The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-18
GEN. HANCOCK DEAD.
The Union Loses Soldier and Patriot,
..and tho South a:Eriend.

Gen. Hancock who, as stated last week
died on February,9th. Gen. Hancock's
death was the result of q malignant car
buncle on the back Of his neck, which
had confined him to his bed for several
days. No serious alarm was felt, how.
ever, until shortly before he expired:
Few men have served their country
better than Winfield S. Hancock, and
few deserve more from their countrymen
A Zig man, with big head, a big heart
and big brain, Hancock was the very
perspni6cation of honor, honesty and
capacity.
Winfield Scott Hancock WAS born in
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
February IS, 1924, and was therefore
nearly 62 years of age. His mothers
father was o Revolutionary soldier and
was captured at sea and confined in the
Dartsnoor prison, England. His great
grandfather on his mothers side was 8
soldier under Washington and rendered
good service, dying at the close of the
Revolution from exposure and hardships
endured in the field. Hancock's father
served in the war of 1872 and afterwards
became lawyer Of distinction in Mont
gomery County, Pennsylvania. At the
age of 16 Hancock was sent to West
Point, and had for classmates U. S
Grant, George B. Mcclellan, J. F. Rey.
nolds, J. L. Reno, Burnside, Franklin
and w. F. Smith. He graduated in
1914, June 80, and in 1856 served with
his regiment in the Indian Territory a;
second lieutenant of the 9th infantry
In 1S47 we find him in Mexico, and
conspicuous for gallantry at the Natural
Bridge, San Antonio, Contreras, Cheru.
busco, Molino del Rey and the capture
Of the City of Mexico. He was breveted
for gaLlantry at the battles of Contreras
and Cherubusco. In 1S49 and 1850 he
served with his regiment as quartermastel
and aGjutant, and in the Fall of 1856
was married at St. Louis to Miss Almira
Russell, the daughter of a prominent
merchant of that city. He took part in
several Indian campaigns in the West,
and in lS47 was engaged in the Southern
Florida war. He served in the expedi.
ton against Utah, and in 1859 went to
California.
Upon the secession of the Southern
States he took high ground in favor oi
the Union and did much in 1861 to
check the secession. spirit then seizing
upon California. He applied to Cover.
nor Curtin, Of Pennsylvania, for a com.
mission in the volunteers, but the Cover.
nor being slow in replying to his appli.
cation he obtained o leave of absence
and came East. His earnestness impress.
ed Gen. Scott, who ordered him to report
to Gen. Mcclellan, and on the formal
recommendation of Mcclellan, President
Lincoln, on the 23d Of September, 1861,
commissioned Hancock a brigadicr.gen.
eral of volunteers. He was assigned to
a brigade in the division of Gen. Badly
Smith ard reported for duty at Chain
Bridge, Virginia, in the Army Of the
Potomac.
His first battle in Virginia was at
Warwick Courthouse, near Yorktown
and he led his brigade in person with
distinguished gallantry. At Williams.
burg Hancock bore conspicuous part
The Confederates having repulsed Hook.
er and exposed Hsncock's left flank be
determined to retire and ordered the
batteries hack TO the slope. where his
brigade line stood. The Confederate
commander, seeing the movement, al
once advanced his troops, and they came
down on Hancock's right in two superb
lines of battle, cheering tremendously
and calling out, "Bull Run Bull Run
That flag is ours" Hancock sat on his
horse behind the centre Of his line, wait
ing with imperturbable GOODNESS the
favorable moment. Calling on the men
to stand fast and keep their pieces loaded
Hancock waited until the Confederates
were within one hundred yards, ther
dashing forward on his horse, with heac
barred and swinging his bat, he shouted
"Forward! forward forward!" The
men saw the towering form of theii
General leaiing them, and springing up
with shout that made the hills ring
they precipitated themselves upon thei
assailants. The Confederates faltered
halted tor g. moment, wavered, and ther
fell back slowly. Every inch Of grount
was stubbornly contested still Hancock
forced them off the field, nor did they
again advance until the Union reinforce
ments came up and rendered the victory
secure. 1t was almost night, and NJ
pursuit could be ordered in the darkness
The action of Hancock had rendered
Williamsburg untenable, and that night
the Confederates abandoned it. Han
cock 8 name was heralded from Maine t.
California, and in few hours, from ar
unknown subordinate, he had leaped into
fame and assumed a national reputation
Mcclellan telegraphed the President
"Hancock was superb to day." au expires
sion which all who SAW him towering
above his men, leading them to battle
knew to be only just.
On the 9th of June, 1862, Hancock
who was then at Golding's Farm, in tb'
Peninsula, received severe attack from
the Confeder,tes. He rcpulsed it ant
continued the fighting far into the night
the contendinI, forces firing at each othe
at close quarters in the dark. This battle
of Hancock's was one of the grandes
spectaces of thc war, and will never b.
be forgotten by the Army of the Poto
moo On tha oSth of June 1872. Han