This view has a Fredericks & Co. backmark, which unfortunately is faded. Hancock is posed seated in a chair with his left hand on his lap and his right arm leaning over the arm of the chair, which appears to be covered in plush velvet with heavy fringe. He is wearing the uniform of a Major General with double-breasted frock coat with black velvet collar and cuffs. Image is very clear; there are three spots of light soiling at the upper left, and all four corners show some wear, most prominently at the top edge. “W S HANCOCK” is written in period pencil on the upper back.

This is not an image that we can recall seeing before; the previous owner had contact with the late historian Brian Pohanka, who indicated that he had not seen the image before, and who dated it to circa 1865.

Winfield Scott Hancock and his twin brother, Hilary Baker Hancock, were born in Montgomery Square, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1824. He graduated 18^th in the Class of 1844 and took a commission in the 6^th US Infantry. He fought in the Mexican War and after that he was out west fighting Indians. General Hancock’s fame is well known and need not be repeated here. Suffice it to say that he was one of the best Generals in the Union Army leading its II Corps until the middle of the Petersburg Campaign when a wound he received at Gettysburg forced him to give up command of the Corps. He remained in the Army after the war and even ran for President in 1880 but did not win. He died in New York City in 1886.

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