7th Infantry Civil War POW, Fought In Mormon War, Gettysburg, Appeals To Stanton
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:104109 |
The 7th United States Infantry Regiment wasoriginally formed in January 1812 and served in 76 campaigns in 12 wars, morethan any other U.S. Infantry regiment. The 7th fought at the Battleof Fredericksburg, Mud March, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and in the pursuitof Robert E. Lee. DAVID PORTER HANCOCK enlistedas a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army 7th Infantry on July1, 1854. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on April 20, 1858, Captain on May 27, 1861, Major on July 2, 1863 by Brev...et at Gettysburg, LieutenantColonel on March 3, 1865. Hancock waslisted as a prisoner of war but the place and date is not stated inbiographical data. But the manuscript letter offered here to Secretary of War E.M.Stanton, dated March 10, 1862, from Wyoming, PA, offers some insight. The 4 pp, 7 ½ x 12, letter, which appears tobe a draft and has D.P. Hancock’s signature on the left margin of the firstpage, perhaps indicating his approval of the content. In this letter, written in third person and filledwith substantial and important information regarding his service history andthe suffering he has incurred as a prisoner of war, Hancock is seeking relief fromparole and a promotion. In addition tobeing taken prisoner in Texas by the Confederates and refusing to join theirranks, something Hancock feels he should be credited for, Hancock had fought inthe Utah War, also known as the Mormon War (1857-1858) and later fought Indiantribes in Mexico. The latter part of the letter appears to be a response to hisclaims and a rejection of his self-promotion. “Sir, Capt. David P. Hancock of the 7th Infantry U.S.Army, formerly of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, but lately of the State ofIllinois and at present at Fort Ontario, Oswego, New York, who was madeprisoner by the Rebels in Texas by the treachery of his superior commandingofficers, and who is now on parole awaiting his exchange, desires to beexchanged and be put upon active service in the field of operations at once. Heis a brave and gallant soldier and is anxious to participate in the presentstruggle for the restoration of the Union. For some years past he has beenengaged in the most active and arduous services for our army and has acquittedhimself well under all circumstances and on all occasions. He went some yearssince with the little army that was sent to restore the authority of thegovernment of the United States in Utah and after successfully discharged thisduty, marched to New Mexico, where he engaged a most laborious and hazardouscampaign against the Indian tribes, which were despising the authority and destroyingthe likes of the citizens of the United State in that region. While thusengaged and after the Indian tribes had been reduced to subjection, he was, through treachery, taken prisoner along with the rest of his gallant men on thefrontier of Texas by the Rebels. Spurning the offer made them to induce them totake part in the [Confederacy] rebellion and faithfully adhering to his countryand its causes, he was subsequently discharged on parole and brought with him thegreater part of his force through a wilderness to Ft. Leavenworth, a distanceof about 1200 miles -- having endured sufferings and privations of the mostgrievous character, without means or power of alleviation except such as theycould pick up and prepare on the way and arriving at Fort Leavenworth almostentirely naked. “He burns with a desire not only to avenge the monstrous wrongsdone to his country and the people but the grievous wrongs done to him and themen associated with him in his command. Having been a graduate of West Pt andhaving seen a large amount of active service and being well qualified tocommand, we feel that his services may be of vast importance and benefit to thecounty in this trying hour and that instead of being cooped up in prison, as itwere, he ought to be engaged in active services where his talents and experiencecould be turned to good account in crushing out the unholy rebellion nowsomewhat checked and dispirited but still rampant over a great portion of ourbeloved country. The desire to see him released…and restored to active service, we feel, also from our knowledge of the man and the service which he hasperformed…that he ought to be promoted to a position in the army higher thanthe one he now holds. We feel that he’s entitled to promotion from gallant& meritorious services rendered in Utah & New Mexico and in bringingback his command under the circumstances. In the Rebel army, he could haveanything he desired had he chosen to enter their service. In our Army, he hasreceived nothing but neglect and a prison. “We would not only ask as a favor but what we conceive to be aright that Capt. Hancock be exchanged at the earliest possible day that he berestored to active service and he promoted to…Major or Lt. Colonel in anyregular Regt. of the U.S. Army…” The latter portion of the document appears to be a response toHancock’s request. “You complain of the hardships and suffferings you haveundergone since you were made prisoner in Texas. We grant that your complaintsare just in every particular and we deeply sympathize with you in them all. Butyou were imprisoned because of your loyalty to your government and yourdevotion to your country and you had the power, satisfaction of knowing…thatyou were suffering in a just and holy cause and we enjoy this satisfaction withyou. What think you of those who have been arrested and imprisoned withoutcause, who have been denied…a trial that their innocence might be establishedand who were compelled to endure their imprisonment…Are not such men…entitledto some consideration? To a position at least of our symphathy?... “Your father loves justice and hates injustice. He loves libertyand hates oppression. He loves his rights and respects those of others…He is aDemocrat and that while it is his great honor and glory is made the cause ofhis enemies and the enemies of the Democratic Party…Is it really so great acrime to be a Democrat in these times. The commander in chief of the armies ofthe Union is a Democrat…Dix, Butler, Halleck, Anderson, Burnsville, Pattersonand host of other generals…are all Democrats. The very head of the WarDepartment…is a Democrat…Be not deceived – Democracy is right…Democrats andDemocratic measures must restore this Union if it ever be restored… “You should remember that this is a sisterhood of states, unitedtogether for their mutual protection and the mutual protection of their rightsand liberties…of their citizens…Through suffering, deprivation & blood theyfought for and won the glorious heritage we now enjoy and we are willing toendure those same sufferings & deprivations and shed our blood…” Toning, folds. Very readable. Everything we sell is guaranteedauthentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy.If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact usimmediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of TheManuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The EphemeraSociety. [CW 115]
