winfield scott hancock
general
biography
Winfield Scott Hancock was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1844 and after frontier service in the Sixth Infantry fought in the Mexican War. He was successfively regimental adjudant and quartermaster for ten years and briefly assistant adjudant general to the Department of the West. Appointed assistant quartermaster with rank of captain in 1855, he was stationed at Fort Myers, Folorida, during the Seminole disturbances and was in Kansas where, after service during the border troubles, he was ordered successively to Utah and California.
At the beginning of the Civil War Scott was commissioned to brigadier general of volunteers and assigned to the command of a brigade in the Fourth Corps, Army of the Potomac. He distinguished himself at Williamsburg and during the second day’s fight at Antietnam was placed in command of the First Division, Second Army Corps. Promoted to the rank of major general, United States Volunteers, he commanded his division at Fredricksurg in the attack on Marye’s Heights.
He showed his great leadership at Chancellorsville and shortly afterward was assigned to the command of the Second Corps. In July 1863, he was ordered by Meade to proceed to the field of Gettysburg, take command, and report on whether battle should take place, and he agreed on the location. On July 2 he commanded the left wing and on the next day the left center, against which was directed a Confederate charge led by Pickett.
In July 1866 he was appointed major general of the United States Army and commanded successfully the departments of Missouri and of Texas and Louisiana. He was again assigned to the Division of the Atlantic and finally to the Department of the East.
In 1880, he was the Democratic candidate for the presidency, but was defeated on the tariff issue by a close margin. As a brilliant leader, he was known as "Hancock the Superb", as he was called by Grant.
