Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-11

applied to Governor Curtin Of Pennsyl-
vania, for a commission in the volun-
teers, but without waiting for reply he
obtained leave of absence and came east
and asked an assignment from General
Scott. The latter ordered him to report
to Mcclellan, on whose Recommendation
Hancock was commissioned, September
Esd, 1861, brigadier general OF yolun-
teers and assigned brigade in W. F.
Smiths division of the Army of the
Potomac.
Hancock's first battle in the rebellion
was at Warwick Courthouse, but il WINS
at Williamsburg, where he personally led
gallant charge which repulsed the
enemy's advance, that he leaped at once
into national fame. Hancock was
superb today" Mcclellan telegraphed to
the President, and the description was
justified by all of Hanoock's conduct on
the field. To relate his military history
in detail woul be to rehearse the brave
deeds Of the great army with which he
was identified. AT Gettysburg he doomed
up as o great hero, and was wounded in
the thigh just ut the close of the fight.
''Tell General Meade he said to Col.
Mitchell, 'that the troops of my COM
mand have repulsed the enemy and
gained great victory. The enemy are
now flying in all directions from my
front" Say to General Hancock, !" was
Mead's reply to the message, ''that am
sorry that he is wounded and that thank
him for myself and for the country for
the services he has rendered 10 day. II
was for ''his gallant, meritorious and con-
spicuous share in that great and decisive
victory" that Hancock received, in jan
uary, 1854, the special thanks of Congress.
Hancock's wound kept him laid up
until December, and it was not till
March, 1864, that he was able to rejoin
his command to enter the Wilderness
campaign with Grant. Here at Spottsyl-
vania Court house, June 18th, 1864, he
added another bright chapter to his mill
tary record. This was one of the bloodiest
actions of the war and had il stood alone
would have been recognized as one of the
most important. 1t was fought entirely
by Hancock, commanding his own corps,
the Second, with parts of the Fifth and |
Sixth-an inpetuous attack upon the
enemy's right centre that came near to |
cutting Lees army in two. This action |
won Hancock his commission as briga- |
dier-general in the regular army.
Since the death of General Meade, Gen. |
eral Hancock, the senior major general, |
has been in command of the Atlantic Di. 4
vision, with head quarters Mt New York, |
where he has lived with his family at the |
military station on Governors Island. He |
was the Democratic candidate for the |
Presidency, i'll 1880, but was defeated by |
General Garfield.
IN THIS CITY.
General Hancock was held in hiuh
esteem by all the soldiers and many citi- |
lens of this city, as the First and Second
Delaware Regiments were connected with
the Second Army Corps, which he com
nanded. He visited Wilmington in 1873,
On the occasion of the presentation of the |
First and Second Delaware battle flags to
the Historical Society, and attended the
exercises at Institute Hall
and u banquet in the evening ut the
Clayton House.
General U. s. Grant Post, No. 10, G. A.
H., at its regular meeting Tuesday night,
adopted the following:
WHEREAS, Us. Grant Post, No. 10. De-
partment OF Delaware, @. A. r., has heard
of the death OF COmrade Winfield s. Han.
cock, major-general of the United States
army, therefore be- 1t
Resolued, That inasmuch as Comrade
Hancock served our country diligently,
faithfully, earnestly and bravely, this post
do attend bis funeral, that its Officers wear
the usual badge Of mourning for 80 days,
and that this resolution be published In the
daily newspapers of Wilmington,
additional particulars on third pdge.l