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Winfield Scott Hancock ( February 14, 1824 - February 9, 1886) was born in Montgomery Square, Pennsylvania and named after the famous general Winfield Scott. Hancock would become a general himself, graduating West Point in 1844, and rising to the rank of major general by the end of his military career.
Hancock was serving as an army quartermaster in southern California at the time the American Civil War broke out in 1861. Serving nearby was his close friend Lewis Addison Armistead, of Virginia. Armistead soon left to join the Confederate army. Hancock returned east also to fight for the Union and was quickly promoted to Brigadier General. By the time he commanded the 2nd Corps at the battle of Gettysburg on July 1-3, 1863, he had risen to Major General. At Gettysburg he was given command of the Union forces after General John Fulton Reynolds was killed early on the 1st, until George Meade, the commander of the Army of the PotomacThe Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theatre of the American Civil War. History This Army was created in 1861, but was only the size of a corps (relatively speaking). It began as the Army of Northeastern Virginia, then reverted, arrived late that night--a great honor, as Hancock was not the most senior Union officer at Gettysburg at the time. During the battle his friend, Brigadier General Armistead, was wounded during Pickett's ChargePickett's Charge was an attack ordered by Confederate Gen. Lee on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The charge was made against Union positions on Cemetery Ridge. After Confederate attacks on both Union flanks had failed the day and, and died two days later. Hancock himself was also wounded at Gettysburg, which later caused him to spend less time as a field commander late in the Civil War, and his growing dissatisfaction with Grant'sUlysses S. Grant Order 18th President Term of Office March 4, 1869 March 4, 1877 Followed Andrew Johnson Succeeded by Rutherford B. Hayes Date of Birth April 27, 1822 Place of Birth Point Pleasant, Ohio Date of Death July 23, 1885 Place of Death Mount McG casualty-intensive tactics lessened his enthusiasm for command during those months when his health returned. After the war, Hancock served as the major general in command of the Department of the East , headquartered at Governors Island, New York . Immediately following the Civil War, Hancock drew much criticism for his inclination to be lenient to the defeated Confederates.
Hancock was considered but passed over for the Democraticlogo depicts a stylized donkey in red, white, and blue. The Democratic Party is one of the two major United States political parties. The Party is currently the minority in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as w nomination for U.S. President during the 1870sEvents and Trends Franco-Prussian War ( 1870- 1871) results in the collapse of the Second French Empire and in the formation of both the French Third Republic and the German Empire. Invention of the telephone ( 1876) and phonograph ( 1877). See also the H. He was eventually chosen as the Democratic opponent to James Garfield in the U.S. election of 1880Summary Keeping a promise made during the 1876 campaign, incumbent President Rutherford Hayes did not seek re-election. The Republican Party eventually chose another Ohioan, James Abram Garfield, as their standard-bearer. The Democratic Party meanwhile ch, but was narrowly defeated in his attempt.
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.