The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-18

, only eight or ten officers of his immediate
staff and a small detachment of soldiers
would accompany the remains to the
grave.
MAJoR-GESERAL w. 9. HANCOCK
was born In Montgomery County, Pa,
February IA. lS4. He graduated at
West Point In 1874. served mainly on frontier
duty till 1916, and afterward in the war with
Mexico. He was breveted as first lieutenant
for gallant and meritOriOus conduct in the
battles of Contreras and Churubusco. From
.S4S TO ISIS he was again on frontier duty in
various parts and from 1859 to 1851 was
Quarternaster of the Southern District of
California
At the brea<ing ont OF the civil war he W as
recalled to aShington, and was made
Brigadier- General of volunteers Septem Der
"a, 1851. During the peninsular campaign
he was especially conspicuous at the battles
of WILLIAMSBURG and FraZer's Farm. He
took an active part in the subsequent cam
paign in Maryland, at the battles OF South
Mountain and Antietam.
Having been made Major General he com
manded a division Mt Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville. On July /, 1858. the first
day of the battle of Gettysburg, he was sent
by General Meade TO decide whether n dieci-
sive battle should be given there or whether
the army should fall back. He reported that
Gettysburg was the place to fight, and took
immediate command until the arrival OF
Meade
In the decisive action OF July s he COM
manded on the left center. which was the
main point aSSailed BY the COnfederateS,
and was severely wounded. For his conduct
at Gettysburg he received May 80. 1866 the
thanks OF Congress
Having been disabled ny his wound he
was on sick leave until Marcn, lS,i, being
meanwhile engaged in recruiting the second
army corps, which was placed under his
command. He took the active command OF
this corps Mt the opening OF the campaign of
1854. and bore a prominent part in the
battles of the Wilderness MAY 6 -,
Spottsylvania Court House May 800. and
and North Anna MAY p, 2t). the second bat
tie of Cold lfarDor (June 81, and the opera
lions around Petersburg until June ~, when.
his wound breaking out, he was short time
on sick leave lie iafterwRrd resumed com
mand. and took part In several actions until
November 26, VIII N he WAS called To Wash
ington to organize the first corps of veJer-
ans.
successfully in command OF the Middle De-
partment (lS65-6), the Department OF Mis-
souri, (lsG6-I), of Louisiana and Texas (lS6T ~,
OF Dakota (lSIO-12l. and, on the death OF
General Meade in November, lS72, of tie De-
partment of the East.
In the Democratic National Convention
held at New York in July, 1865 he WAS a can
didate for the the Presidential nomination,
receiving on the first ballot IS Z votes out Of
81, which number gradually increased to
Ii4H on the eighteenth: this being, with the
exception o. li5lz cast for Pendleton on the
twelfth ballot, the greatest number of votes
given to any candidate for the nomination
until the twenty second Dallor, when HOra-
ito Seymour received the unanimous vote OF
the convention.
General Hancock was afterward June 30,
1880, nominate for President on the second
ton held in Cincinnati, and was defeated by
James \. Garfield in November by majori-
ty OF fifty-nine electoral votes.
The d@nitied yet sturdy canvass made in
this contest ny the soldier candidate and
the calm, almost ind fferent manner in
which he received the news of his defeat are
too fresh in the public mind to need recap
itulatiOn here, as are also hin many noble
utterances and deeds on great occasions !;
notably, tine part he took in the Grant o5se-
quies
General Haucock's death, and the retire
ment or General Pope next week, will leave
SchOfielt the only officer with the rank of
Major General in the country.
Had the General lived to the 18th OF
the present month he would have attained
his sixty-second year.
Messages of coincidence have been
pouring in from all points since the news
of the Generals death became known.
Among those received up to IL p. IN. are
the following:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHISGTON, Feb. o. I
To Mrs. GENERAL HANCOCK, GOVERNORS
ISLAND, Y. Y.-Accept nv heartfelt SYM
patty and coincidence in your terrible be-
reavcment. The heroiSm and worth OF
your late husband have gathered to Your
side In this hour of your ailliction nation
of mourners.
lSignedi GROVER CLEVELAND.
ST. LOUIS, Feb g. ISSf.
To GENERAL W. ID. WHiPPLE. GOvERNOR's
ISLAND y. Y: General Miner has been here
and says Hancock Is doah. Is it possible?
| must 90 to the Burnett House, Cincinnati,
to might Tele graph me there. Can l do
anything to manifest my love for him and
his widow?
lSignedl SHERMAN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.
To Mrs. w. 8, HANCOCK: have this mo-
lnent heard OF the death of General Han
cock. and wish to express to you, my dear
Madam, my deep sympathy and coincidence.
The army has lost a very distinguished and
faithful officer, and tho country one of its
Iest citizens.
ISlgnedl PHIL SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant-Ge General 7
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Feb. 10.
Mrs. W. 6. HANCOCR-I am panied be-
v Ond expression to hear OF your husbands
1 cath. The loss to yourself is irrepHrable;
TO his country and many friends scarcely
less. tender you my heartfelt sympathy.
WIN. II. ENGLISH.
RICHMOND, VA. Feb. g.
COMMANDING OFFICER GOvERSOR'S ISL
AND: All parties and all classes in Virginia
IrplOre the death OF General Hancock. TIE
mourns the loss OF a superb soldier
and n noble citizen. | personally grieve that
4 true friend has gone. Please iet me know
when General Hancock will be buried. / de-
sire, II possible, to attend the services
FTrZHUGH LEE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Q.
COLONEL. WHIPPLE, GOVERNORS IsLAND:
rhe Lieutenant General desires to be adj
rised as to the wishes OF Mrs. Hancock rela-
i've to her husbands funeral.
iSignedI re. DRUM.
Adjutant General
The Receipt of the News of General Han
cocks Death in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-At two O'Clock I
afternoon a telegram was re-
ceived at the War Department stating
hat Major General Hancock was critical |
" i'll, and at three O'Clock a bulletin was I
received by the Western Union Telegraph /
Company announcing h is death. A short /
line afterward an official dispatch con-
geying the sad intelligence was received. /
The flags on the Executive Mansion and ,
War Department were Immediately upon
receipt of the latter lowered to half-maSt.
The following executive order was also
ssued by the President:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGToS. F-b. 9. IsS5. p. VI.
Tidlngs OF the death OF Winfiel Scott Han
ock the senior Major General of the army
II the UniteI states, have been just received.
patriotic and valiant defender OF his cOuu-
". an aba ana heroic SOLD er. spOtIHSs
nd accO n plished gsutl-nau-crOwn-d alike
With the laurels of military renOwn and
he highest tribute OF his fellow -countrymen
o his worth as n citizen-he has gone to his
eward X Is fitting tina, every mark OF pub
ic respect should be nail to his memory.
therefore. II is now ordered BY the PreSi-
enf that tho National flag be displayed at
alf mast upon ali the buildin g Of the eX-
rutive department., in this city until after
he funeral snail have taken place.
DAS'L 8. LAMOSTE,
Private Secretary.
Secretary Endicott's reception to army
Ulcers, which was TO have been given
asst night, was postponed as soon as the
adj news was received. il
The news of General HancOck's death