The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-29
THE CANDIDATES.
Sketches of the Democratic Nominees
for President and Vice President.
General Winfield Scott Hancock, the
Soldier Statesman.
william HI. EngIish, "The Pride of the
HoosIer state"


was born in Montgomery County, Pa February
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. i
His fathers family were Episcopalians and
Friends, and his mothers, Baptists. His
mothers family have resided in Pennsylvania
from the time of William Penn, and have been
living in what is now Montgomery County for
.the past 100 years. In Hatfield Township, may
now be seen the old family homestead, with the
figures 1764 on the gable end of the more re-
cent part the older part built long before, fall
ing into decay.
General Hancock's father was anative of Phila-
delphia, and as boy of fifteen sought the field
when the British threatened the city during the
war Of 1872 1t was at Swede's Ford on the
site of Norristown that Washington had crossed
the Schuyllln in his campaign of Valley Forge,
and it was here in full view of the historic hills
that young Hancock's early years were passed.
Born and raised in a patriotic atmosphere, with
heroic blood in his veins, his martial spirit and
love of justice soon gave promise of the
brilliant future he was destined to achieve.
In 1910 he entered the Military Academy at
West Point, and was there as cadet with
Grant, Mcclellan, Franklin, John F. Reynolds
(who was killed at Gettysburg, Burnside, Reno
(who fell at South -Mountain), Stonewall
Jackson, Longstreet, A. P. Hill, d. 81. Hill and
other officers of distinction on both sides dur
ing the late war. Graduating in 1874, he was
appointed Breyet Second Lieutenant in the
Sixth Infantry, and assigned to duty on the
Western frontier. He participated with his
regiment in the war with Mexico, and was con-
spicuous for his gallantry at San Antonio,
Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, and the assault
and capture of the City of Mexico. He served
either as Regimental Quartermaster or Adju-
tant, from June, 1848, to May, 1855, having
been meanwhile promoted to First Lieutenant.
From June to November of that year he acted
as Assistant Adjutant General of the Depart
ment of the West, headquarters at st. Louis.
Il was there he had married a few years be-
fore, the daughter of Samuel Russell, promi-
nent merchant of that city. Hancock was pro-
NOTED to Captain and Assistant Quartermaster
in the fall of 1855, and served on the staff of
Gen. Harney, in Kansas and Nebraska during
the memorable political troubles of twenty-five
| years ago. Afterward 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 Sump-
/ ter reached his distant post, he sent a request
! to the Governor of his State for assignment to
command of volunteers. There were many
| dlScOrQant elements IN CallIOrlla at LnaC Glne,
and manifest sympathy with secession, which
! threatened to isolate the Golden State from the
| Union. While awaiting reply from the Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania he took an active part
l,-enc-i,rssine and organizing the loyal sent.-
ment.
His influence in Southern California was Of
| signal service in saving the State to the Union.
Impatient at the delay in hearing from the
| Governor, he applied to General Scott to be
ordered East for active duty. His request was
granted, and he was assigned as Chief Quarter
| master on the staff of Gen. Robert Anderson,
who was organizing an army at Louisville, KY,
but before entering on those duties he was
appointed by Mr.. Lincoln a Brigadier General
Of volunteers, and assigned to command in
the Army of the Potomac. The four regiments
composing his brigade were the 5th Wisconsin,
the 9Th Maine, the 49th Pennsylvania, and
the 43d New York. In the spring Of 1852 he
accompanied the Army of the Potomac to the
Peninsula, and was actively engaged in the
| siege of Yorktown during the month of April.
For his gallantry during the siege he was
specially complimented by the dispatches of the
commanding General of the army. The phrase,
sHancock was superb ran throughout the
country, from Maine to California. His subse-
quent conspicuous services at Golding's Farm,
Garnett's Hill, White Oak Swamp, and other
engagements during the Seven Days Fight,
which closed with the victory at Malvern Hill,
led the General-in-Chief to urge his promotion
to Major General of volunteers.
In the fall of 1862, after the return Of the
Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula, he
took part in the movement at Centerville, Va.
In the Maryland campaign, of the same year, he
commanded his brigade at Champions Pass
South Mountain, on the 14th of September,
Three days afterward, on the battlefield Of
Antietam, he was placed in command of Gen.
Richardson's division when that gallant Officer
fell mortally wounded. go
At the battle of Fredericksburg, in December
he led his division in the assault on Marye'i
Heights where he lost half his command il
killed and wounded, and where he and all hi
aids were wounded. At the battle of Chancel
lorsville, in May, 1868, he covered the road
leading toward fredericksburg, where his troop
maintained their position to the last, ant
formed the rear guard of the army In MOVING
off the field The Generals horse was shot un
der him in that battle. Early in June he re
heved General Couch in command OF the x
Corps, and later in the same month was as
signed by Mr.. Lincoln to be its permanen
commander.
Hancock guarded the rear of the army on tn
march to Gettysburg. Reynolds was in ad
vance in command of three army corps, AM
, after he had fallen on the first day, Genera
! Meade sent Hancock forward to take command
of the forces on the battle field. Upon his ar
rival he checked the enemy's advance, and sen
, word to General Meade that the position shoul
be held, as Gettysburg was the point where tn
great impending battle should be fought l.
I accordance with these suggestions Generl
|
second day Hancock commanded the left cent?
of the army, and reconstructed the line c
> battle pierced by the enemy In many places
1 SO that at night his position stood intact as
t the morning. On the third day it was his fol
tune to repulse the assault of Gen. Longstree
but only after a contest Of the most stubbor
and sangunary character. Five Thousand prl
oners, thirty-seven stand of colors, and man
thousand stand of arms were among the trt
phies of this victory. At the moment OF h
n triumph Hancock fell desperately wounded
: While lying on the ground on his line of battl
o he sent an aide to Gen. Meade co-nmandin
q the Army of the Potomac: "Tel Gen. Meade
:, he said, ''the troops under my command hay
: repulsed the enemy's assault and we nay
d gained great victory. The enemy Is now d
q ing in all directions from my front" II
3 officer who conveyed this message to Gener
o Meade, added that Gen. Hancock was DANCE
% ously wounded. 'Say to General Hancock
said General Meade, s'that I am sorry he
" wounded, and that thank him for the count
7. and for myself, for the service he has rendert
1t to-dav." By a joint resolution of Congre
10 General Hancock received the unanimo
: thanks of that body for his "gallant, merit
T. rious and conspicuous share in that great al
T. decisive victory at Gettysburg. The resol
n ton passed by Congress was as follows:
"a ..For the skill and ntroic valor Whlch al Getty
burg. repulsed, defeated and drove back o. on en- a
~ dispIrted, the veteran army OF the reoeihon'
y gratitude of the American people and the thanks
their rep esentatives in Congress likewise dr
" End are hereby rendered to Major General :" ne
y 8. Hancock for his gallant meritoriou~ and co
spcuous share in that great and deci-ive Victory
N After the battle he was borne to the fie
hospital and thence to. his fathers home
Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he lay I
many weeks and suffered great agony from
nl wound. The bullet was finally extracted, b
r. he was unfit for duty until the following 1
- cember. In December, although his wou
= was still unhealed, he reported again at was
ID ington for active duty in the field. At Il
t; time, after the battle of Mine Run, he "
iff prominently talked of in Cabinet councils
a the command Of the Army Of the Potomac, q
1yas ratainad in Washington with that view, 2