Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-08-07
GEN. HANCOCK.
Biography Of the Democratic Candi.
date for President-lIis Exploits i'm
War-llis Record i'm Peace.


Winfield Scott Hancock is soldier by
Inheritance as well as by experience
One of his Grandfathers WAS captured at
sea during the Revolution, and suffered
the miseries Of the infamous Dartmoor
prison. His mothers father and grand
father served as soldiers in the Revolu-
ton, the former enlisting at the age of
ID, the latter dying from the exposure
and har,lships of the campaign soon after
the close of the war. His father, a native
of Montgomery Ccanty. Pennsylvania,
was a soldier in the war of 1872, and sub
sequently became a prominent lawyer
1t was in this county, February Is, 1924,
that young Hancock was born and named
for the distinguished soldier of Lundy's
Lane. He is. therefore, little more
than J6 years of age.
HIS EARLY LIFE
Was passed at Norristown, Pennsylvania,
and he WAS educated at the academy in
that place He WAS a studious. thought
ful boy, whose selection to read the Dec
laration of independence one Fourth Of
July. when he was II years of age, was
one II his first honors. With that
ancestry it was almost impossible that
the youth should look forward to any
but Il military career, and the next year he
was appointed to the Military Academy
of West Point.
HIS CLASS SS-MATES-MEXICAN WAR.
He took his high rank as a scholar,
graduating number eighteen in his class.
Among his fellow cadets were U. $.
Grant, Geo. B. Mcclellan, John F. Rey-
nolas tkilled ut Gettysburg), j. l.. Reno
(killed at South Mountain), Burnside,
VIM. b. Franklin, Badly" Smith, both
of whom have been present at Cincinnati,
and LOngstreet, Stonewall" jackson,
and the two Hills. In the Mexican War
he was conspicuous for gallantry at San
Antonia, Contreras. Cherubusco. Molino
del Rey and the assault and capture of
the City of Mexico. His first hrevet was
given him August 90. 1917, for gal
lantry and meritorious conduct at Con
treras and Cherubusco"
THE OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION.
For the next ten wears he served rs
quartermaster and adiutant in the West,
in the Indian war in Florida, the Utah
Expedition and at the outbreak of the
Rebellion was stationed at Los Angeles.
When Sumter was fired upon, Southern
California was infused with Southern
sympathies. but in spite of the unpopu-
larity. Hancock, by public speeches and
example. applied himself to sustaining
and spreading Union sentiments. His
services were of great value in preserving
California to the Union. In the mean
time he applied to the Governor of Penn
sylvania for command of some of the
troops that were to be raised in his
native State, but no ready compliance
being made to his request, he asked
General Scott to order him to the East
Scott. well acquainted with his brilliant
record in Mexico. was glad to command
his services, and his soldierly aspect and
hearing at Washington at once COM
mended him to the notice of President
Lincoln. On the express request of Nc
Clellan he was commissioned Brigadier-
General and assigned to the division of
the Army Of the Potomac under COM
mand of g Badly" Smith and took up his
headquarters at Chain Bridge.
HIS FIRST CAMPAIGNS.
His command consisted of four regi-
ments from New York, and one each from
Pennsylvania, Maine and Wisconsin.
He at once set to work disciplining and
drilling them for effective service. The
brigade became conspicuous in the ad-
vance upon Yorktown along the James
River road from the middle of April to
the Sd of May, being constantly on duty
<,1,s I'll,
enemy. On the 5th of May. after hold
ing strong position before Fort Magru-
der and vainly calling for reinforcements,
he was attacked by two brigades of
Early's troops. As they came up Han
cock watched his opportunity and dashed
forward on his horse, with head barred,
he swung his hat, shouting Forward!
Forward For Gods sake forward!"
His men, thus encouraged, marched on
rs if in parade, the enemy's line faltered,
retreated-and the field was won. This
gallant act introduced him to the Amer
lean public. In telegraphing the
success to the President, Mcclellan said:
"Hancock was superb"
During the campaign of the Peninsula;
at Antietam, after which he received his
commission as Major-General; at Fred
ricksburg and Charlottesville, he was
always distinguished for his bravery, his
cOolness and the effective disposition of
his troops.
GETTYSBUkG.
Both on the first and second days at
Gettysburg he successfully repelled the
assaults made upon his position. Indeed
it was he who, being in the advance, and
surveying the situation, sent back word
to Gen. Meade that Gettysburg was the
place for the fight and Meade at once
acted on his information.
On the third day, Hancock's lines sus-
tanned cannonade of two hours from 100
guns, under cover of which Longstreet's
corps of eighteen thousand men were
massed, like Napoleon's Old Guard at
Waterloo, for final assault on the
Union position. During this cannonade,
and during the infantry attack that
followed it, Hancock rode up and down
his line, from Cemetery Hill toward
Roundtop, encouraging his men by his
voice to stand firm and repulse this COM
ing attack, and when Longstreet at last
1arnaha1 6