Winfield Scott Hancock

[The Iron Duke]

What is considered the definitive biography of Hancock? Thus far I have found Hancock the Superb by Glenn Tucker and Winfield Scott Hancock: A Soldier's Life by David Jordan. Any experiences with the two books I've mentioned?

 

[johan_steele]

I've read Jorden but not Tucker. I thought Jordon worth the read.

His wife wrote a biography but I'm not certain of the title. It's one of those books I borrowed through interlibrary loan but never did anything more than glance over. It's something along the lines of Reminiscances (sp?) of Hancock.

Good luck.

 

[bschulte]

I've read Jordan but not Tucker as well. I find it amazing that we have had no less than three (maybe four?) bios of George Thomas come out in the last little bit here but we do not have hardly anything on Hancock, who played a large role in the war in the East until his Gettysburg wound forced him out of active duty in late 1864. I assume since Hancock never became an army commander Thomas has a large advantage in terms of being suitable material for a biographer. One of my side projects has been to start collecting bios of Union and Confederate army, corps, and division commanders who served during the Siege of Petersburg, so I for one would welcome a new Hancock biography.

 

[The Iron Duke]

I appreciate the responses guys and any others out there are welcomed. As far as Thomas goes, didn't he destroy his personal papers? Sometimes I wonder if this recent Thomas resurgence has more to do with anti-Grant and anti-Sherman feelings than anything else.

I personally would love to see an extensive study of the Petersburg battles. I think the Crater has been covered pretty well enough by now.

 

[REnglish]

An online read "General Hancock" by General Francis A. Walker, the same man who wrote the history of the Second Corp;

http://books.google.com/books?id=DKrpfi_DPKMC&printsec=titlepage&dq=Life+of+General+Hancock,+1894