The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-01

HIS LIFE AND CHARACTER.
His Army gervica OF Th.rty-aiz Years and
Iis Record ae o Champion OF Civil Law
How, as e Hard-FSghtins General, he be-
came Shield for his Native state-Per-
sonni Traits.
Few men have served their country BET
ter th an Winfield s.. Hancock, and few
deserve moro from their countrymen.
big man, with big head, big heart
and big brain, Hancock is the very
peraonification of honor, honesty and
capacity. Gallant and unassuming, q
soldier in three wars, the hero of a hun.
dred battles, he fs q man on whom oil
Democrats can consistently unto for
President, and who, as G candidate. will
undoubtedly command larger degree of
respect and support from Republicans
than any other man In the Democratic
party. Clear-headed and self-reliant,
his career as q judicial statesman and
military governor, while In command OF
Louisiana and Texas, gives evidence
that, IL strong man Ia needed for Pres-
dent, there Is no man in the nation moro
it for that position than Winfield s. Han
cook. With him as their candidate, the
Democrats will have nothing to explain or
defend, and can proudly point to his re-
that or the Republican candidate. The
people OF this country will not soon forget
there was day in It's history when, IL Gen.
Hancock had not shown the highest ca
pacity as q military commander, the
fate Of the Union would have been
scaled. It was on that day when the
gallant Gen. Reynolds fell ut Gettys-
burg, and Gen. Lees forces wore driving
back the Union army. It was Hancock
who, at this critical moment, precipita-
ted his corps like thunderbolt upon the
victorious but wearied Confederate COL
1ms, buried them back, and, seizing
wrested order from confusion and re-.
stored confidence to the half. beaten Un-
ion army.
A YOUNG PENNsYLvANIAN.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born In
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
February ID. 1924, and is therefore fifty.
six years OF age His mother's father
was Revolutionary soldier and was cap.
| tured ut sea and confined in the Dartmoor
Prison, England. His great grandfather
on his mothers side. was soldier
| under Washington and rendered good
service dying ut the close of the Revo-
luton from exposure and hardships en-
dured in the field. Hancock's father
served in tho War of 1912 and afterwards
became lawyer of distinction In Mont
gomory County, Pennsylvania. At the
age OF sixteen Hancock was sent to West
Point, and had for classmates U. s..
Grant, George B. Mcclellan, j. f. Rey.
uelds, j. l.. Reno, burnside, Franklin
and w. II. Smith. He graduated in 1874,
June 30, and in 1896 served with his
regiment in the Indian Territory as @
In lS47 we find him in Mexico, and
conspicuous for gallantry at the Natural
Bridge, San Antonio, Contreras, Cheru-
busco. Mollno del Roy and the capture
Of the City Of Mexico. he was breveted
for gallantry at the battles of Contreras
and Cherubusco. In I54o and 1850 he
served with his regiment as quartermas-
ter and adjutant, and in the fall of 1850
was married at 81. Louis to Miss Almira
Russell, the daughter of O prominent
merchant of that city. He took part In
several Indian campaigns in the West
and In 1857 was engaged liz the Southern
Florida war. He served in the expedi-
ton against Utah, and In 1859 went to
California.
Upon the SECESSION OF the Southern
States, he took high ground In favor OF
the Union and did much in 1851 TO
cheok the secession spirit thon seizing
upon California. He applied to Clover.
nor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, for o com.
mission In the volunteers, but the Gov
ernor being slow in replying to his an.
plication he obtained leave of absence
and came East. His earnestness inn
pressed Gen. Scott, who ordered him to
Gen. Mcclellan, and on the formal re-
commendation OF Mcclellan, President
Lincoln. on the Esd of September, 1861,
commissioned Hancock q Brigadier..
General of Volunteers. He wsa assigned
TO O brigade in the division OF Gen.
Baldy Smith and reported for duty at
ynsin Bridge. Virginia. In the Army of
tho Potomac.
HIS FIRST RATTLE.
His first battle in Virginia was at War.
wick Courthouse, near Yorktown, and
ne lea his brigade In person with distin-
Hancock bore o Conspicuous part. The
Confederates having repulsed Hooker
and exposed Hancoek'a left flank he dc.
termined TO retire and ordered the bat:
teries back to tho slope, where his brig
ade line stood. The Confederate com.
mandsr seeing the movement, ut once
advanced his troops, and they came
down on Hancock'a in two eupssb lines
OF battle, cheering tremendously and
calling out, Bull Runi Bull RUM
Thst dag il ours. :, Hancock sat on his
horse behind the centre of his line,
tho favorable moment Calling on the
men to stand FIST aud keep their pieces
loaded, Hancock waited until the Confad.
erntes wegasw itiiin 100 yards, then
dazhing forward On his hcsse, with 5i1aii
barred end swinging his hat, he shouted: (,
Forward forward I forward r. The men
!: : y: ss:s. covering form OF their General
leading them, and apringing up, with q
shout that nude the hills ring, they pre-.
cipstated themselves upon their Sssail.
ants. Tho Confedefates filtered, halted
for o moment, wavered and then fsll
bacl, sloTly Every inch Of ground was
forced Them OF the fold, nor did they
again advance until the Union Reinforced
ments came mp and rendered the victory
secure. ~ WIS almost night, ana no i
pursuit could be ordered in tho
darkness. The action OF Hancock hal
rendered w lianishurg uStenable, and
It, Hancocki q name Wns heraiSiefI from
Maine 20 California;, and In few hours,
50 TtsiTI55, NO fiau
leEp5d into fame ana es9um6d a Milton.
al reputation. Mcclellan talerraphed /
the President, tsHancock was superb to-
day. al xpression which all WHO saw
him towering above his men, leading
tliom TO bestle, 1taew TO DO only just.
iiIs sERvtsn IN TnR PENINSULA.
On the 9th of June, 1852. fiancoc,,.
wtio Svas then at Go1din1ss Farm: in she
Peninsula, received Il severe attacs, fr..,,
tho Confederates. he repulsed it and
continued the dghting far into the night,
the contending i0rces firing ct
Zach other ct close quarters In tho dark.
This battle OF HancoclS's was one OF
the grendest spectacles aef tho war.
ana VIII never bo forgot!ef bv Tho
Army OF the Potomac. On tho 28th OF
! JTifiaS 1879, dHJIUuCk TSi5 IlS7TTiiy iffrs--
"a at SSarnett' q Hill, as no was &C Savage
Stallion on the 2eth and as White Oak
M Efr.a