Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-07-08
WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.

THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF OUR NEXT
PRESIDENT.
Few men have served their country better
than Winfield S. Hancock, and few deserve
more from their countrymen. A big man,
with big head, big heart and big brain,
Hancock is the very personiiicatlon OF honor,
honesty and capacity. Gallant and unas.
sumng, a soldier in three wars, the hero OF
a hundred battles, he is the man on whom all
Democrats can consistently unite for Presi-
dent, and who, as candidate, will undoubt
edly command larger degree of respect and
support from Republicans than any other
man in the Democratic Party. Clear
and self freliant his career as judicial states
man and military governor, while in COM
mand of Louisiana and Texas, gives evidence
that if strong man is needed for President,
there is no man in the nation more BIT tor that
position than Winfield S. Hancock. With
him as their candidate, the Democrats will
have nothing to explain or defend, and can
proudly point to his record, and challenge
a comparison of it with the Republican can,
ddate The people of this country will not
soon forget there was a day IN Its history
when, if Gen. Hancock hao not shown the
highest capacity as a military commander,
the fate of the Union would have been sealed.
1t was on that day when the gallant Gen.
Reynolds fell at Gettysburg, and Gen. Lees
forces were driving back the Union army.
1t was Hancock who, at this critical moment,
precipitated his corps like a thunderbolt upon
the victorious but wearied Confederate col,
umns, hurled them back, and, seizing Gene
terry Heights and Round Top, wrested order
from confusion and restored confidence to
the balEbeaten Union army.
YOUNG PENNSYLVANIA.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born in Mont
gomery county, Pennsylvania, February IA,
1924, and is therefore 6fty.six years of age.
His mothers father was Revolutionary
soldier and was captured at sea and confined
in the Dartmoor Prison. England. His great
grandfather on his mothers side, was soldier
under Washington and rendered good service,
diving at the close of the Revolution from ex-
posure and hardships endured in the field.
Hancock's father served in the war of 1912
and afterwards became lawyer of distinct IN
in Montgomery county, Pennsy lvania. t
the age of sixteen Hancock was sent to West
Point, and had for classmates u. S. Grant,
George B. Mcclellan, j. f. Reynolds, }. l..
Reno, Burnside Franklin and w. F. Smith.
He graduated in 1874, June 30, and in lS45 6
served with his regiment in the Indian Terri
tory as second lieutenant in the Sixth In.
fantry. In lS47 we find him in Mexico, and
cons picuous for gallantry at the National
Bridge, San Antonio, Contreras, Chnrubusco,
Molino del Rey and the capture of the City
of Mexico. He was brevetted for galantry
at the battles of Contreras and ChuruLnsco.
In 1S49 and 1850 he served with his regiment
as ouartermaster and adjutant, and in the fall
of 1850 was married in ST.. Louis to Miss
Almira Russell, the daughter of a prominent
merchant of that city. He took part in sew
eral Indian campaigns in the West, and in
1856 was engaged in the Southern Florida
war. He served in the expedition 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 1861 to check the secession
spirit then seiziug upon California. He ap
piled to Governor Curtin, Of Pennsylvania,
for commission in the volunteers, but the
Governor being slow in replying to his ap
plication, he obtained leave of absence and
came East His earnestness impressed Gen.
Scott who ordered him to report to Gen.
Mcclellan, and on the formal recommends.
ton of Mcclellan, President Lincoln, on the
23d of September, 1861, commissioned Han
cock Brgadier- General of Volunteers. He
was assigned to brigade in the division of
Gen. Badly Smith and reported for duty at
Chain Bridge, Virginia, in the army of the
Potomac.
HIS FIRST BATTLE.
His first battle in Virginia was at War
wick Courthouse, near Yorktown, and he led
his brigade in person with distinguished
gallantry. At Williamsburg, Hancock bore a
conspicuous part. The Confederates 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 Confederate COM
mander, seeing the movement, at once ad-
vanced his troops, and they came down on
Hancock's right in two superb lines Of bat
tie, cheering tremendously and calling out
"Bull Run Bull Run That flag is ours"
Hancock sat on his horse behind the centre
of his line waiting with imperturbable cool
ness the favorable moment Calling on the
men to stand fast and keep their pieces load
ed Hancock waited until the Confederates
were within 100 yards, then dashing forward
on his horse, with head barred and swinging
his hat, he shouted Forward forward !"
The men saw the towering form of their
General leading them, and springing up, with
shout that made the hills ring, they precip'
itated themselves upon their assailants. The
Confederates faltered, halted for moment,
wavered and then fell back slowly. Every
inch of ground was stubbornly contested ;
still Hancock forced them off the field, nor
did they again advance until the Union rein
forcements came up and rendered the victory
secure. 1t was almost night, and no pursuit
could be ordered in the darkness. The &C.
ton of Hancock had rendered Williamsburg
untenable, and that night the Confederates
abandoned it. Hancock's name was herald
ed from Maine to California, and in few
hours, from an unknown subordinate, he had
leaped into fame and assumed National
reputation. Mcclellan telegraphed the Pres
ident, "Hancock was superb today" an ex-
preston which all who saw him towering
above his men, leading them to battle; knew
to be only just.
HIS SERVICES IN THE PENINSULA.
On the 9th of June, 1862, Hancock, who
was then at Goldng's Farm, in the Peninsu.
Ia, received severe attack from the Con.
federates. He repulsed it and continued the
fighting far into the night, the contending
forces firing at each other at close quarters in
rrl e II H..