General Winfield Scott Hancock

Winfield Scott Hancock was born in Montgomery Square. He graduated West Point in 1844, eighteenth in his class. After serving in the Mexican War, he was stationed in Florida, Utah, and California. He was promoted to Brigadier General when the Civil War began in 1861. He commanded troops at many battles including Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and most notably Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded by a bullet to the leg. The bullet was removed by Dr. Louis Read of Norristown after several other doctors had failed. Hancock was able to return to service, seeing action at Petersburg. He ended the war a Major General.
Immediately after the war, Hancock oversaw the execution of John Wilkes Booth’s co-conspirators. Hancock spent Reconstruction in various military posts. In 1880, he ran for President on the Democratic ticket, but lost to James Garfield. He returned to the military after the election and died at Governor’s Island, New York.
Winfield and his daughter, Ada Elizabeth Hancock are buried in Hancock’s mausoleum. Hancock’s wife, Almira Russell Hancock and his son, Russel Hancock would later choose to be buried with Mrs. Hancock’s family in St. Louis. General Hancock’s parents Benjamin and Elizabeth are buried in Section P in Montgomery Cemetery along with General Hancock’s twin brother, Hilary. John Hancock, General Hancock’s younger brother is buried at Arlington Cemetery. There are actually three Winfield Scott Hancocks buried at Historic Montgomery Cemetery. Besides the General, his nephew and grandson shared the same name.
This video was made by the Historical Society of Montgomery County, PA. We are a private non-profit library and museum located in Norristown, PA. HSMC maintains Historic Montgomery Cemetery.
Funding for this video is provided by PHC and NEH as part of the CARES Act of 2020.