The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-19
LIPE OF GENERAL HANCOCK.

Winfield Scott Hancock was born ID
Montgomery county, this State, in 1874.
He graduated from West Point IN lo44,
and was for two years in service on the
Western frontier. He fought IN the
Mexican war, and was bTeYeted hrsC
lieutenant for gallant action at ContIe-
ras and CherubuscO. After the war De
was for ten further years in frontier
service in connection with the Indian
troubles in Florida and the Mormon
disseusions in Utah. In 1859 he was
made QuaItermasteT, doing duty IN
California, and by his energy and per
sonal influence did much TO keep that
State within the Union in 1850 6l.
He was ordered to Washington at The
outbreak of the war, in response to an
earnestly expressed desire for assign
ment to active duty at the point OF
greatest danger. Immediately alter
wards he was appointed Brigadier Cen
eral of volunteers. He was with NC
CIellan on the Peninsula and dlstln-
guished himself in the many battles OF
that campaign, particularly at VII
Iamsburg and FaaZeI's Farm.
After the abandonment of the scheme
TO take Richmond from the Peninsula
and at a particularly critical period OF
LD6 wal lLC bnibiCo VI
tam and South Mountain. OF these
two memorable engagements be was
one of the chief heroes, achieving there
a fame that will last as long as the mem
ories of the war shall abide. At An
tei.am he was made division com
mander on the field, and shortly after
ward he was appointed to the full rank
of Major General At Fredericksburg
and Charlottesville he was in command
of the First Division, End Army Corps,
and on the 2cd of June, 1868, was made
Commander of that Corps.
Atfsmed Gettysburg he was in com
mand at the point, on the left centre,
most furiously assailed by the Conteder-
ates, and received a severe wound just
at the close of the last days fight. Con
gress voted him special thanks for his
conspicuous gallantry on this occasion.
| When he had sufficiently recovered
from his wound, which was serious
one, he returned to his command and
participated in the conflicts in the VIII
derness at Spotsylvania and Cold Har-
! Dor.
When the organization of an army
corps of VeteTans-nOne to be accepted
except such as had seen not less than
two years OF active seIvice-was decided
I
was assigned TO General Hancock. BY
the time it was completed, however, the
war was over, and though most of the
corps were enlisted for three years, they
we're discharged at the expiration OF
one.
For time he was in command of the
Middle Military Department, which in
cluded a greater part of the East, and
then he was transferred to the Fifth
Military District, including Louisiana
and Texas. This was in 1S67-6S. Here
he showed that he was not Oplv-a great
soldier, but that be vas statesman as
well g:57tGiJ g:::57ti that he had fought not 10 sub.
I Jugate aud oppress .he South, but to re,
unite and preserve the Union.
On the death of General Meade he be.
came Commander of the Department OF
| the East, with headquarters at Cover
nor's Island, New York.
/ In 1866 he came within an ace of be
! ing the Democratic candidate for Pres
/ ident. 10 1880 be was nominated by
/ that party for that high Office, Oh the
| second ballot.
/ Al the election he received / ,442 035
! votes. as against 4, ,442, $50 cast for Jas
! a. Garfield, the difference in total o
/ nearly nine million being less than one
/ thousand but IN the Electoral College
/ Garfield had 214 to Hancock's 155.
At the time of bis death Genera
/ Hancock was the senior Major Genera
in the service, and had the proposed &C
| to revive the rank of General beeI
! passed. Sheridan would have becomt
/ General and Hancock Lieutenant Gen
eral