the expedition against Utah and III 1850
vent to California.
When he heard of tho rebellion he took
:, nigh grounds in favor Of the union, and did
much i'll 1861 to check the secession spirit
then seizing upon California. He applied to
Governor Curtin. of Pennsylvania, for o
commission in the volunteers, but the COVER.
nor being slow ID replying to his application
be obtained leave Of absence aud came
East. His earrestuess impressed General
Scott, who ordered him to report to General
Mcclellan, and on tho formal recommends.
ton Of Mcclellan President Lincoln, on tins
cSd of September, 1861, commissioned Han
cook brigad;er general of volunteers. He
;Ess assigned to brigade III tho division OF
General Badly Smith, and reported for duty
at Chain Bridge, Virginia, in The army of the
Po:omac.
HIS FIRST ia TILE.
His first battle in the rebellion was al
Warwick court house, near Yorktown, and
he led his brigade in person, driving the en-.
envy before him. At Williamsburg Hancock
bore conspicuous part. The rebels having
repulsed Hooker and exposed Hancock's left
!. flank he determined to retire and ordered the
batteries back to the slope, where his brigade
1ino stood. The rebel commander, seeing
The movement, at once advanced his troops
and they came down on Hsncock's right in
two superb lines OF battle, cheering ire
mendOusly and calling o1t, "Bull Run! Bull
Run! That flag is ours.' Hancock sat on
ing With imperturbable GOODNESS the favor.
able moment. Calling on the men to stand
fast and keep their pieces
.saaded, Hancock waited. until the
rebels we're within 100 yards, then dash
ing forward on his horse, with head barred
and swinging his hat, he shouted: "Forward!
: forward! ,forwardv' The men saw the tow.
;sring form Of their General leading them,
and spipging up, with shout that made the
hills ring, they peroipitated themselves upon
tie enemy. The great, irregular mass of
rebsls falEseed, halted for . moment, wavered
a146ee fell back slowly. Every inch of
su1d was stubbornly contested; still, Han
xock forced them off the field, nor did they
main advance until the Union reinforce
ueutg came up and rendered the victory &C.
s aoto. NItSw almost night when Hancock
:: rapulsed the enemy, and no pursuit could be
]. orderedin the darkness. The ground was
covered with rebel dead and wounded and
! many .Wero cut offand captured. The &C.
Hon d. Hancock had rendFed Williams
2bdrg nntenab!e, and that night the enemy
abandoned it. IIancock's name was herald
cd from Maine to California, and in few
hours, from an unknown subordinate he
had leaped into fame and assumed nation
al reputation. Mcclellan telegraphed the
, President, "Hancock was superb to-day"
an expression which all who saw him tower
ing above his uen leading them to battle
knew to be only Just.
HIS SERVICES IN THE PENINSULA.
= On the 9th Of June, 1862, Hancock, who
was then at Golding's Farm, in the Peninsu-
10, received severe attack from the enemy.
He repulsed it and continued the fighting far
into the night, the contending forces firing
at each other in close quarters in the dark.
This battle of Hancook's was ono of the
grandest spectacles Of the war, and will never
be forgotten by the army of the Potomac.
On the 28th Of June, 1862, Hancock was
heavily engaged at Garnett's Hill, as he was
at Savage Station on the Goth and at White
Oak Swamp on the 30th. His troops fought
four battles in as many days, and in every
one of them we're lead by Hancock in per-
: sou. He never knew fear himself and could
not tolerate it in others. An officer, Who
had bis men in tight place, rode up to the
general and said: ''General. my men are
all being killed; may not withdraw them q
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