The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-03
A Patriotic BOyhOOd, Followed by
Long, Active, and Valuable
Military Service.


Military Service.
Winfield Scott Hancock is a soldier in
deed as well as in name, and the more bis
record is searched the more of credit will be
divulged. His immediate ancestors were
stalwart early settlers in Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Franklin Hancock, his ia her,
was of mixed English, Scotch, and Irish
blood. His progentors were of excellent
Revolutionary renown. His mother was of
Pennsylvania decent too. The General
himself may have Inherited desirable Quak-
er, Episcopalian, and Baptist qualities, for
those religious faiths were repre5ented in his
grandfathers and grandmothers. lie was
born in what had been the family residence
of the Hancocks for q century in Hatfield
township, Montgomery County, Pa, in a
picturesque old house, with 1854 carved as
an age mark on its newest half, and the
more ancient tracing of time on the other, a
building on which the cuts of Indian torha-
hawks had recorded an attack in the early
French. Indian wars.
A grandfather on the fathers side, during
the revolution, was captured at sea, claimed
as British subject, and taken to England
for imprisonment. great-grandlather on
the mothers side died from exposure on the
field. His mothers father receiveda special
pension for gallantry in the Continental
army. The Generals father became sol
dier in 1872, though only l6 years old, and
returned to the field five times by re-enlist-
inent Heroic blood was thus bequeathed
to the man who is to be the President of the
United States of America.
PATRIOTIC BoYHooD AND EARLY MANHOOD.
The rearing place of the Democratic can
didate was Norristown, Pa, where as a boy
he daily saw the scene Of WashingtOn's gal
liant crossing oft the Schuylkill, IN the crNcial
campaign of Valley Forge. Incentives to
patriotism were not wasted on his boyhood.
He was born in 1924 (hence is now SO years
old), and in 1889 he was chosen to read the
Declaration of Independence at county
celebration of the Fourth of July. In the
following year, when he was sixteen, he en-
tered the United States Military Academy
at West Point, his spirit and ability having
recommended him for that preferment.
Among his cadet companions were the lads
who subsequently became Gems. Longstreet,
Burnside, Hill, Mcclellan, Grant, jackson,
and Reynolds. Nature had balanced his
mental and physical qualities well, and he
became, without special effort, recognized
leader of his comrades. He was graduated
in 1914, and was at orce assigned to the
Sixth Infantry. lie was yet kardly nbre
than boy, being only twenty but he had
no chance to figure as a soldier on parlor
carpets, being despatched at once to the
Western frontier TO fight indians. His hard
ening service in the Indian Territory lasted
several years and earned him promotion
to Second Lieutenancy.
The war with Mexico gave young Lieut..
Hancock an opportunity tn distinguish him
self He went to Mexico with his regiment,
and fought at San Antonia, Cherubusco,
Moino del Rey, and the City of Mexico.
Throughout the campaign he was brave and
useful enough to be awarded, at the close of
the war, the brevet of First Lieutenant "lor
gallant and meHitorious conduct" on certain
specified occasions At Contreras and Cher
ubusco he "behaved in the handsomest man
ner," TO use the language of an official re.
port. He served while as Adjutant, and
was in 1855 made Assistant Adjutant-Gen-
erul of the Department of the West While
Sling that position at st. Louis, he rdarried
a daughter Of Mr. Samuel Russell, leading
merchant. At about the same time ne was
promoted to a Captaincy. This was dis
tngushing honor for Il man only g. years
old. He served in southern Florida during
the Indian war of 1867, and then went to
Kansas !br delicate as well as active duty.
His next serSice Was in the military expe-
dition to Utah, under Harney, and afterward
he rode overland to California, where he
was stationed for the next few years
UNHEsTATNGLY UNION MAN.
At the outbreak of the rebellion Captain
Hancock was OF duty at Los Angeles, Cal.
He at once took a determined stand as a
Union man, doing much by private infu-
ence and public speeches to stay Tie tide OF
secession feeling on the Pacific coast. II is
thought that TO his influence, more than 10
anything else, was due the salvation of the
State rom rebellion. His public speeches
were many and potent. But ne was not con-
tent with words On learning Of the first
shot at Sdmter, he wrote TO Gov. Curtin, OF
Pennsylvania, for a commission Of troops
raised in his native State; but, not receiving
a speedy answer, be impatiently addressed
letter 10 Gen. Scott, at Washington, who
was then General-in- Chief, demanding ac-
| tive service. Gen. Scott had learned his
merits in Mexico, and ordered him Imme-
diately to the East. Upon arrival in Wash
| ngton he was requested 10 report TO Gen,
/ Mcclellan, at whose instance President Lin
coin appointed him a Brigadier General OF
/ Volunteers. He was assigned to the divls-
| ion of Gen. Smith in the Army Of the Poto-
mac. The four regiments of his brigade were
well officered of excellent material and their
new commander after period of tuition felt
that he could rely upon them in any emer-
/ gency' Gen. Hancock served with distinc-
1 ton in all the battles of the Peninsula, but
| it was at Williamsburg that his splendid
! generalship made itself most conspicuous.
Gen. Mcclellan, in his dispatch 10 the
/ President, said: "Hancock was superb" and
/ his name was echoed from the Atlantic to
/ the Pacific.
MILITARY HoNoRs Won.
Gen. Hancock was again and again con
| spcuousin spirited engagements. After that
/ of Malvern Hill he was created Major Gen
eral Of Volunteers, and breveted successive
/ ly Major Lieutenant-Colonel, and Colonel
| in the regular army, At the first Freder
icksburg fight his uniform was perforated
| with bullets, but he received only slight
/ flesh wound. Soon after TIE battle of Chan
| cellorsville he was placed in command ol
| the Second Corps, on the retirement Of
/ Couch, When the news came Of the open
ing ofthe fight at Gettysburg, he was with
Gen. Meade at Taneytown, aud was ordered
by him 10 take command of all the forces on
the field there, with such others as might
arrive. Gen. Reynolds, who commanded
the First Corps, had been killed. aud thai
body under Doubleday, with the Eleventh
under Howard, had been forced 10 retreat
Hancock knew that Meade intended 10 fgh
the battle ON the line Of Pipe Greek, bu
sent him word by his senior aid, Majol