Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-25
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GEN.
WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.


WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.
Statesman I'm Peace and a Soldier In
war-His Brilliant Military Achieve
ments In Three Wars His Uniform Re-
spect for the Majesty of Civil Lsw-The
Man Whom the People Will Delight
to Honor.
Few men have served their country bet ter
than Winfield s. Hancock and few deserve
more from their countrymen. A big man,
with big head, a big heart and q big brain,
Hancock is the very personification of honor,
honesty and capacity. Gallant and unas-
summing, a soldier in three wars, the hero of
hundred battles, he is man on whom all
Democrats might consistently unite for
President, and who, as candidate, would
perhaps command larger degree of respect
and support from Republicans than any
other man in the Democratic party. Clear
cial statesman and military governor while
10 command of louisiana and Texas gives
evidence that, if a strong man is needed for
President there is no man in the nation
more fit for that position than Winfield s.
Hancock. With him as the candidate of their
party the Democrats would have nothing to
explain or defend, and could proudly
point to his record and challenge COM
parison of it with that of the Republican
candidate, whoever he might be. The peo-
pie of this country will not soon forget
there was q day in its history when, if Gen
eral Hancock had not shown the highest Ca
pacity as military commander, there might
be no republic to govern. 1t was on that
day when the gallant General Reynolds fell
at Gettysburg and Lees forces were driving
back the Union army. Like thunderbolt
Hancock precipitated his troops upon the
victorious enemy, hurled them back, and
Selling Cemetery Heights and Round Top,
wrested order from confusion and restored
confidence to our half beaten army.
YOUNG PENNSYLVANIA.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born in Mont
gomery county, Pennsylvania, February IA,
1924, and is therefore fifty-six years of age.
His mothers father was revolutionary SOL
der and was captured at sea and confined in
the Dartmoor prison, England. His great
grandfather on his mothers side was also a
soldier under Washington and rendered good
service, dying at the close of the revolution
from exposure aad hardships endured in the
field. Hancock's father served in the war of
1872 and afterwards became lawyer of dis
tinction in Montgomery county, PennsyIva-
MIA. At the age of sixteen Hancock was sent
to West Point, and had for classmates q. s.
Grant, George B. Mcclellan, j. F. Reynolds,
]. L. Reno, Burnside, Franklin and w. F.
Smith. He graduated in 1874, June 80, and
in 1856 served with his regiment in the
Indian Territory as second lieutenant of
the Sixth infantry. In 1847 we find him in
Mexico and conspicuous for gallantry at the
Natural bridge, San Antonio, Contreras,
Cherubusco, Moline del Rey and the capture
of the city of Mexico. He was breveted for
gallautry at the battles of Contreras and
Cherubusco. In 1849 and 1850 he served
with his regiment as quatermaster and adult
ant, and in the fall of 1850 was married at
st. Louis to Miss Almira Russell, the
city. He took part in several Indian cam
paigns in the West, and in 1857 was engaged
in the Southern Florida war. He served in
the expedition against Utah and in 1859
went to California.
When he heard of the rebellion be took
high grounds in favor of the union, and did
much in 1861 to check the secession spirit
then Selling upon California. He applied to
Governor Curtin. of Pennsylvania, for a
commission in the volunteers, but the COVER
nor being slow i'll replying to his application
he obtained leave of absence and came
East. His earnestness impressed General
Scott, who ordered him to report to General
Mcclellan, and on the formal recommends
ton of Mcclellan President Lincoln, on the
23d of September, 1861, commissioned Han
cock brigadier general of volunteers. He
was assigned to a brigade in the division of
General Badly Smith, and reported for duty
at Chain Bridge, Virginia, in the army of the
Potomac.
HIS FIRST BATTLE.
His first battle in the rebellion was at
Warwick court house, near Yorktown, and
he led his brigade in person, driving the en-
envy before him. At Williamsburg Hancock
bore conspicuous part. The rebels having
repulsed Hooker and exposed Hancock's left
flank he determined to retire and ordered the
batteries back to the slope, where his brigade
line stood. The rebel commander, seeing
the movement, at once advanced his troops,
and they came down on Hancock's right in
two superb lines of battle, cheering ire
mendously and calling out, "Bull Run! Bull
Run! That flag is ours" Hancock sat on
his horse behind the centre of his line, wait
ing with imperturbable GOODNESS the favor
able moment. Calling on the men to stand
fast and keep their pieces
loaded, Hancock waited until the
rebels we're within 100 yards, then dash
ing forward on his horse, with head barred
and swinging his hat, he shouted: forward
forward forward % The men saw tia tow
ering form of their General leading them,
and spinging up, with q shout that made the
hills ring, they percipitated themselves upon
the enemy. The great, irregular mass of
rebels faltered, halted for moment, wavered
and then fell back slowly. Every inch of
ground was stubbornly contested; still, Han
cock forced them off the field, nor did they
again advance until the Union reinforce
ments came up and rendered the victory Sc
cure. 1t was almost night when Hancock
repulsed the enemy, and no pursuit could be
ordered in the darkness. The ground was