Hancock, born near Lansdale, Pennsylvania, distinguished
himself in many battles of the American Civil War. He served
with distinction in the Mexican War and was chief quartermaster
on the Pacific coast when the Civil War broke out. Made a brigadier
general of volunteers in Sept., 1861, Hancock fought in the Peninsular
campaign (1862); in the Antietam campaign he succeeded to the
command of a division. His command was heavily engaged in the
battles of Fredericksburg (1862) and Chancellorsville (1863).
At Gettysburg (1863) he
was in sole command until the arrival of General
George Meade. Gen. Meade chose to fight at Gettysburg on
Hancock's recommendation, and in the last two days of the battle
Hancock was foremost in repulsing the Confederate attacks, particularly
General Pickett's charge on July 3, 1863. In command of the left
flank, and later of the center of the Union troops, he was largely
responsible for stemming the main Confederate attacks. He was
severely wounded.
In 1864 Hancock was especially prominent at the Battle of the
Wilderness, at Spotsylvania Court House, and at the Battle of
Cold Harbor; in that year he was made brigadier general of the
regular army.
In 1866, after the war, Hancock became a major general, commanding
the Department of Missouri and participating in campaigns against
the Native Americans there. He was then transferred to the South
to supervise the rehabiliation of Louisiana and Texas. The moderation
of his measures was opposed in Washington, D.C., and in 1867
he was relieved at his own request and assigned to command the
Military Division of the Atlantic.
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The Democratic party nominated him for President
in 1880 on his military record. James Garfield defeated him,
but with only a slight popular plurality.
He died on February 9, 1886, at Governor's Island,
still in command of the Department of the East. He is buried
in Mongomery Cemetery in Norristown, Pennsylvania. |
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Major General Winfield S. Hancock