Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-02
Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock.

There are very many Democrats
who believe that their party could no.
have nominated q stronger candidate
for President than General Winfield
Scott Hancock, the ranking Major
General of the army. He possesses
the advantages of undoubted ability
of conspicuously distinguished
record, and almost unbounded pop.
ularity wherever he is known. He
is prudent, since e, conservative and
infiexible in his loyalty to principles
approved by his judgment In any
position to which he might be called
he would do his whole duty.
General Hancock is native OF
Pennsylvania, having been born in
Montgomery county, in that State,
on the ]4th of February, 1924. He
graduated at West Point in 1911,
and served mainly on frontier duty
until 1916, and afterwards in the
war with Mexico, being breveted as
first lieutenant for gallant and meri-
torious conduct in the battles Of
Contreras and Cherubusco. From
lS4S to 1855 he was again employed
in frontier duty, and from 1855 to
1861 was quartelmaster of the south
ern district of California. In August
OF the samo year he was recalled to
Washington, and when the Army of
the Potomac was transferred to the
Peninsula in 1862, he was already a
Brigadier- General, with the appro-
pirate command. in the Fourth
Corps. His first opportunity to mako
a mark occurred at Williamsburg,
and he made n brilliant one. He
next distinguished himself in the
battle of Frazer's Farm, and subse-
quently took an active part in the
campaign in Maryland, part in the
ties of South Mountain and Antie-
tam. Being made n Major or-General,
he commanded a division at Freder-
icksburS and charlottesville. At
Gettysburg he did magniti cent work.
On the first day of the battle, July
l, 1868, he was sent by Gen. Meade
to decide whether decisive battle
should he given, or whether the
army should fall back. He reported
that Gettysburg was the place to
fight, and took immediate command
until the arrival of Meade. In the
decisive action Of Jdly 3D., he COM
manded on the left centre, sustain
ing the terrific onset of Longstreet
Confederates. and being severely
wounded. The thanks of Congress
were formally rendered him for his
conduct in these engagements. Be-
ing disabled by his wounds, he was
on sick leave until March, 1864, be-
ing meanwhile engaged i'll recruit
ing the Second Array Corps, which
was placed under his com and. At
the opening of the campaign OF that
year under General Grant, he took
the active command of the corps,
and bore a prominent part is the
battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl-
vanin Court House ana North Anna,
the second battle OF Cold Harbor,
and the operation around Peters
burg, until June 18th. when, his
wound breaking out afresh, he was
again for short line on sick leave.
He afterward resumed command and
participated in several actions, until
November 10th, when he was called
to Washington to organize the first
corps of veterans.
The name of every great battle OF
the East is inscribed on Hancock $
flags. After the close of the war he
was placed successfully in command
of the Middle Department, the De-
partment of tie Missouri, of Louis
lana and Texas, of Dakota, and of
the Department of the East. He
has his headquarters on Governors
Island. In the Democratic Nation
al Convention of 1868 he received
144a votes for the Presidential nomi-
ton. In 1876, in the National Con-
vention Of the same party, he re-
ceived IS votes for the same nomi-
nation.
General Hancock has uniformly
maintained the doctrine that the mil
i!ary power should in the time of
peace be subordinate to the civil
law. This was particularly shown
in his address to the court of inqui-
ry constituted to try General Bah
cock, in 1875, in which he urged
that that officer having been formally
indicted at st. Louis, it was right and
proper that the military inquiry
should be adjourned in order that
the ordinary civil processes might
take their course-which suggestion
was duly adopted. In 1868, while
in command of the Fifth Military
District, General Hancock, in let
ter to Gov. Pease, said: "On them
(the laws OF Texas and Louisiana }
as on q foundation of rock, reposes
almost the entire structure OF social
order in these two States Annul
this code of laws. and there would