The life and public services of Winfield Scott Hancock, major-general, U. S. A. Also, the life and services of Hon. William H. English

Front matter

THE

LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES

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Introduction

OUR design in this work has been to delineate in as faithful a manner as possible the lives and characters of the two men now prominently brought before about fifty millions of American people. These men represent one of the great parties of the day, and as both parties look with intense interest upon their respective candidates, and as many, for the purpose of debasement, malignantly seek out the petty defects of political opponents, while others the true character, that they may judge of the abilities of the men from whom they must choose, we desire to portray in full the life of our candidate and representative, as he is, with all his faults and failures, also as he stands to-day— a fine specimen of physical manhood, a noble, true character, having a record in our country's annals as clear as crystal and a name synonymous with that of bravery and honesty. This is the glorious chronicle in which he has always been proclaimed by the history of our country. As a Union soldier, we can look at General Hancock engaged in the battles of Gettysburg, and others in which he became conspicuous, and for which services he received the thanks of Congress on the 30th of May, 1866.

4 INTRODUCTION.

Of Hon. W. H. English, his speeches and life, and advocacy of the fundamental principles of our Government, may suffice for his defense. Intellectually, he ranks high — having but few superiors in our country — his speeches, delivered in Congress during the last two years of his membership in that body, and the fact that while speaker of the Legislature no appeal was ever taken from his decisions, verify the above statement. In purity of style and excellency of spirit and diction, we have the impress of the scholar and statesman.

The history of these men is indissolubly connected with that of our country, and a knowledge of one is, in a measure, also a knowledge of the other. It is to this history that we call attention. The old Jeffersonian party takes on new life and becomes lifted into a higher blaze of sunshine as we look at her through these men. Their election to the chief offices of our country secures the unition of the factions that have so longf distressed and harassed the country, both North and South. The speedy recovery of the peace and prosperity of our once preeminently blest land is one important political subject before us. Some solution of the difficulty is especially needed to efface effectually the differences existing at this time.

To accomplish this purpose, we call loudly for a more conservative element than is found in the ruling imperialistic ranks of the Republican party of to-day — something that will effectually blockade a concentration of centralizing forces, but not the opposite of centralization — to the intent and purpose of the

IXTRODUCTIOX. 5

re-establishment of the States' rights doctrine ; not by any means. Radicalism has been our country's great enemy. We have always deprecated and abhorred the doctrine of secession, but its slimy folds are no more pernicious in their purposes than the Bonapartism that has been creeping so insidiously upon us within the last few years. We have struggled successfully against the one, the other was simply to come — is, in fact, the only difference between the two. Obstinate, unprincipled, and unscrupulous leaders headed the list in both factions. The rank and file of the American people, both North and South, are true to principles underlying our republican forms of government, and as they understand these principles, vote honestly for one party or the other; but in their investigations, principles have been lost sight of, in trying to keep pace with party sectionalisms. For this reason the Republican party of to-day is not the Republican party of 1856. That party was born for a special purpose, in which both Democrats and Whigs became founders. These two parties formed into line, and fought side by side, but as their object is now accomplished, it is but natural that the old Hancock Democracy should hie back to its Jeffersonian home, while that of radicalism should exile itself to its isolated Elba.

Another difference exists, that should be mentioned. The new party that took the field in '61 to save the Union, found it necessary to trample down some of the rights cnven the States under the Constitution. These minor wrongs were committed for the sole purpose of preserving the Union. That

6 INTRODUCTION.

necessity no longer exists, and our country should not permit the iron heel of despotism to continue in power against a fallen foe. Men of to-day were boys twenty years ago. Our armies were principally composed of the youth of our land — and of which the writer was one. Since that time, however, we have all grown to be men, and to a great extent, during these years, have lost sight of the constitutional liberties granted by our forefathers, in the education received at the hands of our once beloved Republican party. These Republican measures in which training was given, although unconstitutional, were once deemed necessary ; but the tendencies have been injurious, inasmuch as the education being partisan, is now of an embittering, fratricidal character, extremely prejudicial to the interests of our country.

