Winfield Scott Hancock

Home > ... > People > History > U.S. History: Biographies > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Winfield Scott Hancock

Winfield Scott Hancock 1824-86, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Montgomery Square, near Norristown, Pa. He served with distinction in the Mexican War and was chief quartermaster on the Pacific coast when the Civil War broke out. Made a brigadier general of volunteers in Sept., 1861, Hancock fought in the Peninsular campaign (1862); in the Antietam campaign he succeeded to the command of a division. His command was heavily engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg (1862) and Chancellorsville (1863). Hancock, commanding the 2d Corps, played a conspicuous role in the Gettysburg campaign . Gen. George G. Meade chose to fight at Gettysburg on Hancock's recommendation, and in the last two days of the battle Hancock was foremost in repulsing the Confederate attacks, particularly General Pickett's charge on July 3, 1863. He was severely wounded. Hancock led the 2d Corps in the Wilderness campaign and in the operations around Petersburg until Nov., 1864, when he left to recruit a new corps. His course as chief of the military department of Louisiana and Texas after the war was characterized by a wise moderation, which was not approved by the radicals in Congress. He was transferred to another command at his own request. The Democratic party nominated him for President in 1880, on his military record. James Garfield defeated him, but with only a slight popular plurality.

Bibliography: See A. Hancock, Reminiscences of Winfield Scott Hancock (1887); biography by G. Tucker (1960).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-HancockWS" title="Facts and information about Winfield Scott Hancock">Winfield Scott Hancock</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Winfield Scott Hancock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 30 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Winfield Scott Hancock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 30, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-HancockWS.html

"Winfield Scott Hancock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-HancockWS.html

Learn more about citation styles

Hancock, Winfield Scott

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | Â© The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Hancock, Winfield Scott (1824–86) Union army officer in the Army of the Potomac, born in Mongomery Square, Pennsylvania. Hancock fought with distinction at Antietam (1862), Chancellorsville (1863), and Gettysburg (1863), where his troops repulsed Gen. George E. Pickett's charge. Hancock remained in the postwar army, mainly with commands in the West. He received the Democratic nomination for president in 1880, but was defeated by James A. Garfield.

Hancock was named Winfield Scott in honor of the military hero of the War of 1812, but was not related to him.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O63-HancockWinfieldScott" title="Facts and information about Winfield Scott Hancock">Winfield Scott Hancock</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Hancock, Winfield Scott." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 30 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Hancock, Winfield Scott." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (November 30, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-HancockWinfieldScott.html

"Hancock, Winfield Scott." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved November 30, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-HancockWinfieldScott.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

World Encyclopedia entry for Hancock, Winfield Scott

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	NY Worker Accused of Stealing Artifacts News Wire article from: AP Online; 1/28/2008
	The Civil War Paintings of Mort Kunstler, Vol Three: The Gettysburg Campaign.(Brief article)(Book review) Magazine article from: MBR Bookwatch; 12/1/2007
	New York state archivist accused of stealing historic artifacts, selling some on eBay News Wire article from: AP Worldstream; 1/28/2008

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Trust in God & fear nothing: confederate Gen. Lewis Armistead and Union Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock--like many of their contemporaries--were good friends who found themselves on opposite sides in the Civil War. Magazine article from: The New American; 7/10/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...commanded by his longtime friend Winfield Scott Hancock. Armistead and Hancock had served...bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key's "Star-Spangled Banner...Sedgwick--and his future friend, Winfield Scott Hancock. He was brevetted major for...
	Honoring 'Hancock the Superb'; With Civil War [Derived headline] Newspaper article from: The Intelligencer; 7/28/2008; 700+ words ; ...and Swede streets General Winfield Scott Hancock Square. Hancock, a national...and an old one at that. Winfield Scott Hancock was named after Winfield...army officer. In fact old Winfield Scott would be Hancock's superior officer in...
	Williamsburg shreds Rebels; Union's Hancock earns moniker 'The Superb'.(PLUGGED IN - NATIONAL SECURITY)(AMERICA AT WAR)(Column) Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 3/12/2009; 700+ words ; ...and earned Union Brig. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock the nom de guerre The Superb...tilted toward the Confederates. Hancock arrives Earlier, Sumner had...Sumner ordered Brig. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock to occupy the strong point that...
	Hancock.(News) Newspaper article from: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO); 8/11/2008; 666 words ; ...Republican, Ulysses S. Grant, Democrats nominated a former northern general for themselves: Winfield Scott Hancock. It almost worked, too. Hancock lost to yet another former northern general, James A. Garfield, in one of the closest elections...
	A Guide to the Indian Wars of the West / The Class of 1861: Custer, Ames, and their Classmates after West Point / On the Plains with Custer and Hancock: The Journal of Isaac Coates, Army Surgeon / A dispatch to Custer: The Tragedy of Lieutenant Kidder Magazine article from: Montana; The Magazine of Western History; 7/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...ON THE PLAINS WITH CUSTER AND HANCOCK The Journal of Isaac Coates...On the Plains with Custer and Hancock is a documentary edition of the...1834-1888) who joined General Winfield Scott Hancock's 1867 military expedition...
	Stage is set for battle of defending state champions at Winfield Newspaper article from: Charleston Daily Mail; 1/3/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...champion teams square off in Winfield. The Class AA Generals...for Tennessee, while Winfield lost point guard Karah...Wilmington Coach Ann Hancock had a good feeling the...it was a good sign," Hancock said, "when she came...anything," Nitro Coach Scott Tinsley said. "You...
	Winfield Elementary praises attendance perfection Newspaper article from: Charleston Gazette; 1/31/2007; 497 words ; Winfield Elementary School recently honored the students...Preston-Pratt, Jacob Saunders, Jacob Scott, Byron Searls, Katheryn Singleton, Madison...Nicolas Bailey, Valerie Gress, William Hancock, Kristina Johns, Charlotte Karnes, Ivy...
	The man who mapped Gettysburg battlefield.(TRAVEL)(THE CIVIL WAR) Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 8/5/2006; 700+ words ; ...and so convincing in his presentation that Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, who was seriously wounded at the "high water...of Union Gens. Abner Doubleday, John Newton, Winfield Hancock, David Birney, George Sykes, John Sedgwick...
	NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OFFERS SPECIAL PROGRAMS AT THE HISTORIC SHELTON HOUSE IN HANOVER COUNTY News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 10/15/2007; 504 words ; ...Totopotomoy Creek. During that engagement Union General Winfield Hancock's Second Army Corps entrenched near the Shelton...and living history volunteers will portray General Winfield Scott Hancock and his staff as they were headquartered on the...
	CLOSE ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE JOINS RANKS OF STORIED CONTESTS Newspaper article from: Roanoke Times & World News; 11/19/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...House and Senate races over the years. My friend, Jim Scott, the Fairfax delegate, came to the House in 1991 with...Garfield, of Ohio, beat a former Civil War general, Winfield Hancock, by 1,898 votes. Then, in 1884, Democrat Grover...