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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues
Where Duty, Honor and Country are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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General Winfield Scott Hancock
1824-1886
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Winfield Scott Hancock and his identical twin, Hilary, were born February 14, 1824, to Benjamin and Elizabeth Hancock of Montgomery Square, Pennsylvania. When the boys were six years old, his father moved the family to Norristown and started a law practice. At age 16, Winfield, or Win, entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Four years later, on July 1, 1844, he graduated 18th in his class of 25 and was assigned to the U. S. Sixth Infantry.
Pre-War
Following graduation, Hancock was detailed to Indian Territory, near the Red River on the border of Texas, where he served at Fort Towson and, later, Fort Washita, and remained here until the outbreak of the Mexican War. Fearing he would miss the war entirely, Lt. Hancock repeatedly wrote to the War Department requesting a transfer from his desk job to the front.
Finally, on July 13, 1847, the young officer was transferred to Vera Cruz to serve under his namesake, General Winfield Scott, in the fight against the forces of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. His first action in that conflict was at the National bridge, on the way from Vera Cruz to Puebla, where he was in command of a party sent to storm and capture the bridge. He saw further action in the battles of Churubusco, Molino Del Rey, Vera Cruz and witnessed the assault and capture of Mexico City. On August 20, 1847, "for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco," Winfield Scott Hancock was breveted First Lieutenant.
The Sixth Infantry remained in Mexico City until 1848, when the war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It was then ordered to Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri. During this time, Hancock served as regimental quartermaster, and on October 1, 1849 was appointed adjutant, and aide-de-camp to General Newman S. Clarke, commander of the Sixth Infantry.
While stationed in St. Louis, Lieutenant Hancock met lovely Almira Russell, the daughter of a prominent St. Louis merchant. They were married on January 24, 1850. In the years following, the Hancocks had two children: a son, Russell (October 29, 1850 - December 30, 1884) born in St. Louis, and a daughter, Ada Elizabeth (February 24, 1857 - March 28, 1875), born in Fort Myers, Florida.
On November 5, 1855, Lieutenant Hancock was appointed Assistant Quartermaster, U.S. Army, with the rank of captain, and ordered to Fort Myers in southern Florida during the Seminole Wars of 1856-7.
In 1857, he served at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, during the violence of "Bleeding Kansas," observing firsthand the bitterness and enflamed feelings that the twin issues of slavery and States' Rights had brought to that frontier. He served briefly in Utah during the Mormon uprising of 1858-59.
Civil War
When Fort Sumter was fired upon, he was stationed with his family in Los Angeles, California, where he was serving Chief Quartermaster of the Southern District of California. He immediately requested a transfer to active duty in the East; and, upon arrival, was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers and assisted in organizing the Army of the Potomac. Under Major General George B. McClellan, Hancock played an important role in McClellan's Peninsula campaign. His leadership of a critical flank attack at Williamsburg earned his the sobriquet Hancock the Superb; he also proved himself at the Battle of Frazier's farm.
 The New General General Winfield Scott Hancock
When Israel B. Richardson was killed during the Battle of Antietam, Hancock took command of the First Division of the 2nd Corps. At Fredericksburg, his division took part in the costly assaults on Marye's Heights, and, at Chancellorsville he skillfully covered the Union withdrawal from the field. When Major General Darius Couch requested a transfer, Hancock stepped up to command of the 2nd Army Corps.
At Gettysburg, General Hancock was in sole command of the Army of the Potomac until Major General George Meade arrived. Following the fall of Major General John F. Reynolds, Meade assigned him command of the left flank. On the second and third days of the battle, while directing the Union center, Hancock was largely responsible for stemming the main Confederate attacks. On the third day, he was seriously wounded when a nail and wood fragments from his saddle were driven into his thigh and groin by enemy fire; wounds from which he never fully recovered. During the lengthy recover period that followed, Hancock performed some recruiting duty.
Returning to command of the 2nd Corps prior to beginning of the Overland Campaign of 1864, General Hancock fought well at the Wilderness and was brevetted Major General in the regular Army for leading the attack and crashing though the Confederate salient at Spotsylvania. At Cold Harbor his troops were slaughtered in a futile assault ordered by Lt. General U. S. Grant. Because of the heavy losses the 2nd Corps sustained from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, Hancock lamented that his old 2nd Corps lay "buried between the Rapidan and the James" rivers.
 Hancock the Superb The Irish Brigade at Antietam, September 17, 1862
Shortly after arriving at the Petersburg, Va. front, Hancock's old wound forced him to leave the Army for the second time. Returning, in August 1864, he was humiliated by the 2nd Corps defeat at Reams Station on the 25th. This was the first time the 2nd Corps lost colors and guns to the enemy.
Finally, in November, his old wound broke open again, and he was forced to give up his field command. He began recruiting for the first Veteran Reserve Corps; however, results were poor, and early in 1865, he took over command of Washington, Maryland, West Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley.
General Hancock was mustered out of volunteer service on July 26, 1866, the same day that he received his appointment to Major General in the U. S. Army. He commanded the Department of the Missouri and participated in the Indian campaigns of the region. Named commander of the 5th Military District covering Texas and Louisiana, he was responsible for supervising reconstruction there. He found the military's role in Reconstruction offensive, and angered many radical Republicans by refusing to carry out certain measures, including replacing civil courts with military ones. These views also brought him into conflict with General Grant who objected to his lenient treatment of the South. In 1867, he requested and was granted a transfer to the North and was assigned command of the Military Division of the Atlantic.
 Hancock, seated, with his division commanders, l. to r. Francis Chauning Barlow, David Birney, and John Gibbon
By this time Hancock's reputation as an honest intelligent leaderas well as a bona fide war hero and anti-Reconstructionistprompted the Democrats to nominate him for president in 1880. He was narrowly defeated by another Civil War veteran, Republican James Garfield.
Major General Winfield Scott Hancock remained on active duty at Governor's Island, New York until his death. On August 8, 1885, he carried out his last official public duty when he conducted President Ulysses S. Grant's funeral. Less than a year later, on February 9, 1886, Hancock died as a result of advanced diabetes at Governor's Island, New York.
After a brief funeral service at Trinity Church, in New York City, General Hancock's remains were taken to his boyhood home of Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he was placed, alongside his daughter, Ada, in a mausoleum in Montgomery Cemetery.
 General Winfield Scott Hancock arrives at Cemetery Hill in the opening rounds of the Battle of Gettysburg, and rallies the retreating Union troops.
Civil War Assignments:
- Brigadier General, U. S. Volunteers, September 23, 1861
- Commander, 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, IV Corps in Peninsula
- Commander, Third Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of the Potomac (October 3, 1861- March 13, 1862)
- Commander 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, IV Corps, Army of the Potomac (October 3, 1861-September 17, 1862)
- November 1862 promoted Major General of Volunteers
- Commander 1st Division, 2nd Corps at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville
- Commander 2nd Corps at Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg
- August 1864 promoted to Brigadier General in Regular Army
- Commander, Department of West Virginia
- Brevet Major General U.S.A. March 13 1865
Post War
Appointed Major General U. S. Army, July 26, 1866
Commanded Department of the East
U. S. presidential candidate in 1880
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