The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-17
GENERAL HANCOCK.

Will all be gone. lie was q magnificent type
of man and a perfect ideal of a soldier.
In neither type nor ideal has he ever dis
appointed the impression he always made.
Strong quiet, courteous brilliant strategist
and a persistent fighter, a statesman too,
although, perhaps, not a politician in the
ordinary sense. He never filled place that
he did not expand nor fail to reflect credit
upon himself. He was always popular, and
in his race for the Presidency would have
achieved success had he been more of a
trimmer. It was these little essentials of
practical politics that were foreign to his
education, and his nobler instincts revolted
at the practice OF even an implied deception,
even though the deception, as measured by
political exigency were culpable.
His history has been as eventual as ithe
period that produced so many events admit
ted. He achieved a striking place among
the roll of heroes OF the war and is among
the very few with whom no breath of scan
dal or suspicion ever attached with his
honesty of purpose, through which his
modesty shone. Ambitious, possibly, but if
so it was never apparent with intrigue or
pretense. He was exactly what he appeared
to be.
OF his public acts, nothing reflected so
much credit on him as his demeanor while
in command OF the military division Of
Louisiana during the darkest days of the re-
construction era. The South, almost driven
to desperation with carpetbaggerS, these
carpet-baggers clammoring for further mill
tary interference, while together they per
Sonifed anarchy and ruin, was fortunate in
man who could look above the clouds of
passion and be Just. The most clamorous
Republican of the North can find no fault
with him in this trying position, while it
endeared him to the South, and favored him
with vote the South will hardly favor an
other man with.
He was born in Montgomery County, Pa,
February IA, 1924, and was, consequently al
most sixty-two years old. General Hancock
was a'cadet at the United States Military
Academy from July L, 1910, until July 1,
1874, when he was graduated and promoted
to BreYet Second Lieutenant of the Sixth In
fantry. He vent to the frontier where he
was on duty at Forts TOwson and Washing
ton about two years, being made Second
Lieutenant of the Sixth Infantry June, 1916,
after which he was on recruiting service. He
was in the ar with Mexico, being engaged
in the d. .cnse of Canvoy at the Ma
tional b re, in Skirmish at Plano
and the J title of Cherubusco, in Au .ust,
1917. On august 20 he was breveted First
Lieutenant for gallant and meritOriOus con-
duct in the battles of COntreras and Cherub-
JxCO. He was in the battle of MOlinO 0el
Rey, Septei Der = and in the assault and
capture OF The city of Mexico September
IS and / /, 1917. In 1S4S he was in garrison
at jefferson Barracks, and was Quarter
master OF the Sixth Infantry from June 80,
1S4S, to October l. 1919 and Adjutant from
that date TO November :, 1850. On January
-, 1853. he was made First Lieutenant of the
Sixth Infantry. He was Assistant AdJutant
General of the Department of the West to
November 81, 1850 and on Quartermaster
duty at Fort Myers Fla, IN 1886 during
the hOstilities against the Seminole Indians;
at Fort Ieavenworth with troops Quelling
the Kansas disturbance August I to Deem
Der Is 1857, after which he was at the head
quarters of the Utah reinfOrcementS to July
l., 1855: on the march with the Sixth
Infantry from Fort Bridger, Utah, to
California from August to Novem-
her. and was Chief Quartermaster OF the
Southern District of California, at Los Ange-
les, from Nav ., ISIS, to August 3. 1861.
From September. lS6l to March 1862 he
was in the defenses of Washington, being
made a Brigadier-G General of Volunteers Sep
TENDER %. lSbl. He was in TIE Peninsula
campaign from March to August, 1852, being
engaged successively in the siege of York
town. the battle of Williamsburg, the battle
of ChickahOminy the action OF GOldings
Farm. the battles of Savage Station and
White Oak Swamp and the retreat to Harri-
sons Landing. He was engaged in the bat
tie of Crampton' Pass, South Mountain, Sep
TENDER IA, 1862; the battle of Antietam, Sep
| TENDER Il; the reconnaissance from Harpers
Ferry to CharlestOwn, Va, October 10 and
| IL, and the march to Falmouth ia October
and November. On November % 1862, he
was made Major General OF Volunteers. He
was in the Rappahannock campaign from
| December 1862, to June, 1868, being en-
gagged in the battles of Fredericksburg,
| December I3, 1862, and Chancellors-
vile, MAY to 4, 1868; in the
Pennsylvania campaign in June and
| July, 1868, in command of the Second Corps
| of the Army of the Potomac being engaged
| in the battle of Gettysburg, July to 3, 1868,
where he was severely wounded in the re-
pulse OF General L0ngstreet upon the left
| center, which he at that time commanded.
On May 80 Congress rendered him vote of
| thanks for his gallant meritOrious and con-
| spicuOus share in the great and decisive vic
| tory of Gettysburg. He was on leave of alb
| sence on account of his wound from July 4
| to December q, 1868; was in command Of
| and recruiting the Second Army Corps from
| January to March, 1864, was in the second
| Richmond campaign, commanding the Sec
| ond Corps of the Array of the Potomac, be-
ing engaged in the battles of the Wilderness.
| May and ., 1864; Spottsylvanla, May .;
| North Anna, May % and "a; Talapatomy,
| May ~ to 81 Cold Harbor June 3, and the
| operations in its vicinity to June H.
| He was in the march to James River
| and at the battle before Petersburg
| June Is to IS, and was in the operations
| about Petersburg July q to 20 and August
| ID to 20, 1864. On August u, 1864, he was
| made Brigadier General in the United States
| army. He commanded at the battle of
| Reams' Station, August %; at the battle of
| Boynton Plank Road, October p, and at the
| siege of Petersburg, from June Is, to No
| vember 26, 1864. He was at Washington
| from November q, 1864 to February 81,
| 1865, organizing the first army corps of vet
| Grams. He was in command of the Depart
ment of West Virginia, and temporarily of
| the Middle Military Division and Army of
| the Shenandoah, from February % to July
IL, 1865. On March IL, 1865, he was made
Brevet Major General of the United States
| army for gallant services in the battle of
| Spottsylvania, and July 26 he was made a
Major General. He was in command of the
| Middle Department from July Is to August
10: OF the Department of the Missouri in
1867; of Louisiana and Texas in 1868, Of
| Dakota in 1902, and on the death of Gen.
| eral Meade, in November, 1872, he was placed
| in charge of the Department of the East.