This conservative element, needed just at this time, is one that finds a golden medium between the movement made on the part of the unscrupulous and over-excited leaders of the Republican party, favoring Grantism and imperialism, and that other class, equally as soulless and unpatriotic, favoring extreme views of States' rights to an ultra degree, in opposition to centralization and federalistic principles of our Government.

This medium has been found in the Democratic principles advocated and maintained by General Hancock — the principles he has brought into life by his living them out. As a soldier, his sword has upon its edge no stain ; as a constitutional lawyer, his record has been made for the Union, and against secession — his acts vouchsafe peace and harmony to

INTRODUCTION. 7

the South, under the Constitution, with all its late amendments, in a manner conciliatory and to the best interests of that people. The law-abiding, liberty-loving classes in both North and South, in both parties, will rally to the principles he has always proclaimed.

It is to this man — to his life and to the principles that have actuated him in the North, in the army, in the South — in his unimpeachable character as a citizen of our commonwealth, we call attention. Our endeavors to portray his character for a reading public, have been done to show what sort of a man he is — his availableness, his fitness, for the Presidency. Sometimes candidates have some of the qualifications necessary for that office, but are sadly wanting in others. How is it with Hancock? An elimination of the qualities existing in our representative is, in part, here contributed. His record given as a general in the army is conscientiously and indissolubly linked to those of the foremost soldiers of the war for the Union. No general in the war was braver. No general in the army met the emergency of a great and critical hour with more promptness and bravery than Hancock at the battle of Gettysburg. Grant at Vicksburg was not greater in his soldierly power. The brilliant, dashing, swiftriding Sheridan was no greater — Hancock was also "twenty miles" away, but he rode that distance, located the place, made the plan, and, in fact, executed, the battle of Gettysburg with such a full and ready capacity of courage that history does not hesitate to stamp him one of our greatest heroes.

8 INTRODUCTION.

The Gettysburg battle was the great pivotal battle of the war. The time and place and circumstances under which the North was placed at that time caused much fear; and had our army failed in its mission there, the scales would very likely have been turned against us, and our ranks become so demoralized as to have affected the glorious results finally accomplished.

Yet in all this, brilliant, as it seems, and grand as General Hancock's leadership was, it is worthy of no more attention than the history made by him while acting as military governor of the Fifth Military District of the South.

To all these brilliant records, as a soldier, as a constitutional lawyer, and as a military governor, we call the attention of our readers, that they may learn and judge for themselves.

Contents

Winfield Scott Hancock.

Chapter I

Hancock's Lineage— Military Prestige— Local Advantages of Birth-place—Juvenile Drills— Early and Later Characteristics of Life compared— The Products of the War of 1861— Occupation and Financial Embarrassments of the Hancock Family— Church Membership, Religious Training— Books for Winfield Page 17

Chapter II. Childhood And Cadet Life

Removal of the Hancock Family— The County Seat— The Old Home — Norristown Academy— Winfield' s Teachers— School Register— What is said of Young Hancock— Noted Men of Norristown— How Winfield got the Appointment to West Point— His Classmates at West Point— Cadet Work, etc 2 5

Chapter III. Home And Famil Y

Hancock's Natural Advantages— West Point Prestige— Attractions outside the St. Louis Barracks— Marriage to Miss Almira Russell— Mrs. Hancock's Beauty and Education— The two Children— Death of Ada Hancock— General Hancock— The White House Mania— A Criticism— The Hancock Property— Russell Hancock's Traits and Runaway Match— Professor Fowler's Opinions of Hancock 33

10 CONTEXTS.

Chapter IV. General Hancock's Military Record Previous To The

REBELLION.

