The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-02-12
ANOTHER SOLDIER GONE.
GENERAL HANCOCK ADDED TO THE
LIST Or OUR INDUSTRIOUS
DEAD

1
neck. 1t was lanced on January 30th
and as the General was much inconve.
nienced:by its presence he returned TO
New York several days sooner than he
had designed. During the first week
of February the boil had developed
into malignant carbuncle, which sup.
purated constantly and prevented rest
or sleep. DR.. ,Janeway was called in
attendance and it was not until a
marked weakness had resulted from
the presence of the carbuncle that the
surgeon discovered that General Han.
cock was suffering from diabetes and
kidney trouble. DR.. Janeway called
in consultation, Medical Director of
the Department, and DIR. d NJ Slim
son, of New York. The medical men
concluded on Monday that the case
was assuming very serious form.
AT 10 o'clock on Monday night be-
fore going home, Dr. Janeway found
his patient in good spirits and able to
assist himself, and he left him appar-
emily improved and in the charge of
Hospital Steward Robinson. At 6:45
o'clock on Tuesday morning, Mrs.
Hancock dispatched an orderly for DR..
Janeway, as she feared the General
was sinking rapidly. The doctor came
speedily and he found the General in
comatose state, with feeble pulse and
all the premonitory symptoms of death.
The Doctor summoned the two physi-
clans already named. Hypodermic in
jections OF brandy and ether, and of
carbonate of ammonia and brandy
were administered. These, however,
only alleviated the suffering of the sol
dier, who gradually sank away uotil
death was touched at Psi p. IN. as
stated. In the words of DR.. Janeway,
''The General went down to the close
of his life like person descending
flight of stairs"
When death came, the three physi-
clans and the Hospital Steward only
were present.
HIS LIFE AND SERVICES.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born
In Montgomery county, Pa, February
4, 1924, and was therefore within few
days OF 81 years of age. His moth
er's father was a Revolutionary soldier
and was captured at sea and confined
in the Dartmoor prison, England. His
great-grandfather on his mothers side
was also soldier under Washington
and rendered good service. dying at
the tose 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 distinction in Montgomery
county, Pa. At the age of l6 Han
cock was sent to West Point, grad
uated in 1874, June 80, and 1856
served with his regiment in the Indian
Territory as Second Lieutenant of
the Sixth Infantry. In lS4- he was in
Mexico and conspicuous for gal!antry
al the Natural Bridge, San Antonio,
Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino del Rey
and the capture of the City of Mexico.
He was breveted for sallantry at the
battles of Contreras and Cherubusco.
In 1S49 and 1850 he served with his
regiment as Quarter Master and Adiu-
tant, and in the Fall of 1850 was
married at St. Louis to Miss Amira
Russell, the daughter of prominent
merchant of that city. He took part
in several Indian campaigns in the
West, and in 1857 was engaged in the
Southern Florida war. lie served in
the expedition against Utah, and in
1889 went to California.
When he heard OF the rebellion he
took high ground in favor of the Union
and did much in 1861 to check the
secession spirit then seizing on Cali
fornia. He applied to Governor Cur
tin, of Pennsylvania, for commission
in the volunteers, but the Governor
being slow in replying to his applica-
ton, he obtained leave of absence
and came East. His earnestness i'm
pressed General Scott, who ordered
him to report TO General Mcclellan,
and on the formal recommendation of
Mcclellan, President Lincoln, on the
23d of September, 1861, commissioned
Hancock Brigsdier- General of Vol
unteers. He was assigned to brigade
in the division of General Baldy Smith,
and reported for duty at Chain Bridge,
Virginia, in the Army of the Potomac.
He was engaged in the battles of
Warwick Court House. Williamsburg,
South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellors-
vile, Gettysburg, and many others
| | OF tfxySh hnr =.
loomel up before the country as hero.
When he arrived on the field he found
the army in confusion, and a retreat
had already begun. Planting some
infantry and batteries Oh Cemetery Hill
he threw his whole energy into the
battle and checked the enemy. OF
General Hancock s individual action at
Gettysburg it would require a volume
to tell, His was really the action of
the army, and Round Top, Culp's Hill
and Cemetery Heights were bis crea-
tions He sent word to General Meade
that that was the place to fight, and
seizing the favorable positions, with
the eye OF consummate general, hung
on TO them with the advance until
Meade brought up the whole army
and delivered his battle
lie was wounded at Gettysburg and
did not recover from his wound until
December, 1868, when, although still
quite lame, he reported for duty, and
was gent North to recruit his corps. He
was rendered reception at Indepen-
dence Hall by the citizens of Philadel-
phia, and received the hospitalities of
the citizens of Boston, Albany and
New York. In March, 1864, he re-
joined his corps and participated in the
battle of the Wilderness with Grant.
He was a prominent leader all
through the war aud has ever since
shared the honors of the victory with
other great soldiers.
In 1876 he was a strong favorite Of
large portion of the Democratic
party for the Presidential nomination
The obvious strength of Samuel j.
Tilden pointed TO him, however, and
he was nominated. Four years later
his name was again considered. The