The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-02
WINFIELD SCOTTHANCOCK.
r,pry lrFE-WEsT PoINT-THE WAR WITH
MEXICO.

Winfield Scott Hancock comes, SAYS a
recent writer, Of Revolutionary and pa
,-;otic ancestry. During the struggle of
,be colonies with the mother country his
raternal grandfather experienced the Sc
tsrities of the English authorities, having
baen captured at sea, claimed as q British
subject and imprisoned in the famous
Dsrtmoor prison, in England. His mater
nal grandfather and great grandfather
served in the Revolutionary army with
hdelitv. the former taking up arms when
mere bov of fifteen. Both took part in
important engagements, the elder, In fact,
rivinr his life for his country and dying
Al the close OF the war from the effects of
exposure and hardship in the field. Han
,pcks father was q native of Montgomery
county. Pa, and he, too, was a soldier in
the war of 1912, becoming afterward a
awver of prominence. Here Winfield
Scott Hancock was born on the l4th of
February. 1924. His early life was passed
q, Ncrristown, and his early education
vas received at the academy in that place.
I; L recorded of him that, while boy, he
Fss noted for his studious, thoughtful
xays He was promising student, and,
among the youth of his own age, was
looked up to with respect and reverenced
s. leader. When only fifteen years old
tie honor OF reading the Declaration of
INDEPENDENCE at public celebration of
the national anniversary was conferred on
hir. not less on account of his illustrious
descent than for the abilities he had dis
Ilaye.l As student. With such a family
history il might be expected that the boy
would choose the profession of arms At
tie aye Of sixteen he received the appoint
;nent to the Military Academy at West
Pinl. passed his examination with credit
AMI entered on the service of his country.
He found himself in the National Acad.
CIV the associate of young men who, like
himself were destined to be famous in the
countrys history. Among his fellow ca
iets were L. ) Grant. George B. McClel-
an John F. Reynolds, (who fell on the
drsi iay at Gettysburg,) J. L. Reno, (who
iell at south Mountain,) Burnside, Frank
ii and William +. (Baldy) Smith, all af-
ierward distinguished Union Generals,
4ni among those distinguished in the cause
q the South, Longstreet, "Stonewall
Jackson. the two Hills and others of less
'-minence. Surrounded by such competi-
,ors was the character of the boy devel-
ped and strengthened He took higher
han average rank as a scholar, gradua-
ting in a large class as number eighteen
ia the 30th day of June, 1874, receiving
The commission of Brevet Second Lieuten-
ant Of the Sixth Infantry For the two
following years he served with his regi-
ment in the Indian Territory The war
with Mexico gave him the first opportu-
nifty for distinction as a soldier The
young Second Lieutenant won his spurs
at the National Bridge, and he was con-
spicuous for gallantry at San Antonio,
COntreras, Cherubusco. Molino del Rev
and the assault and csptureI of the city of
Mexico. His first brevet was given him
August 20, ls47, for g gallant and merito-
nous conduct at COntreras and Cheru-
busco a formula which signifies the
highest cause for which advancement in
rank NAV be conferred. Although only
second Lieutenant, he was in command of
Lii company, and the official report of his /
behavior was complimentary in the ex-
ireme.
From lSis TO IS49 he served as regi-
mental Quarter-master, and thence to 1855
Is AdJutant, having received his full
rank of First Lieutenant in 1853. His
marriage with Miss Russell, the beautiful
daughter of prominent merchant in St.
Louis, took place in 1850. In 1855, while
serving as Assistant Adjutant- General of
the Department of the West, he was pro-
NOTED to the rank Of Captain and Assis-
tant Quarter-master, serving in Southern
Florida in the Indian War of ls56-7.-
The Kansas troubles in 1857 found him in
that Territory. He served in the expedi-
ton to Utah and the subsequent over
land march TO California, and the out
break Of the rebellion fonnd him stationed
at Los Angeles.
When the news of the momentous
struggle which the firing of Fort Sumter
announced to the world to- have begun
reached the Pacific slope, the intrinsic
character Of the man at once displayed
itself Southern California was almost
as little disposed to be loyal as any
Southern State. 1t was not a popular
thing for a man to advocate Union SEN
timents there Secession opinion was
everywhere rampant, and there was inn
mlnent danger that civil war would be
Inaugurated west as well as east of the
AeDSAl nount1f0t. 1110COck OSCkaFeO
himself without hesitation. He first ap-
Piled to the Governor of his native State
Tor command among the troops being
raised in Pennsylvania, and while wait
ing an answer he applied himself to sus-
tanning and spreading Union sentiments
IN California, by public speeches and by
loyal example. His services were of the
greatest value in preserving California to
the Union. But the Governor Of his own
State was slow in responding to Captain
Hancoeks request, and unable to brook
delay, burning to serve his country on
the held, he applied to the General Of the
army at Washington to be ordered east
for active service. It was Characteristic
and fortunate step for the young subor-
dinate. Regular army officers of pro-
nOunced loyalty were in demand in the
east then. There was no mistakinq Han
cocks metal, and General Scott. who
knew the impetuous galantry of this
Young officer while serving in his COM
mand in Mexico, at once ordered him
east The earnestness for active employ
nent, the unmistakable loyalty of his
purpose, his brilliant service as . subal-
tern, and his soldierly bearing when he
reported for duty at Washington, brought
him prominently to the notice OF Presi-
dent Lincoln, and, on the formal recon-
mendation of General McC Clellan, who, On
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