The Sixth Regiment — Mexican Troubles — Call for Troops— General Taylor — Command assumed by General Scott — Success of the United States Troops — General Scott's First Six Month's Service — The Situation of the Enemy in Mexico City — Gallantry of our Soldiers — Hancock Brevetted — Entrance to the City — Hancock after the War— In Utah, etc Page 43

Chapter V. .general Hancock' In The Peninsular Campaign

Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln — Jeff. Davis — Rights Contested — Government Property in the South — Hancock Decides in Favor of the Union — His Appointment and Command — Camp Drill — The North and South compared in Officers, Men, etc. — M'Clellan goes to Fortress Monroe — Magruder — The Evacuation and Pursuit — Williamsburg Battle — Hancock's Brilliant Charge, the Report — Destruction of the Iron-clad Merrimac — The Dela> — Battles at Fair Oaks and Gaines' Hill — The Feint made to Deceive M'Clellan — The Position of Hancock's Brigade — Retreat to Malvern Hill — Jeff. Davis in Command — Retreat to Harrison Landing 48

CHAPTER VE

HANCOCK AGAINST LEE IN HIS RAID NORTH OF THE POTOMAC.

M'Clellan returns to Washington — Reorganization of our Demoralized Troops — Lee's Concentration of Troops at Frederick — The Proclamation — Enlisting Troops for the Rebels — The Movement toward Harper's Ferry — The Battle at Crampton's Gap — Failure at Harper's Ferry— Forces at Antietam Creek — Hooker's Flank Movement — The First Day's Fight — Burnside's Delay — The Re-enforced Enemy — Our Distress — Hard Fighting on Second Day — Hancock's Charge His Heroism and Promotion — Conclusion 60

Chapter VII

Burnside's Command — The Movement South by both Armies — Situation of Troops at Fredericksburg — Pontoon Bridges, and the Decoy TEXTS. 1 1

lay— Marye's Heights— The Impassable Stone-wall— The Horrible Carnage of Hancock's Corps— After the Fight— Recrossing the River— Restoring the Confidence of the Men— Change of Commanders Pa § e 68

Chapter VIII. Hancock On The Rappahannock, Concluded

Situation of our Troops — Placing the Troops for Battle — The Shape Assumed— Jackson's Flank Movement— The Sudden Attack— The Retreat — Major Kernan — The Fearful Execution from the Battery — Death of Stonewall Jackson — Fighting Joe Hooker — Second Day's Fight — Hancock's Promotion — His Testimony — Notes of the Battle — Touching Incidents, etc 7$

Chapter IX. General Lees Raid North

The Two Armies — General Lee — The Condition of the North and South Respectively — Invasion of Pennsylvania — The Results Expected — An Opportune Time — Lee leaving the Rappahannock — Route taken, and Engagements with our Troops — The President's call for Volunteers — Extensive Preparations — Location of Troops — Hancock's Second Corps 89

Chapter X. Preliminaries To The Battle Of Gettysburg

The Strategic Movements of Hooker and Lee — The Advance Northward — General Milroy's Defeat — Hooker's Fear — Hancock at Thoroughfare Gap — The Crossing of the Potomac — Call for Troops The Enemy — How Situated — General Hooker relieved of the Command — The Trouble— Gettysburg — How Situated — Disposition of Troops for the Battle , ■.■ 96

CHAPTER XL

FIRST DA V A T GETTYSBURG.

The Advance on Gettysburg — Buford's Skirmish Line — Reinforcements — The Rush for Oak Hill — Death of General Reynolds — Desperate Fighting — The Iron Brigade — The Bucktail Brigade — The

12 CONTENTS.

Continuous Line of the Enemy's attack — The Retreat — The Batteries — John Burns Page 105

Chapter XII. Hancock At Gettysburg

Hancock's Order from Meade— Arrival on the Field — Disposition of the Different Corps for Battle — Battle on the Left — Sedgwick's Corps — Attack on the Right— Batteries on the Right — Fearful Cannonade from the Enemy on Seminary Ridge — General Hancock's Bravery — The Attack and Repulse of the Enemy — Prisoners Captured 118

Chapter XIII. " The Two Heroes Of Gettysburg."

