W. S. Hancock

Federal (USA)

Brigadier General

Winfield Scott Hancock

(1824 - 1886)

Home State: Pennsylvania

Education: US Military Academy, West Point, NY, Class of 1844

Command Billet: CO, Brigade (then Division)

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Corps

see his Battle Report

Before Antietam

Graduated from the USMA in 1844, did frontier duty, saw action in the Mexican war, and in "Bloody" Kansas. He was on the Utah expedition, and in the Quartermaster service. In September 1861 he was appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, and commanded the 1st Brigade/2nd Division/Fourth (IV) Corps on the Peninsula and at the Seven Days battles.

On the Campaign

He commanded the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Division/Sixth (VI) Corps and assumed command of the 1st Division/Second (II) Army Corps after MGen Richardson was wounded.

The rest of the War

In November 1862 he was promoted to Major General of Volunteers, and remained in command of the 1st Division/Second (II) Corps, which he led at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He then commanded the II Corps at Gettysburg (wounded), the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. In August 1864 he was appointed Brigadier General in the Regular Army, and commanded the Department of West Virginia.

After the War

Career Army service; commanded Deptartment of the East, and was US presidential candidate in 1880 (lost to James Garfield). Generally considered to be one of the greatest eastern generals by War's end.

Birth

2/14/1824; Montgomery Square, Pennsylvania

Death

2/9/1886; Governor's Island, New York; burial in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, PA