The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-03-31
GATH ON HANCOCK.

thus described:
"The next Presidential candidate o
his party is Winfield Scott HancocF
the ranking Major General of the ar
my. Though IA citizen of Pennsyfva
MIA, he is in almost all respects of fel
iowship and association a New Yorker
Ynu will find him in this city every
day at the United States Headquarters
| on Governors Island, out in The Bay
of New York, about half a mile from
the final point of this city. Here thert
has been some kind Of occupation
since 1923, aud where the British
Government erected Notifications be-
fore the Revolution is one of our old
fashioned fortresses, put up in the
time of James Monroe, consisting OF a
stone fort with stone ditch, covered
barracks, bomb-prOofs, &c, aud heavy
guns, but next to useless ut pfessut OH
account of its proximity to the city
This pretty island of perhaps thirty
acres in extent also contains number
nf officers houses on its green declivi-
ties. In one of these I've Hancock
aud Ills family, in another is his office
as modore- Chief of the great
Military Department of the Atlantic.
To lock at, though fine looking
man, he is Que of the most uuobsru-
sive in the country. He is the princi-
pal officer aud hero of the Atlantic
Slope, having been i'll more battles
and with more uniform success, and
maintaining a more evenly high rank
than any map produced in the East.
To pass aver his services early in
the war, when he came from Los
Angeles. in Southern California, a
young Quartermaster' Captain, tn
tender his sword, and speedily became
u General for his work in McClellan's
campaign aud at Gettysburg did the
magnificent work, commanding on the
field and repelliDg the great onset of
Longstreet's divisions, we come to his
relations with Grant. When that off
Ger arrived from the West and took
command of the army of the Potomac.
he weeded out its super t1nous corps
commanders and rednced the whole
army 70 three corps aud q reserve
corps. choosing Hancock. Warren and
Sedgwick. OF these only Hancock
went straight through the last Thirteen
mouths of the conflict, keeping every
laurel. At the close of the war, when
there was revealed to the country as
the most ilustri0us names Grant,
Sherman, Thomas and Sheridan, the
next name, by universal consent, was
Hancock. While he differed with
General Grant on administration in
the South, he differed iu manly, SOL
die,ly way, aud the self-respect of the
two was never broken. When the
came to raise Hancock to
the regular army rank he deserved
Grant quietly rendered it. and Han.
cock was not 80 stiff but he gave his
thanks in youthful, hearty way.
Ii is the belief in Hancock's circle
that Grant will be the Republican can
dinate. and that is where they expect
Gen. Hancock will be in request by
the Democratic convention. No per
so., not Tom Bayard, is more prudent
aud considerable than Hancock in view
nf rii> possible honor. It's only inhu
ence upon him is to make him perfect
|, silent on the Presidential! question,
aud to warn his Immediate riends -
those over whom he has some control
that be will not permit any drnm-
ming and fling or other directed work
t" be done which shall get up !, Han
cock "bnom."
The name of every great battle in
the East is inscribed on Haucock's flags
Hills, AHtictam. Gcttys
bpIg, the Wilderness. a more beanti.
tul man To the eye never wore Il uni
form. He is perfectly straight, ii
blonde, with a rich skin. aud blue eyes.
and light hair. now turning gray, and
his address il both rourtiy aud simple.
A child would delight to hear him talk.
He married in Missouri. like Grant.
when a young officer there. His cir
cums'ances are ordinary; | doubt
whether he is worth $4,000 all told
He has. or had, some land in Missouri,
hut whether it is yet valuable Is not
known.
He was born on the banks Of the
crystal Schnylkill river, in the same
county from which came the mother of
Gen. Grane-a region settled by old
Germans. Welsh and Irish. Norris
Gown. which stands On the bold hills
in sight of the beautiful Chester val
ley, and is filled with semiaarles of
learning and colleges, was the scene of
Hancock's youth. He has been in the
Mexican war, in Indian Fl .hting in
and in the rebellion. Not
he will yet fill the place
occupied by his namesake only twenty
years ago of the ranking officer of the
United States army, unless he should
become President.
General Hancock comes over to New
York City almost every day, and l be-
lieve he has an Office somewhere up
town. He is on excellent terms with
the leading volunteer officers of the
New York Militia. and CO operates
with them in their parades, shooting
etc. He spends considerable
time when he has it to spend. at the
Army and Navy club, on Thirtieth
street, of which he is President. He
10 favored guest at the houses of
some of the best people in New York
but makes no pretension to wealth or
style. There is good deal of Grants
amiability in Hancock's desire to
please people socially, and he will go
to the wedding of almost any young
fellow officer. The regard of his men
for him is boundless. While he would
perhaps draw as many votes in New
York as any Democrat he would poll
an immense vote in Pennsylvania, for
he is not repuguant to the good sense
and feeling of the Republican SOL
diery, having never stepped ont of the
course of conviction to recommend
himself to one party or the other.
L Al l. l.. L