Hancock's Wound — Pickett's Charge — General Lee — A Retreat Resolved upon — John Burns — His Services in the Battle — Burns Wounded — Burns' Recompense — Hancock's Absence from his Command — Public Receptions — Grant Promoted to the Command of the Army, etc 132

Chapter XIV. Hancock In The Battle Of The Wilderness

Grant Crosses the Rapidan — Condition of the Wilderness — Lee's Sudden Attack — Hancock Recalled — The Battle — March to Spottsylvania Court-house — Positions Taken — The Hotly-contested Encounters — Hancock Captures Rebel Breastworks — On to Richmond 144

Chapter XV. Hancock Before Richmond

Hancock at North Anna — The Bloody Battle at Cold Harbor — The Advance made toward Petersburg — Major-general W. F. Smith and Hancock — The Attack on Petersburg, and Our Reverses — Cavalry Raids around Richmond — The Siege Begun 1 5S

Chapter XVI. Hancock Before Petersburg

Blowing up the Rebel Fort — The Failure of Hancock's Second Demonstration North of the James River — Battle of Ream s Station —

CONTENTS. 13

Battle of Hatcher's Run-Siege Begun-A Review of Facts-The Gallant Second Corps-Hancock as a Military Commander..Page 168

Chapter XVII

THE TRIAL OF MRS. MARY E. SURRATT.

General Remarks— An Opinion that the Conspiracy was General— The Conspirators— The Assassination and Escape— The One Hundred Thousand Dollars Reward— The Trial, Conviction, and Sentence—Hancock's Petition— The Doubtful Question attested— Concluding Remarks l 3

Chapter XVIII. Hancock As A Military Governor

Condition of the South upon taking Command of the Fifth Military District— The Position Taken— Services Rendered in Missouri- General Order, No. 40— A Happy Disappointment to the People- Progress made toward Reconstruction— Arbitrary Arrests and Removals from Office— Letter to Governor Pease 194

Chapter XIX. General Hancock's Island Home

Situation of the Island— Hancock's Head-quarters— House— Family- Forts and Batteries— Churches— Faithful Patrick 216

William H. English.

Chapter XX

History, of Parents— His Literary Career, Profession, and Progress- Devotion to Politics— Positions held in Office— His Advantages in Early Life— Our Great Men— His Father— His Mother— Grand-parents, who they were — In Memory of the Dead— Personal Description 22 3

Chapter XXI

MR. ENGLISH IN HIS EARLY POLITICAL CAREER. Entrance into Politics— His Position as Postmaster— As Clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives— On the Stump in the Canvass

14 CONTEXTS.

of 1844 — Clerk in the United States Treasury Department — A Democratic Family — Elected Secretary of the Constitutional Convention — Speaker of the House — Traits of Character Page 235

Chapter XXII. English In Congress

English in Congress — The Conflicting Views on Slavery — The Kansas- Nebraska Trouble — Boundary Lines — The Two State Governments — Amendments proposed by Mr. English — Popular Sovereignty — Mr. English on Slavery — The Author's Views on these Questions 248

Chapter XXIII

MR. ENGLISH ON THE WAR QUESTION.

His Views on Know-nothings — As Regent of the Smithsonian Institute — Re-election to Congress — Views on Slavery — The English Bill — Congratulations from the President — Explanations of the English Bill — Notable Contests for the Speakership 263

CHAPTER XXIV. SITUATION OF AFFAIRS AFTER i860

The Platforms and Nominating Conventions of 1856-1860 — Mr. English's Visit to Charleston — The Split in the Democratic Party — Mr. English retires to Private Life — His Interest Manifest for the Cause of the Union — His Speeches — Favors Tilden and Hendricks -86

Chapter XXV

MR. ENGLISH AS A BUSINESS MAN.

