General Butterfield
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2017
- Location
- Philadelphia
Hancock Snubs Grant
An interesting post war incident between Hancock-Grant. I'm partial to Hancock but its safe to say both men let their egos get the best of them. It was mostly due to politics, Hancock and Grant both seeking the Democratic and Republican nominations respectively. Must have given Sherman alot of headaches who was friends with both men.
1868: "When Hancock arrived back in Washington, he reported to commanding general's headquarters and signed the register as was required by regulations, but did not wait for a personal interview with Grant, as was required by custom. He left his address but was never sent for. A day or so later, while Grant was conversing on the sidewalk with former governor Flanders of Louisiana, Hancock approached he was said to have touched his hat to Grant in a formal manner and then passed by, although not in any attitude, as Flanders confirmed, of hostility. Grant was angered by what he considered snubs on the part of a subordinate officer..."
"When the new President was inaugurated in 1869, Hancock was banished to the relatively unimportant Department of Dakota, though his major general's rank entitled him to a better post. In 1870, when George Thomas died, leaving vacancy in command of the Division of the Pacific, Hancock asked for the spot. Again, his rank entitled him to position, but Grant sent John Schofield, who was junior. When Hancock complained to Sherman, the latter wrote back: 'The President authorizes me to say to you, that it belongs to his office to select the Commanding Generals of Divisions and Departments, and that the relations you chose to assume towards him, officially and privately, absolved him from regarding your personal preferences.' Hancock responded that, 'as the President leads me to believe that because I have not his personal sympathies, my preferences for command will not be regarded, I shall not again open the subject.' He pointed out, though, that it established 'an unfortunate precedent' to disregard rank, in peacetime, in the assignment of general officers to commands."
Excerpts from Winfield Scott Hancock by David Jordan
On a side note the choice of Schofield seems an odd choice to me. Thomas died while writing a response to public criticism of his military career by Schofield. I imagine the stress caused to Thomas by Schofield contributed to his death.
An interesting post war incident between Hancock-Grant. I'm partial to Hancock but its safe to say both men let their egos get the best of them. It was mostly due to politics, Hancock and Grant both seeking the Democratic and Republican nominations respectively. Must have given Sherman alot of headaches who was friends with both men.
1868: "When Hancock arrived back in Washington, he reported to commanding general's headquarters and signed the register as was required by regulations, but did not wait for a personal interview with Grant, as was required by custom. He left his address but was never sent for. A day or so later, while Grant was conversing on the sidewalk with former governor Flanders of Louisiana, Hancock approached he was said to have touched his hat to Grant in a formal manner and then passed by, although not in any attitude, as Flanders confirmed, of hostility. Grant was angered by what he considered snubs on the part of a subordinate officer..."
"When the new President was inaugurated in 1869, Hancock was banished to the relatively unimportant Department of Dakota, though his major general's rank entitled him to a better post. In 1870, when George Thomas died, leaving vacancy in command of the Division of the Pacific, Hancock asked for the spot. Again, his rank entitled him to position, but Grant sent John Schofield, who was junior. When Hancock complained to Sherman, the latter wrote back: 'The President authorizes me to say to you, that it belongs to his office to select the Commanding Generals of Divisions and Departments, and that the relations you chose to assume towards him, officially and privately, absolved him from regarding your personal preferences.' Hancock responded that, 'as the President leads me to believe that because I have not his personal sympathies, my preferences for command will not be regarded, I shall not again open the subject.' He pointed out, though, that it established 'an unfortunate precedent' to disregard rank, in peacetime, in the assignment of general officers to commands."
Excerpts from Winfield Scott Hancock by David Jordan
On a side note the choice of Schofield seems an odd choice to me. Thomas died while writing a response to public criticism of his military career by Schofield. I imagine the stress caused to Thomas by Schofield contributed to his death.
Bringing the