HANCOCK, Winfield Scott, American sol dier: b. Montgomery Square, Pa., 14 Feb. 1824; d. Governor's Island, New York Harbor, 9 Feb. 1886. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1844, and after fron tier service in the Sixth Infantry, fought with credit in the Mexican War, was successively regimental adjutant and quartermaster in 1848 55, and briefly assistant adjutant-general to the Department of the West. Appointed assistant quartermaster with rank of captain in 1855, he was stationed at Fort Myers, Fla., during the Seminole disturbances, and in 1857-58 was in Kansas, whence, after service in the border troubles, he was ordered successively to Utah and California. In 1859-61 he was chief quar termaster of the southern district of California, with headquarters at Los Angeles. At the be ginning of the Civil War he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, and assigned to the command of a brigade in Smith's divi s'on, Fourth corps, Army of the Potomac. He distinguished himself at Williamsburg and dur ing the second day's fight at Antietam (17 Sept 1862) was placed in command of the First division, Second army corps. Promoted major-general, United States Volunteers (No vember 1862), he commanded his division at Fredericksburg in the attack on Marye's Heights, on which occasion he lost 2,013 from a total of 5,006 troops. He largely saved the day at Chancellorsville (2-4 May 1863) 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 whether battle should be given at that point. He re ported Gettysburg as the suitable place for the ensuing battle, reorganized the Federal lines, on 2 July commanded the left wing and on the next day the left centre, against which was directed a Confederate charge in the course of which the Second corps lost about 4,000 killed and wounded out of less than 10,000 troops, and Hancock was shot from h:s horse. In 1866- he was appointed major-general, United States army, in 1866-68 commanded succes sively the departments of Missouri and of Texas and Louisiana, in 1868-69 the military division of the Atlantic, in 1869-72 the Depart ment of Dakota. He was again assigned to the division of the Atlantic in 1872. In 1880 he was Democratic candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated, largely on the tariff issue, by Garfield by a vote of 4,454,416 to 4,444,952. He was a brilliant leader, known as °Hancock the Superb"— "the most conspicuous figure,". says Grant, all the general officers who did not exercise a separate command.° Consult the 'Life,' by Walker (1894).