Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-02-15
GEN. WINFIELD S. HANCOCK

major-g general of the United States,
and commander of the military di-
vision of the Atlantic, died at his
residence on Governors island in
New York harbor Tuesday afternoon.
year or two ago his health
was seriously affected, so that great
were felt as TO the re-
suit, it was not known that he was
i'll again, and the intelligence came
with startling suddenness upon the
country. He lacked but five days of
completing his gid year. Gen. Han
cock was one of the most eminent
corps commanders of the civil war,
a soldier distinguished no more for
the brilliant daring which earned for
him the sobrlquet of 1.-The Superb"
than for an unfailing GOODNESS of tenn
per and soundness of judgment; one
who could hold his forces to steadlness
in retreat or draw them by splendid
magnetism to irresistible attack who
was never found wanting, and who
did vital service to his country at
one of the critical moments of the
conflict, when the day seemed lost to
Gettysburg. His death produces no
such deep shock of irreparable loss
as that of Grant, or even such
sense of bereavement as McClellan's
death produced, but all will recog-
nize that a worthy man and a sincere
| patriot had departed.
Winfield Scott Hancock was born
at Norristown, Montgomery county,
Pa, Feb. IA, 1924. He came of
English descent on both sides, and
ancestors on both were patriot SOL
and his father was soldier in the
war of 1912. The elder Hancock
was afterward lawyer of local &C.
lebrity in Pennsylvania, and lived
until after the close of the civil war
He remembered his old general Win
field Scott when his son was born,
and gave him the name which after.
ward chimed so well with his career
and also, it may be added, with his
personal appearance, for, like Scott
he was of splendid physique, though
not Of quite so extraordinary stature
Young Hancock, after study at The
Norristown academy, was appointed
to cadetship at West Point, July l
1910. Hancock ranked the 18th il
class of %, of which the more not
ed other members were the confeder
ate Gen. Buckner and the fedora
cavalry commander, Gen. Pleason
ton; while Gems. Grant, Mcclellan
w. F. Smith, Don Carlos Buell.
Rosecrans, Van Dorm, Longstreet
"Stonewall' Jackson, Pope, Double
day and many others of the principa
leaders in the war, both Union and con
federate, were his contemporaries. I'll
received his full commission as sec
ond lieutenant June IS, 1916, an
early the next year was detailed upo
| recruiting service for the war wit
7 Mexico. He accompanied the arm
which landed at Vera Cruz unde
/ Gen Scott. He was engaged in ski
: mishes near Jalapa and at Plan dc
I Rio; and in the engagements @
f Cherubusco and Contreras, both O
e one day, he won his brevet as Is
F.; lieutenant for gallant and meritor
1 Gus conduct. He was made adjutar
F., of his battalion and fought at Molin
!, del Rey and in the capture of the cit
j, of Mexico. After the Mexican VIZ
: he was assigned to dnty in the qua
u termaster's department, and remain
e ed therein until the breaking out {
/; the civil war. He did not becom
t full lieutenant until 1858, and
: 1855 was made staff captain, bein
: then assistant acknowledgement
# the department of the West, and ST
f toned at St. Louis, where he marie
: Miss Almira Russell, daughter of
S prominent merchant.
Q Immediately upon the firing
Y Fort Sumpter Captain Hancock a
IS piled to the governor of Pennsylv
e MIA for a command of volunteer
W but receiving no response he askt
d Gen. Scott to order him East, al
n in August was assigned to duty
:, quartermaster of the army of Ke
d lucky. On September % Preside
d Lincoln appointed him brigadier-ge
le eral of volunteers and he was Civ
le command of the first brigade of &c
l. w. F. Smiths division of the am
re of the Potomac, and first saw acti
he service in the campaign of the Peni
sula under Mcclellan. 1t was We
active service indeed for Hancoc
for he never lost an opportunity
distinguish himself by brilliant a
ne effective soldiery. He was fl Il
It. ing general. Battle inspired him !;
a It's midst his mind worked swift
ce and clearly; and this was never b
IN ter shown than when in the ill-pla
he ned Williamsburg battle he turn
en- the current of defeat and won I