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Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock died #OTD in 1886, 5 days before his 62nd birthday. He was born in Montgomery Township, PA in 1824 and was named after War of 1812 hero Winfield Scott, under whom his father has served. Hancock had an identical twin, Hilary Baker Hancock.
Hancock graduated from @WestPoint_USMA in the class of 1844 and was assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment, “The Regulars”. He fought with the regiment in the Mexican-American War, and was wounded in the knee at the Battle of Churubusco.
He married Almira Russell in St. Louis, MO in 1850. Shortly after, he was transferred to Fort Myers during the Third Seminole War but did not see action. He similarly missed seeing combat in the Bleeding Kansas conflict when stationed at @FortLeavenworth, & later in the @UtahWar.
When the #CivilWar began, Hancock was serving in California, where he was friendly with several Southern officers, most notably Lewis Armistead. He headed east for service with the Army of the Potomac, first as a quartermaster and then commanding an infantry brigade.
Hancock quickly earned an excellent reputation as a commander. At the Battle of Williamsburg, he led an attack on the confederate flank, leading Gen. George McClellan to report “Hancock was superb today”. Hancock the Superb stuck as his nickname for the reminder of the war.
He assumed commanded of the 1st Division of II Corps at the Battle of @Antietamnps1862, and was wounded leading the division at both Fredericksburg ( @FredSpotNPS) and Chancellorsville. He healed in time to take command of II Corps shortly after.
He led the Corps into @GettysburgNMP, where he played a critical role defending the center and left wings of the Union lines. On the third day, during Pickett’s Charge, he was badly wounded in the groin and thigh when a bullet went through the pommel of his saddle.
Hancock refused to be evacuated to the rear, continuing to lead II Corps until the assault had been beaten back. During the battle, his good friend Lewis Armistead was mortally wounded by troops under Hancock’s command.
The wound affected Hancock for the rest of the war, but he continued to lead his Corps at the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. His Corps suffered massive casualties at the Battle of Cold Harbor.
After the war, Hancock was charged with carrying out the death sentences of the convicted conspirators in President Lincoln’s assassination ( @ALPLM). He later served in posts on the Plains and in the South.
Hancock accepted the nomination of @TheDemocrats for President in the election of 1880, running against another former Union general, James Garfield. Though the popular vote was somewhat close, Hancock lost the Electoral College vote, 214-155.
After the election, Hancock returned to service in the @USArmy. He commanded the Military Division of the Atlantic at the time of his death from complications of diabetes. He has been honored with several statues & appeared on US $2 Silver Certificates in 1886.
