Hancock the Superb

Winfield Scott Hancock was one of the most overlooked Union generals in the entire Civil War, and history doomed him to share part of his name with one of the most despised generals of the time. Hancock, a Major General with experience from the Mexican-American War, was known as “Hancock the Superb”, and more informally by his troops as “The Thunderbolt of the Potomac”.  (Eicher, 2001)  But why is Hancock so forgotten? And what did he do to earn such fantastic nicknames? This writer will answer these questions and more in this glimpse into the life and military career of Hancock the Superb.

Winfield Scott Hancock was born on Valentine’s Day, 1824, an identical twin, in fact, and was named for General Winfield Scott, hero of the War of 1812. That namesake would come back to haunt him in his military career, which he didn’t even plan on having throughout his childhood. But he was accepted to West Point, and graduated as a second lieutenant in the infantry, just in time for the Mexican-American War. He earned a brevet, and then was transferred to the Army’s Quartermaster Depart, where he served as the Assistant Quartermaster until the outbreak of the Civil War.

Hancock was stationed in California at the start of the Civil War, his biggest struggle was preventing Union munitions stockpiled in Los Angeles from falling into Southern supporters’ hands. He was then reassigned to be quartermaster in Kentucky, but General George McClellan requisitioned him and put a star on his shoulder to command troops in William “Baldy” Smith’s divisions. Hancock’s first real test came in May 1862, at the battle of Williamsburg. He took his brigade and occupied two abandoned outposts, securing the Union’s flank. In spite of the Union losing the battle, Hancock’s reputation grew enormously, and McClellan saw great potential in Hancock. In fact, after the battle, McClellan wrote to his wife, “Hancock was superb today,” in addition to complementing Hancock on his physical appearance – as Hancock was a very attractive man with a commanding demeanor. (Jordan, 1988) After this, “the Superb” became Hancock’s nickname for the rest of the war.

Later, in the September battle at Antietam, Hancock was given command of a second division, taking over for the mortally-wounded General Israel Richardson. The next spring, the newly-promoted Hancock took command of another unit for an outgoing general and began working with General “Fighting Joe” Hooker. Major General Hancock was replaced for the Battle of Gettysburg, but when his new commander learned one of his other generals was killed, Hancock took command of the 1^st, 3^rd and 11^th Corps for the duration of the battle. This was an unheard-of honor, since there was a senior general on the field that day. However, Winfield even managed to find the time to correct tactical mistakes at Peach Orchard, and stave off the Rebels’ “Pickett’s Charge.” He was wounded during the charge, spending about nine months in pain and recovery – and still recruiting for the Union Army – after his doctors finally removed the mini ball. It’s interesting to note that in spite of his crucial role in Gettysburg, when Congress passed a joint resolution thanking the generals that played a key role in the battle, Hancock’s name was omitted. Some speculate this was because he shared his name with a failed general from the outset of the war.

After his recovery and return to his beloved Second Corps, his troops had been reassigned under General Ulysses S. Grant, who changed the Army’s fighting style to something much more akin to Hancock’s own. For example, in spite of the Union’s loss at the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864, they didn’t retreat; in fact, Hancock led his 2^nd Corps in a counteroffensive against A.P. Hill’s troops, driving the Confederates back in panic and disorder. If it weren’t for General James Longstreet’s forces arriving to reinforce the Rebs, Hancock would’ve forced the collapse of the entire Confederate right flank. (Tucker, 1980) Just days later, the Superb led his men to capture over 2,800 prisoners at Spotsylvania Courthouse. However, at the battle at Petersburg, he deferred command to the current commander on the field, whom he outranked, due to his lack of knowledge about the battle situation and landscape. Unfortunately, the field commander opted not to order a final charge, something Winfield surely would have done, and that final assault would have in all likelihood ended the war 10 months early.

After his Gettysburg wound reopened and left him, for all intensive purposes, immobilized, and his troops faced several humiliating defeats without him, he was recalled to Washington D.C. His last battle was in October 1864, at Burgess Mill, where the Second Corps performed soundly under Hancock, by capturing and subsequently losing the strategic Boydton Plank Road. After the surrender of Lee and the fall of the Confederacy, Hancock was at odds with Grant, as Hancock believed in more lenient treatment of the South. Notwithstanding that, he was assigned as Commander of the Fifth Military District during the Reconstruction; he also received copious criticism in that post as well. He issued “General Orders No. 40”, which said in effect that if there was a state of peace in his district, he wouldn’t interfere with civil matters, nor would he post soldiers at polling places. He even went so far in his fair treatment of the South, that when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, he was vocally opposed to the execution of Mary Surratt, one of the co-conspirators, much to the indignation of Northerners.

When Ulysses Grant became President, Winfield became head of the Department of the Dakotas, until 1872 when George Meade died, and Hancock assumed his role as Commander of the Division of the Atlantic, or Department of the East. Then, in 1880, Hancock was the Democratic presidential candidate, and the war hero was very narrowly defeated by James A. Garfield. Six years later, on February 9^th, Winfield Scott Hancock the Superb died, from complications brought about by his diabetes. He was 62 years old, and was laid to rest in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, PA.

References

Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. (2001). Civil War High Commands. pp. 277–78.

Jordan, David M. (1988). Winfield Scott Hancock:  A Soldier’s Life.  Indiana University Press, Bloomington. Retrieved 2 March from http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/winfield-scott-hancock.html

Sifakis, Stewart. (2003). Who Was Who In The Civil War? Retrieved March 1, 2012, from http://www.civilwarhome.com/hanbio.htm

Tucker, Glenn. (1980). Hancock the Superb.  Morningside Books, Dayton, OH. Retrieved 2 March 2012 from http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/winfield-scott-hancock.html