Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-08
President w. S. Hancock Ills
Ancestry, EARLY Life
and Services.

tamlly belonged john Hancock, OF Massa
elusetts, the first sisnor Of tho declaration
Of independents. In the groat struggle
for human liberty and delivcvanco Of mau
from the old thraldom of kings more than
ono ancestor Of our subject, maternal as
well as patcrnal, took part. That Winfield
S. Hancock should DO lover Of his country
is a. matter of Inheritance. That ho is a,
mar, who, although soldier by profession,
holds the law and tho constitution above
tho sword, is an honorable aud patriotic fca--
turo of his charsctcr which is his own.
His name shines therefore with no reflected
lustrc from the past.
General Hancock was born in Montgom-
orr, County, Pennsylvania. His father,
who wao native Of tho same county, par.
ticipated in thcwar cf 1912, and afterwards
bocamc lawyer of prominence. The date
of General Hancock's birth wu, February
Ia, 1924. His carly education was rcceiv-
ed in an academy in Norristown, whore he
spent the inst years of his youth. lie
possessed, as schooboy, those traits which
sometimes forotcll future cmincnce. Stu
dious and thoughtful. lie laid tho founda-
tions of a great career.
Entering West Point at lG, he graduated
with credit to hmsolf'on tue 30th Of Juuc
1911. Tho cosn oi tho .iexioan war.-iu
which lie h@d distinguished himself at Con.
tcras, Chcrubusco, Molino del Rcy aud at
tho capture Of the city Of Mexico found
him second lieutenant Of infuntry. From
1915 to 1861 he served in various capaoi-
ties in the military service. Ia 1861, when
the war between tho United States and the
Confederate States broke out, he was sta
toned at Los Angeles, CAL lIo offered his
services first to his native State of Pcar-
sylvania and then to the federal government.
The latter accepted them. General Scott
ordered him to Washington and President
Lincoln commissioned him brisalcr.-
general Of volunteers September 23d.
General llancock's 8 command was COM
posed of four rcgimcntslrom pcnnaylya~
MIA, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin
respectively. With these troops lie repair
cd with the army Of the Potomac to the
Peninsula towards tho end of March, 1862.
when General Mcclellan began his incifc--
tual campaign against Richmond from that
direction. His brigade took part in
number of ekirmishcs and partial cngagc-
mcnts that proceeded the battle of Williams.
burg on the 5th Of May. 1t distinguished
itself on that day, General Hancock assulu.
ing personal command and lcadnga charge.
This sharing tho danger of his men was
one Of thefeotuyea of his military career;
he never was unwilling to lead on occasions
when his presence vas needed to encourage
his troops, and both as brisadicr General
and Major general hc gave to his soldiers
the inspiritiug lesson Of example and emu.
lasion.: But a.! Goncrai IIancock's S courage
and skill could not alter The decroes Of fate.
lo retired with the rcst.of tho army of tho
Potomac from tho long. continued bloody
and disastrous seven days fight, leaving
Riobmond in tho hands of her valiant de-
Tenders, but enjoying for himself tho cnvi--
able consciousness of having deserved well
OF his country. The testimony to his de-
votion was shown when, after tho baltic Of
Malvern Hill, General Mcclellan recon-
mendcd that he bo promoted to the rank Of
major general Of volunteers, and at the
same Lmc his services in this most active
of campaigns were furthcr,rcwardcd by His
obtaining tho successive breycts of Major
lieutenant colonel and coloucl in tho rcgu-
lar army.
.I,ho months of August aud Soptcmber.
1862, found Genera! Hancock With his b,i,
gade at CcntvcviIlc, serving under popo.
lie fought at South Mountain and a0ain
on September 18th, ot AnteSam. In this
baltic iol the general commanding the first
division OF the second army corps. Duriue
the progress OF the battle General Hancock
was appointed to tho command Of tho di-
vislQn, apd thus began his connection with
tho second corps, Of which, in tho course of
time, he became the commandor.
llc'was commissioned major general of
volunteers in the month Of November, and
at the head of his division he participated
in tho battle of Fredericksburg on Dcccm
bor 18th; here he was slightly wounded
Ho shared in the defeat Of Hooker at Chon
celorsviIlo in 1868, and his division did
cfcctnal service in staying The i'll fortunes
of The day by protecting tho rear of tho re-
treating Union troops. In tho month of
Juno Of tho same year ho, was assigned to
the command Of tho sccor army corps.
Wo next hear of uaL> . at tho great
battle of Gettysburg which, by some North
crn authorities, is held to hayo been tho
pivotal ,cohhictof the war. Tho rotrcating
Uhioh forces were stayed at this point by
his adyicc, and horc it was that General
Meade, who was in general command, de-
tormirod to make stand against Goncral
Lees pursuinSatDy.. JOn tho first day of
tho battle, July fst, hc was in immediate
command unii tho arrival Of Meade. On
tho second day his corps did exceptional
service and was Engaged with General Long.
streets corps. Ifo had command of tho