Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-02-18
The Dead Soldiers Career.

The Dead Soldiers Career.
Gen. Hancock was born at Norristown
Pennsylvania, February IA. 1924. He
graduated from the West Point Acade-
my in, 1874, and in 1916 recsiVed bis
commission as lieutenant of regular in
fantry. He served during the Mexican
war, and at its close was quartermaster
of his regiment. In 1856 he was appoint
cd captain in the Quartermaster's de-
partment. and took part in the Florida
campaign against the Seminole Indians
In 1881 he was appointed a Brigadier
General of Volunteers, and served in the
Army of the Potomac. He accompanied
Gen. McClellan's army to the Peninsula
in 1852, and distinguished himself at the
battle of Williamsburg. AT the battle
of fredericksburg, in December, 1862, be
Commanded a division, which suffered
severely, and fer his meritorious con-
duct on this occasion received a COM
mission as Major General of Volunteers.
In the battle of Gettysburg, July, 1869,
Hancock's division bore the prominent
part, although he himself was severely
wounded in the action. He recovered
sufficiently to return to duty December
27, 1858, but was unable to command a
body of troops till April, 1854, when he
was promoted to the command of the
Second Army Corps, and was engaged in
all the battles Of the Wilderness cam
paign, from May to June 10, 1864,
when the breaking out of the old wound
received at Gettysburg compelled him to
leave for q time. He returned to bis
Command in July, and remained with it
till November 20, 1864, being subse>
quently engaged In lighter duties till the
close of the war.
He was promoted to be Brigadier Gen.
eral of the regular army in August, 1854.
Brevet Major General March IS, 1865,
and Major General United States Army
July 90, 1866. After the war Gen. Han
cock was successfully commander of
the Middle Department Qs65-66) of the
Department of Missouri (1S66+69). of the
Department of Louisiana and Texas
(1S67 69), and of the Department of Da-
kota (1s69 72). Upon the death of Cen
eral Meade. November, 1872, the Presi-
aent, in acknowledgement of his great
military services, appointed Gen. Han
cock to the command of the Department
of the East, with his headquarters at
Governors Island, New York, position
which be held until the time of his
death.
In 1858 General Hancock was prom
inent candidate for the Democratic NOM
ination to the Presidency, which, how.
ever.was given to ex Governor Seymour,
of New York. Securing the nomination
in 1850, he was defeated in the election
by Mr.. Garfield, who received an eleeto
raj majority of As over Gen. Hancock.
Gen. Hancock's last appearance in
public was when under the orders of the
Secretary of War, he directed the ma
tional ceremonies attendant upon Gen.
Grants funeral, and commanded the
United States military and naval forces
taking part therein. No one figure was
more striking in the great procession
that marched to Riverside cemetery than
that of the chivalrous soldier who was
so soon to follow his old commander to
the grave.
Gen. Hancock's son, Russell Hancock.
married Miss Gwynn, of Louisville, KY.
and became cottage planter. A year
ago he died most unexpectedly. Gen.
and Mrs. Hancock's affections became
centered in their grandchildren, of
whom there were three, one boy and
two girls. In the dead hero's home
these youngsters reigned supreme, and
the boy especially, bearing his mothers
family name, was the very "apple of bis
eye"
PERSONAL TRAITS.
During his residence on Governors
Island Gen. Hancock greatly improved
and beautifed the island, directing per-
soHally the care aBd cutting of the grass
and trimming of the trees and shrubbery,
and no gentlemaD's lawn possessed f.
nsr or greener sward than the glacis and
parade of this second-rste forti6cation.
In early life Gen. Hancock was spare
to thinness, but as he grew older his
habit became fuller and more plethoric.
During the months preceding his death
he bad gradually lost flesh. This fact
was the frst evidence to his friends of
his prematurely failing powers. The
decay, moreover, was purely physical
his mind remained as clear and balanc-
ed as ever His defeat by Gen. Garfield
in the race for the Presidency did not
sour or seemingly disappoint him. He
was in bed, and was awakened and told
OF the result of the election, but after a
cheerful word to bis wife he turned over
and went to sleep again.
Though the journey in the hot sun to
Riverside Park at Gen. Grants funeral
was very exhsusting, be dismounted
from bis horse and entered carriage at
the park, net from WEAKNESS, but be+
cause the horse betrayed an inclination
to lie down.
Gen. Hancock was peculiarly fastidi-
ous about his correspondence, and no
one who wrote to him ever failed to re-
ceive courteous and considerate reply.
Ills correspondence was necessarily