Enters into Banking — Increase in Bank Capital— Gold and Silver the True Standard— Opposed to Inflation— Success in Business—The Resignation— The Stockholders' Presentation 301

Chapter XXVI. A Divided Democracy

Cincinnati Convention of I856— Founders of the Democratic Party- Provisions— Democratic Principles — Dangers of Arbitrary Rule guarded — Strength of the Party— Democracy Fallen — Causes leading to the Trouble— Thomas Jefferson a True Democrat— Later Times— Platforms and Principles of Democracy Compared 30;

CONTENTS. 15

Chapter XXVII. A Restored Democracy

Abraham Lincoln and his Government — Object of the War — Virginia and Tennessee — Reconstruction under Lincoln — Andrew Johnson and Congress — The Usurpation by Congress of Constitutional Rights— The Veto— The South after the War— Registration Frauds- Radical and Democratic Government compared — General Ewing's Speech Page 326

National Democratic Convention. chapter xxviii.

FIRST DAY OF THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.

Cincinnati and the Hotels — Noted Personages — Music Hall — The Decorations — The Press and Telegraphic Associations — The Delegations — Tammany Hall — Indiana Delegation — Tilden's Letter — The Southern Delegates — Meeting at the Hall — Judge Hoadley's Speech — Preliminary Business — Appointment of Committees.... 345

Chapter XXIX. The Second Da Ys Contest

Opening Exercises of the Convention — The Soldiers Remembered — The Battle on Credentials — Report on Permanent Organizations — What an Eye-witness says — Three Minutes' Speech by General Young — Senator Stevenson — The Nominations — General Hancock's Nomination — The Votes taken — Closing Scenes of the Day 381

Chapter XXX. Hancock The Choice Of The Convention

Opening Exercises— Another Candidate — The Ballot — The Hancock " Boom " — Delegations Falling into Line — The Uproarious Session — Speeches — The Platform — Nomination of English — Letters of Acceptance. 407

16 ILLUSTRATIONS.

LIST OF FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

PORTRAIT OF MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK (Steel

Engraving.) Frontispiece.

THE EARLY HOME OF GENERAL HANCOCK Page 27

GENERAL HANCOCK'S HOME, GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, N. Y 21 J

portrait OF HON. William H. English (Steel Engraving.). ..Face 225

MUSIC HALL, CINCINNATI — EXTERIOR VIEW 395

MUSIC HALL — NOMINATION OF GENERAL HANCOCK 409

GENERAL HANCOCK RECEIVING CONGRATULATIONS AT HIS HEAD- QUARTERS, GOVERNOR'S ISLAND 415

LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Winfield Scott Hancock.

Chapter I

HANCOCK'S LINEAGE — MILITARY PRESTIGE — LOCAL ADVANTAGES OF BIRTH-PLACE — JUVENILE DRILLS — EARLY AND LATER CHARACTER- ISTICS OF LIFE COMPARED — THE PRODUCTS OF THE WAR OF l86l — OCCUPATION AND FINANCIAL EMBARRASSMENTS OF THE HANCOCK FAMILY — CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, RELIGIOUS TRAINING — BOOKS FOR WINFIELD.

WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK, the son of Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Hancock, was born in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of February, 1824.

The young Pennsylvanian had two brothers : Hillary, a twin, who so closely resembled him that the two were hardly distinguishable apart, even by intimate friends of the family, when seen at a short distance; the name of his other brother is John, some years younger. Hillary is an attorney-at-law, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Winfield is a descendant of fighting stock. His

father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather

were all accustomed to the hardships, to the din and

smoke, of the battle-field ; and our young hero — inheriting it as patrimony — had the spirit of the soldier breathed into his being as an inheritance. ■

His maternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and was captured at sea, and confined in the Dartmoor prison, England ; and his mother's maternal grandfather was also a soldier in the Revolutionary struggle, and served under Washington. He rendered noted service for his country, but, yielding to the hardships and exposures of the battlefield, endured in the heavy marches and long campaigns, died at the close of the war. Hancock's own father served in the war of 1812.

