Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-07-02
seleetcd Mistrllamp.
WINFIELD s. HANCOCK.
A Stirring and Eventful Life.
MS EARLY MILITARY CAREER.

General Winfield Scott Hancock, the Dem
Ocratic nominee for President of the United
States, was born in Montgomery county,
Pennsylvania, February IA, 1924 lie re-
ceiyed his education ut Norristown, pa
Academy. In 1910 he was appointed Il ca
Diet at the United States Military Academy,
from whence he was graduated, and pro
NOTED in the army July /, 1874, as brevet
second lieutenant in the sixth infantry. For
more than two years after his graduation he
served on frontier duty, receiving his full
commission Of second lieutenant in 1916. In
lS47 and lS4S he served in the war with
Mexico being engaged in the defense ofcon-
yoy on the National Bridge, August ~, 1947
skirmsh at Plan del Rio, August IS, lS47
capture of San Antonio and battle of Churu-
busco, August 20, 1S47, and was breveted
first lieutenant for gallant conduct in the
battles Of COntreras and Churubuscu. lie
assisted at the capture of the City of Mexico
and was first lieutenant of the Sixth infantry
from January a. 1863, to June, 1860, in the
meantime having served us assistant adjutant
general department of the West, at St
Louis, and rs Captain Of staff and Assistant
Quartermaster was ON duty at Fort Myers
Florida, during hostilites against the Sem
mole Indians. He was at Fort Levenworth
Kansas, quclling disturbances from August
| to December 81, 1857, and after perform.
ing various duties in Utah was chief Quar-
ternastcr Of the southern District of Calilor-
mia, at Los Angeles, from May 8, 1869, TO Au.
gust3, 1861.
MS CIVIL WAR RECORD.
On the breaking out Of the rebellion Han
cock was relieved from duty in California
at his own request, and repairing 10 Wash
ington, applied for active service in the field
and on the 23d Of September, 1861, was APP
pointed u Brigadier General of volunteers
aud served Tor time in the delenses OF
Washington. In the autumn and winter Of
lS6l-62 he commanded II brigade at Lewins.
vile, Va, but in March, 1862, he accomp,l-
MED General McClellan's array to the Pc.
ninsua, being actively engaged with his
command at the siege Of Yorktown and the
subsequent pursuit, which resulted in the
battle Of Williamsburg, in which he led the
brilliant charge which captured Fort Magru.
der. His services at the battle Of Holdings
Farm, Garnetts Hill, Savage Station and
White Oak Swamp, and during the subse-
quent retreat TO llarrison's Landing, were
conspicuous and valuable. The brevets
ofmajor, lieutenant-cOlonel and colonel were
conferred upon him, and was recommended
by General Mcclellan for promotion 10 Ma.
jor General.
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.
He was also in the Maryland campaign
from Scptemberto November, being engaged
in the battles Of Champions Pass, South
Mountain, September IA Antietam, Sep.
TENDER II; reconnaissance from IIarpcr's
Ferry TO Charlestown, Va, October 10th and
llth, and on the 29th of November, 1862
After his march 10 Falmouth, Va, was pro.
NOTED 10 be Major General of Volunteers
In the Rappahannock campaign Of 1923
he participated in the battles OF Fredericks-
burg, December 13, 1862 Chancelloryille
May 2 and A, 1868. In command Of the
Second Army Corps his services in the
Pennsylvania campaign was marked by gal
liant conduct. At the battle of Gettysburg,
July to 3, 1863, he was severely wounded
in the repulse Of Longstreet's attack upon
the left centre, and Congress gave him pub
lie thanks May 30, 1866, "for his gallant,
meritOrious and conspicuous share IN that
great and decisive victory" Because Of his
wound he was disabled from rcsuming act
i've duty until December, 1863. His com
mand at that time being In winter quarters
and inactive, he was charged with recruit
ing the second army corps, (which WAS
plHtN uliiltl nlr Nbllillihlhs ilH BIthtItIJu-
tatiOn and popularity made his mission emf
nently successful, and at New York, Phila-
delphia Boston, Albany and other places he
was rendered public receptions and the free
dom Of the cities.
THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN
lie was on recruiting service until March
1864, when he entered upon the campaign
in Virginia Of that year, IN command VI the
Second Army Corps, and was engaged in
the battles Of the Wilderness, May 5.7. AZ
the battle Of the Po (May l0) he commanded
the Second and Fifth Army Corps, rs well
as the assault near Spotsylyania Court
House, two days later, when he captured the
cnemy's works, taking 1000 prisoners, 10
pieces Of artillery and large quantities Of
small arms. After this brilliant exploit he
participated In the following battles At
North Anna, May 20 " "a; TOlopOtOmy,
May 20 o3l Cold Ilarbor, June 30 ~ be-
fore Petersburg, June 10 b. ~. On account
Of the breaking out Of his old wound be
was granted sick leave though later he com.
mandod NJ the battles Of Deep Bottom, July
"a and - and August 10 and 20, 1854. On
August ~ be was raised 30 the rank u
Brigadier General In tho regular army. lie
subsequently fought at the battle u Boyd.
ton Plank Road, October ~, 1854 Siege Of
Petersburg, November, n, and returned b.
Washington aud Organized the First Army
Corps Of Veterans from November "a, 1864
to February ~, 1865.
AFTER rnE WAR
When the assassination Of Mr. Lincoln