The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-02-12
GENERAL HANCOCK rs DEAD.

w as tHc liteillSenCe WlTeu through
out the United States early Tuesday af-
ternoon, reminding the people that the
galaxy of military genius developed by
the late sever conflict is nearly eXtin-
guished. A few weeks ago General Han
cock was in Washington on visit and
became afflicted with boil on the back
of the neck which was properly treated.
1t did not surrender its grip, but soon
developed into carbuncle. He return
ed to his home, and seemed to be doing
well, but suffering great deal of pain
from the troublesome carbuncle. When
| nope that he would soon be relieved of
the tormenter was brightest, the physl-
elan discovered that the general was suf-
fering from diabetus also, and the dis
ease did its work so rapidly that in forty
eight hours after its serious nature was
noted, he was cold IN death. His con-
dition had not been the best for some
time, and the appearance of the aiilic-
| ton on his neck was, no doubt, the re-
suit of the bad state of the blood, which
finally brought on the fatal kidney trou-
BILE. His wife was.the only one of his
relatives present at the death scene.
His funeral will take place tomorrow
and his remains inferred at his old
home in Pennsylvania.
BIoGRApHICAL SKETCH.
Gen. Winfield :. Hancock was born
| Feb. II, 1894, in Montgomery Square, a
small village in Montgomery county, Pa.
| He had the combined advantage of
home instruction and course in the
| Norrlstown academy and the public
| high school, which afforded the educa-
tional facilities of the better class of
academies of that day. He early evinc-
ed decided taste for military exercises.
At the age of sixteen he entered the
military academy at West Point, having
obtained his cadetshp through the UNI
solicited influence of his fathers friend,
John Il. Sterigue, who represented the
district in congress. Among his con-
temporaries rs cadets i'll the academy
were Grant, Mcclellan. Reynolds, Buell.
franklin, Rosecran and Lyon, who af-
terward became distinguished generals
in the Union army, and Longstreet,
| Picket and Stonewall jackson of the
Confederate service, He graduated Ut
West Point June 80, 18Th, was brevetted
2d lieutenant i'll the 9TH infantry July |,
1914, and assigned To duty M Fort Tow
son, in the Indian Territory, June Is,
| 1876; he received his commission rs 2d
lieutenant in a company of his regiment
which was stationed on the frontier OF
Mexico, where the difficulties winch af-
terward resulted i'll the Mexican war
had already begun.
He was orde red To active service III
the field in the summer of 1917, and
reached his regiment at Pueblo, under
the command ofGeneral Pierce, i'll time
10 join the army OF General Scott in liz
advance upon the Mexican capital. He
participated in the four principle bat
ties. Contrcras, Cherubusco, Moline
del Rey, and Chapultepec, which result
ed IN the capture of the city of Mexico
and was brevetted first lieutenant for
| gallant aud merltorious conduct in the
battles of CohtreraS and Cherubusco.
From lS4S To 1880 he was stationed at ST
Louis, acting rs ai,ie-de-camp To Brig
Gen. \. :. Clarke. Lieut.. Hancock was
married Jan. "a 1880, 10 Almina Rus
sell, daughter of Samuel Russell, mer-
chant of -. Louis; Nov. Z, 1850, he was
appointed quarternIaster with the rank
OF captain, and ordered 10 Fort Myres
Florida, where Gen. Harvey was il
command of the military forces, operat-
ing against the hostile Semenoles. He
served under this officer during the
troubles IN Kansas in 1857, and 1888
and aiterward accompanied his expedl'
ton 10 Utah, where serious complica
tons had arisen between the Genties
and Mormons. From 1859 To 1861 Capt
Hancock was quartermaster of the
southern district of California. At the
breaking out of the evil war in 1861 he
asked to be relieved from duty on the
Pacific coast, and transferred TO more
active service at the seat of war. He
reported himself for duty At Washington
early in September. In letter to q
friend at this time, he said: "My poll
tics are ola practical kind-the integri.
~ of the country, the supremacy of the
federal government, IN honorable
peace or none at all"
GeneraI Hancock's record Throughout
the Rebellion is well known. He tool
prominent part in the battles of vii
Harrisburg, FraZers farm, South Noun
tain, Antietam, Marye's. Heights, Fred
rlckburg. Charlottesville, Gettysburg
Battle of the Wilderness, Spottsyivania
Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, Realm :
Station and Boydton Park. nall these
he showed decided gallantry for which
he was made BrigadIer General in the
regular army in 1864. Most of the time
since the close of the rebellion he ha,
been stationed on Governors Island
New York. He was nominated for the
Presidency by the Democratic party il
lSS0, and was defeated by the Republi
en- nominee, James \. Garfield.