The family history of the Hancocks — mostly of a military experience — had its significant bearings upon the future inclinations of young Winfield. Around his father's fireside he often heard the varied stories of hardships and privations of the soldiers on the battle-field, of their heroic virtues, of camp-life, of the sad lot that fell to those captured in battle and held as prisoners of war, and of the loss of fathers, brothers, and sons, leaving home and the endearments of life as sacrifices upon their country's altar — necessary for liberty and freedom, and independence of their country's rights. Of all this the ready ear and quick eye of the youthful Hancock, naturally possessing a love for military life, caught up as if by inspiration, and but too plainly showed itself in his boyish imaginations for the love of childish parade and mimicry of war.

In addition to this, he seems to have been blessed in the locality of his birth-place. Eastern Pennsylvania is not only a paradise of rolling fields — rich,

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 19

luxuriant, and prolific in bestowing nature's choicest fruits and vegetable products of the soil — but this part of the State is suggestive in its historical scenery also. His father's fireside was on the banks of the Schuylkill, a river crossed and recrossed by armies of either side many times. It was but a short distance down to Philadelphia, where young Winfield had gone often, and when there contemplated upon the condition of affairs, when Howe captured Philadelphia, and Philadelphia in turn, by the feastings and midnight revelings of the British soldiers, had as victoriously captured Howe. There was Germantown, only six miles from Philadelphia, where Howe almost became successful against Washington in his advance upon Philadelphia; and there were the other towns of Trenton, and the capture of the Hessians, of Burlington, of Bordentown, of Crosswick, of Valley Forge, of Elk River, of Brandywine Creek, of Chad's Ford — most of them within easy reach of half-day's ride from Norristown, and each in turn possessing a history significant and full of interest to the citizens of Eastern Pennsylvania, and especially to those of Hancock's own immediate vicinity.

Coming from a race of such military pedigree, and possessing a natural love for the battle-field, these places, with all their historical associations, became to his mind, a "thing of beauty and a joy forever." And it is not surprising that even when a boy he had a weakness in chasing 1 his thoughts into a military direction, and in his dreamy imaginations accomplished deeds on the battle-field greater than those recorded in history. All this was but natural, and in proof of which we read interesting sketches of his school-boy days, where he was in the habit of pummeling his classmates into line for a juvenile drill, and, arranging them vis-avis, would charge upon the enemy's works and capture prisoners and munitions of war. His trestle-board for military parade was back of the old academy building. For soldiers' outfits, uniforms, etc., Hancock generally improvised paper cocked-hats, guns and swords of sticks, and thus prepared, and as their acknowledged leader, would put his men through all manner of maneuvers, which, to their boyish minds, was the acme of military perfection.

Now, in after years, when we can take a sober, sage look, retrospective of the hundred battle-fields of our hero, we can but plainly see how history repeats itself in the life of the general, and why it is "the boy is father to the man."

In his playful sports, we are happy to be able to record the fact that notwithstanding Hancock was the recognized lion of his chums and playmates, he was always obedient to law and order himself, and a stern firm friend and protector to the weak and oppressed. The poverty-stricken class, or the helpless orphaned playmates over whom the older scholars would sometimes tyrannize, always found him no less ardent in his friendship on account of their misfortunes. His great sympathetic heart would always overflow out of sympathy for the unfortunate ones in life. This was a recognized fact all through his long, eventful life in the service. The seed thus

"WHEN GOVERNOR." 21

sown in love and good-will for his iellow-man has not been without its just reward. As the life of the General comes to the surface for the reading public, these heroic virtues are fanned into a blaze of love by the former recipients of his favors.

