Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-10
General Hancock Dead.

General Hancock Dead.
New YORK, February 9th.-Gen. Han
cock died at 25S this afternoon.
1.-THE REcoRD-USIoN presents the following
necessarily brief sketch of the life of General
Hancock, from notes prepared especially for
this paper; General Winfield Scott Hancock was
born az montgomery Square, twelve miles north
east OF Norrlstown, Pa. February a. 1924 and
was therefore nearly 62 years of age From
earliest boyhood he manifested a love for mill
taLy matters. AS boy he organized his play
fellows into military companies and loved TO
teach them how to march and handle mimic
arms. He had a good common-school educa-
tlon, and proved an apt and very bright scholar
ne was always commanding in carriage, and
had the admiration Of his school-felloWs, and
Tor MS amiability had their love- He came of
scotch STOCK, and was gifted with a fine
frame and hardy, constitution. Winfield
was twin, and between his brother
Hilary and himself there was ever the deepest
affection. He was born at the time General
Nlnheid scott was in his military prime and
poIioIie impulse on the part OF General Han
COCK father gave the boy SCOTS full name. AT
the age of l6 lS4l) Hancock entered West Point
ana was graduated at 20, brevetted a Second
Lleutehant, ana at once went upon duty on the
IRON ler. lie proved from the outset to be an
admirable disciplinarian. On the outbreak OF
the Mexican war the young Lieutenant was
gratihed by being ordered TO Vera Cruz to march
with relnforcements for General Scott During
the wal he won distinction among the officers
and was early made first Adjutant and then
Tor gallant conduct was brevetted a First Lieu
tenant. On his return home he was honored
by notice by resolution of the Pennsylvania
Legislature. In 1919 lie rejoined his regiment:
was made Adlutant and Aid-de-Camp to General
Clark, and went upon laborious duty on the
frontler. IN January, 1850, he married Miss
Almira Russell, of st. Louis. The union proved
oil the very happiest. Two children were born
to them. The eldest a son, is still living the
younger, a daughter, died in March 1876 In
1919 Lieutenant Hancock was ordered TO Flori-
da,. and took active part in the Seminole
war under General Harvey. He was made
Sluartermaster with the rank of Captain. In 1857
ne again Joined the frontier command. and in
March, 1895, accompanied General Harvey ex-
petition to Utah. From there he was ordered
to Benicla, in this State, and on him as Quarter
master deYolyed the arduous duty of furnishing
transportation for the troops over a long and
difficult route. He remained a short time at
Benlcla, and then was ordered TO Los Angeles
There he was located when the War OF the Re
beliion broke out. He asked at once 10 be al
lowed to report for service at the East unhesi-
tatiugiy casting his fortunes with the Union.
lbs iiils request was granted, and he speed
appointed Quartermaster under Cen
eral Anderson but almost Immediately
was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers
september %, 1861. His first duty was to aid
in the organization of the Army OF the Potomac
Most Of his time was given TO drilling volunteer
| troops, but his brigade had frequent set-to's
with the rebels along the Potomac Army line
he proved TO be an admirable organizer and
splendid disciplinarian, and yet his severity
was so just as to win him the devotion of eyery
soldier In 1862 his brigade was at the front
hghtlng valiantly The battle of Williamsburg
gave him his first great distinction as n
fighter" AT the battle of Frazier Farm he
won renown also For his brilliant conduct he
was breveted Major Lieutenant Colonel and
then Colonel of Regulars and in November
1867, was made Major General of Volunteers
Honors thick and fast came to him and his
name was known and honored throughout the
land He fought at Fredericksburg and Chan
ceilorsTille, chose the battle-ground at Gettys-
burg, and his fight there was The most gallant
OF all his career. Here he was wounded
severely, ana borne from the field. Congress
formally thanked him for his achieve
merits in this battle. On recovering he was
again IN battle, the chief ones being the Wilder
ness, Spottsylvania Nor h Anna Cold Harm
ana the siege of Petersburg. Augu. t. 1864 he
