Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-12

The announcement Of the death of Gen.
Winfield Scott Hancock was received with q
shock on Tuesday evening" for it was not
generally known that he was seriously i'll.
lie died about p. M, at his headquarters on
Governors Island from a malignant carbun-
Gle complicated with kidney difficulty. He
had been to Washington within two weeks on
army business but was suffering at that time
from what he supposed to be a boil on the
back of the neck. As late as last Saturday
he was in his Office attending to routine bust
ness. The symptoms which FIRST alarmed his
doctors we're developed on Sunday.
Gen Hancock was an ideal soldier, and no
general ever commanded the unfailing love
aud devoted admiration Of his men more
completely, or deserved it better, than did
he and this feeling the old Vermont brigade
shared in peculiar degree aud for the best
OF reasons. The sketch of his life which the
Burlington Free Press printed on Wednesday
is admirably concise, and gives due promi
nence to the part which the Vermont troops
had in Gen. Hancocks brilliant career at the
front
"Gen. Hancock was born February H. 1924. in Mont
gomery county, Pennsylvania the son Of well-to-do
farmer, who gave him good school education and
proposed to put him, at l6 years Of age, In dry
goods house In Philadelphia The boy, however, bad
other tastes and sought and secured appointment
to the United States military academy He graduated
from West Point in 1914, and received brevet
ond lieutenant Of the 9Th Infantry and had two years
service the western frontier before the war with
Mexico In this he served with his regiment and was
breveted as first lieutenant for gallant service In the
battles Of Contreras and Cherubusco. He then had
ten years of service in Florida the Western from
tier and in Utah, becoming regimental quartermaster
In 1s4S adjutant IN ls49 and captain and assistant
quart in 1855. In 1859 he stationed in
! California and did much by patriotic and efficient
service to keep that state in the Union during
citing time preceding the outbreak Of the civil war.
! In August, 1861 he was summoned to Washington,
and appointed brigadier-general OF volunteers and
in the organization Of the army under Mcclellan he
was assigned to the command of brigade, under
| Gen. WIN. +. Smith, then 10 command Of the Union
forces stationed at Chain Bridge. The First Vermont
brigade was part Of the same command, and some uf
the Vermont regiments were under him in various
| reconnoissances; aud thus early many Vermont sol
diers learned to know and admire him.
"He distinguished himself at the battle of Williams
burg in May, 1862, aud If Gen. sumner had permitted
the Vermont brigade to reinforce him, he and they
desired, would probably have wiped out the real
guard Of Joe Johnstons army. At Goldings Farm, IN
| front Of Richmond, in June, 1862, the Vermonter,
again fought under him. At Antietam be commanded
division. In Burnside's mad attempt to storm tn,
heights Of Fredericksburg In December 1862 Haucocl
commanded division and showed conspicuous gal
lautry. Under Hooker be was promoted to the com
maud Of the I'd corps. Perhaps the most distinguish
ed service Of his brilliant military career rendered
at Gettysburg. He then commanded the left wing o
the Army OF tue Potomac under General Meade. Dur
ing the grand rebel assault Of the third day he rod
down to the front line the left CENTRE then held b.
the % Vermont brigade. 1t was a spot where til,
bullets flew thicky, aud where no mounted men ba,
appeared for hours while speaking to Geu. Stan
nard, who had just ordered the famous flank attAcl
on pickett's DIVISION sen Hancock was shot from hi
horse and fell into the arms Of Lieuteuants Hooke
aud Benedict Of Stanuards stan. The bleeding from
bis wound, which was very severe one, was stoppe
by Gen. STANDARD aud his aids and by the latter, ate
the repulse Of Picketts charge, he placed ia a.
ambulance and taken to the rear.
This wound disabled him for nearly year but il
May, 1884, he again took the field as commander 0
the 2d corps in Giants overland campaign. In th
bloody battle OF the Wilderness, the Old Vernon
brigade again fought and 1900 Of them fell under Har
cock on the Orange Plank and Brock roads. At Spot
sylyania ten days later, Hancock sormed and carrie
tue famous Salient aud took 1000 rebel prisoners.
Cold Harbor he again distinguished himself, and /
August, 1864, having been major general Of youn
for two years, he was made a brigadierg eueri
10 the regular army for gallant and distipTusbe
services in all the operations Of the Army of the POt
mac in Virginia under Lieut-Gen. Grant" He ais
received the thanks Of Congress for his gallant,
orious and conspicuous share in the great and dec
sive victory of Gettysburg" Gen. Hancocks dsaDil
~ resulting from his wound kept him from ActiS
service in the held during the closing mouths OF II
war. He was made major-general in the regull
army 10 1906 and placed In command OF the NTH mil
tsry district, including Louisiana and Texas on Ii
death of Gen. Meade, several years ago, he al
I pointed to the commani of the military division
the Atlantic and department of the East, with b
s headquarters on Governors Island. In 1880 he WI
nominated for the Presidency by the Democratic pa
ty, but failed to be elected. His most prominent
cent appearance in public was as commander OF II
G military parade at the funeral Of Gen. Graut.
HE married in early manhood Mise Mary Russo
Q daughter Of wealthy merchant of St. Louis. Tn,
had two children, daughter who died in 1875, and
son, who died year or two ago. Gen. Hancock's Ii
was spent in the army, and as soldier he will alwa
n be remembered. He politician ststesmA
and should never have permitted himself to be a p
hticAl candidate. As a soldier his fame is secur
l. What he might have been COMMUNICATIVE chief
o an army In positions such as tried the qualities al
/ gave renown to Grant and Sherman aud Sheridan,
d cannot know; but in every position he held fro
= brgader up, be was model of RAAntry aud eice
l. cy. He remarkably free from the jealouses al
1t i5noble rivalry common in all armies. He
ways willing TO do the best service he could render
~ the position in which he plSced, always manly
magnanmous. He shone especially in battle, comb
n ing personal bravery, quick insight aud the power
70 nstilling the highest ardor and effort IN his soldie
10 He was always admired and trusted by his men, a
If he will be sadly mourned by all who served und
him.
L SIN person, Gen. Hancock, when in his prime, "
% one Of the handsomest men that bestrode huI
or wore uniform. In later life he became very stc
g. In figure. He was at his death Of the thrse ma
IF generals in the United States army the other two
ing Generals John NJ. Sohoheld nd John Pope"