When in charge of the Fifth Military District of the South, he recognized a fallen foe, his fellow-man, whom he had previously helped to conquer and subdue, but nevertheless men united in affections of kindred ties, but a down-trodden, a helpless, a brokenhearted people. He then and there dared to lift up the civil authority, to restore them to their own rigrhts under the Constitution of their forefathers,

o

and to give them the right of trial by jury, the habeas coi'pus, freedom of speech, and to proclaim to their over-heated enemies that he would uphold these rights of theirs by the sword that he held in his hand. This is the man whom we have ever found brave and courageous in boyhood and manhood, yet generous to his friends and his enemies alike, even to a fault. By his heroic acts of life, civil and military, unstained as they are, he is worthy of the honors that have ever been showered upon him by the beauty and chivalry of our land.

The war of 1861 brings to surface many men prominently, who would otherwise have had no history. This is true of Grant, and probably would have been so with Hancock. We are not gifted as astrological prophets, but we surmise the General would have been a failure as a farmer or even as a tanner. To think of him in the field with a hoe in hand, or behind the counter as a vender, is ludicrous

22 WINF1ELD SCOTT HANCOCK.

in the extreme. We presuppose simply that a kind providence, foreseeing our needs, prepares great men for some of the sterner emergencies of life. Their history, to be full, necessitates that of others, not, in themselves, very important, but only as they by their intimacy or relationship shed luster upon the subject. This is our apology for inserting historical sketches of the members of the family and others spoken of in the work. Benjamin Franklin Hancock, after the war of 1S12, returned to Montgomery County, and became a justice of the peace. The family was in a somewhat poverty-stricken condition ; nor did Mr. Hancock's income furnish an over-abundant supply, that a part of which could be laid away for pin-money. It was found to be really necessary for Mrs. Hancock to assist in the work of obtaining the necessaries of life, which she readily and willingly did by the free use of her needle and thimble, in her occupation as a milliner. They both had their business in the same store. Mr. Hancock afterward, however, became an attorney-at-law, and was more successful in the regular profession as a lawyer.

The Hancocks were formerly members of the Friends' Society, but after removing to Norristown took a pew in the Baptist Church, and were ever afterward strong adherents to that denomination. As descendants of the Puritanic stock, however, their religious zeal w r as of a high order, and as such they may have been over-particular and peculiar in certain observances and forms of religion ; but it matters not, in this respect, to what degree their faith and zeal car-

EARLY TRAINING. 23

ried them, as religious influence can not but be highly subservient to the wants of fallen humanity, no matter in what form the application may be made. So with them the fruitage of their religious zeal twined itself into the hearts of their boys, only to reappear again in the acts of their lives in later days. General Hancock's life furnishes an abundant proof of just such training, from a father's teachings and a mother's loving counsels. Mr. Hancock was also superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and made it obligatory upon the members of his family to attend likewise. It was not enough to simply clothe and feed the family, but a careful watch was held, looking unto their spiritual wants, as well. All this did much toward making the successful General, and giving direction and guidance to his native abilities in the leadership of men.

One of the great sins of the day, on the part of parents, is the want of a watchfulness over the children in the selection of good books for them to read. He thought, as did Edward Brooks, that it is better to inspire the heart with a noble sentiment than to teach the mind a truth of science. Mr. Hancock watched closely the formation of the habits of thought in his children, and took care to inspire their minds with noble sentiments. A single illustration, in this particular, will suffice: After it was decided that Winfield should go to West Point, his father, as usual, gave good advice in regard to a proper use of his leisure time ; and as he was now to become a soldier, his father said, above all he should understand the principles of law, as republics had generally fallen by soldiers' swords. Upon making this statement, he gave Winfield several books to read — one was the Constitution of the United States, a copy of Blackstone, and some others — and told him to read these at least once a year. With these instructions Winfield carefully complied.

We may gather some idea from facts similar to the one given how the critical acumen of the man was awakened, how his mind was guarded against pernicious reading, and stored with grand thoughts clothed in beautiful language, and an interest awakened in the character and productions of good writers.