was made BrigadierGeneral, ami in July. 1866
MAJOR General in the regular army After the
war ne commanded the Middle Department the
departments OF Louisiana, of Texas. of Dakota
and the Department of the East His conduct
az New Orleans under the Reconstruction Acts
Drought nm INTO political prominence and dis
agreement with the policy of the Government
Dut IL was not 81 character at all affecting his
station or high Tepute. At the trial of The con-
splrators ne held the responsible Office of mill
taly guardian OF the National Capital and the
national archives, being chosen to that great
duty because of his eminent fitness his calm
JudIclal mind and his splendid disciplinary
aoiIItles. ne was candidate for the Presiden-
tal nomination before the National Democratic
Convention in 1865 and in 1880 received the
nomination, but was defeated bv General car
1eld. since then he has remained on duty at
Governors Island, New York. He was the
senior Major-General of the Amy and next 10
General Sheridan in the line of succession to
the chief command He was a broad-minded
cultured gentleman, a perfect soldier devoted
patriot, and one of Americas foremost men
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH
New YORK, February 9th-4 P. M.-The
following official notification OF the death
OF General Hancock has just been received:
GOVERNORS ISLAND N. ", February 9, 1886.
MajorGeneral W. S. Hancock, United States
Army, died at 2:35 this afternoon
W. D. wH1rpLE.
Assistant Adjutant General.
General Hancock's death was the result
OF malignant carbuncle eli the back of
his neck, which had confined him to his
bed for several days. No serious alarm was
felt, however, until shortly before he ex-
PRED. The news caused the profoundest
sorrow in commercial and financial circles.
as well as among business men generally.
When the sad event was known in the ey
changes and at the Custom house fIaos
were immediately ordered at half-mast. II
has not been generally known that General
Hancock was i'll, and bis death was uney
pected. General Hancock was in Wasbiur
ton week ago, and was obliged to return
without paying his respects to the Presi-
dent. The carbuncle which caused his
death made its appearance on the Generals
neck at the base of the brain.
The Commercial Aduertiser saws General
Hancock had been ailing for some time. and
been unable actively to attend to his mill
tary duties on the island He suffered
from a complication of diseases, but still
fought against his ailments; but the recent
development of a carbuncle, while he was
AT w aSh1nOtOn rOn1np1l cd hin, 70,
his house. From this attack he did not
rally, and his condition had been consid-
cred precarlous for day or two past His
only son died last autumn, and since then
he had not been given strength to resist dis
ease with the determination he had preyi-
ously exhibited. When he expired his wife
was beside him. Upon the announcement
of his death the flag at his headquarters
was displayed at half-mast and telegraphic
dispatches were sent to the army stations
IN the harbor, to the army buildings at
Houston and Greene streets, and to the
navy yard, as well as to Washington and
other places. General Hancocks condition
had been source of much anxiety to the
officers and men of his department since
the beginning of the year.
The General leaves widow and three
grandchildren-two girls and one bow
named Mora, Ada and Gwynne, the issue
of the Generals son Russell, who died De-
cember 26 1884, and whose loss the General
has ever since mourned bitterly. Major
General Whipple will assume command of
the Department, supported by Lieutenant
Colonel jackson, until the President shall
appoint General Hancock's successor from
Generals Schofield, Terry or Howard. Or
ders IN reference to the funeral ceremonies
are expected from Washington tomorrow.
In the meantime the body will be en-
balmed by the officers of the post. In the
general orders tomorrow will be promul-
gated the announcement of General Han
COCK death, when the regulation mourn
ing will be adopted. The General will
probably be inferred at Norristown. Pa.
GENERAL sHERIDAN's SYMPATHY.
New YORK, February 9th.-The news of
the General S death had been flashed abroad
oy wire but little while when messages of
GOnnOianRa