HANCOCK, WINFIELD SCOTT, b. Penn., 1824; graduated at West Point in 1844, and was for two years on the w. frontier in service. He was also in the Mexican war, and received the brevet of first lieut. for his behavior in the actions at Contreras and Chur ubusco. After that war he was about 10 years on frontier service in connection with the Indian troubles iu Florida and the Mormon dissensions in Utah. In 1859 he was made quarter-master, doing duty in California, and by his energy and personal influence did, much to keep that state within the union in 1860-61. Being ordered to Washington, at his own request, he was appointed brig.gen. of volunteers, and was prominent in the battle of Williamsburg and the engagement at Frazer's Farm. He was also in the con tests of South Mountain and Antietam, in the latter fight being made a division com mander on the field, soon after which he was promoted to maj.gen. At Fredericks burg and at Chancellorsville lie was in command of the first division, 2d army corps, and was made corps commander (2d) in June, 1863. At Gettysburg lie was in command at the point (on the left center) most furiously assailed by the confederates, and received. a severe wound just at the close of the last day's fight. Congress voted special thanks.
for his gallantry on that occasion. The wound kept Hancock out of the field for nearly a year, but in 1864 he participated in the conflicts of the Wilderness, of Spottsylvania. court-house, and Cold Harbor. In Nov. he organized at Washington the first corps of veterans. In recent years he has had department commands, the middle military divi sion, the 5th military district, including Louisiana and Texas (1867-68), that of Dakotah, and, since the death of gen. Meade, the department of the east, with head-quarters. at Governor's island, New York. In 1868 the democrats were inclined to make Han cock their candidate for president, but Horatio Seymour received the nomination. In the democratic national equvention of 1880 Hancock was named, and had 171 votes on the first ballot (492 necessary for a choice), on the second ballot 319, when the nomina tion was made unanimous, and he was accepted as the leader of the party against the republican candidate, Hon. James A. Garfield; but in the election in Nov. he failed to receive a majority of the electoral votes.