I am a freelance writer, and want to write articles that get published. I am also a Civil War buff, and a freelance genealogist. Last year, I began tracing the family of Winfield Scott Hancock, and discovered some very sad stories. Major General Winfield Scott Hancock ( 1824-1886) was known as a devoted family man, so it's rather ironic that his grandson and nephew became involved in scandal.
Gwynn Hancock (1876-1912) attended West Point, and joined the Coastal Artillery upon graduation. Unfortunately, he also became an alcoholic, and was court martialed in the Fall of 1908 for 'conduct unbecoming'. While stationed at Fort Hamilton, NY, Captain Hancock was bitten by a rabid dog, and sent to the Pasteur Institute in Manhattan. During his hospitalization, he developed delirium tremens, and got returned to his base. The basis of the charge seemed to be 'if you drank enough to get the DT's, you must have been drinking on duty." Even though witnesses, including his commanding officer, Lt. Colonel H.H. Ludlow, said they had never seen him obviously intoxicated, the court convicted him, and sentenced Hancock to be dropped 35 lines in rank.
Yes, there was more to this case than met the eye. In August 1908, Captain Peter C. Hains, another officer in Fort Hamilton's Coastal Artillery unit, murdered his wife's alleged lover at the Flushing Yacht Club. After the crime, newspapers managed to get ahold of Captain Hains' divorce petition, which had been filed before the murder. Attached to the petition were letters supposedly written by Mrs. Hains, describing the wild parties at Fort Hamilton. In one letter, she relates going to Mrs. H's house for an evening of drinking and smoking.
My working theory was that Captain and Mrs. Hancock were part of the 'fast' social set, and the Army brass decided that the party had to end. Any officer involved with this scandal was transferred: some were court martialed. Even the band, that had played at many of these gatherings, was transferred to Fort Hancock, in Sandy Hook , New Jersey.
Things just got worse for Captain Hancock. In 1911, his Mother, Elizabeth Gwynn Hancock, died. In January 1912, his wife, Marcia McLennan Hancock, committed suicide by swallowing poison. She was buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC. Gwynn Hancock died of lobar pneumonia in December 1912. He was buried at West Point.
Gwynn Hancock (1876-1912) attended West Point, and joined the Coastal Artillery upon graduation. Unfortunately, he also became an alcoholic, and was court martialed in the Fall of 1908 for 'conduct unbecoming'. While stationed at Fort Hamilton, NY, Captain Hancock was bitten by a rabid dog, and sent to the Pasteur Institute in Manhattan. During his hospitalization, he developed delirium tremens, and got returned to his base. The basis of the charge seemed to be 'if you drank enough to get the DT's, you must have been drinking on duty." Even though witnesses, including his commanding officer, Lt. Colonel H.H. Ludlow, said they had never seen him obviously intoxicated, the court convicted him, and sentenced Hancock to be dropped 35 lines in rank.
Yes, there was more to this case than met the eye. In August 1908, Captain Peter C. Hains, another officer in Fort Hamilton's Coastal Artillery unit, murdered his wife's alleged lover at the Flushing Yacht Club. After the crime, newspapers managed to get ahold of Captain Hains' divorce petition, which had been filed before the murder. Attached to the petition were letters supposedly written by Mrs. Hains, describing the wild parties at Fort Hamilton. In one letter, she relates going to Mrs. H's house for an evening of drinking and smoking.
My working theory was that Captain and Mrs. Hancock were part of the 'fast' social set, and the Army brass decided that the party had to end. Any officer involved with this scandal was transferred: some were court martialed. Even the band, that had played at many of these gatherings, was transferred to Fort Hancock, in Sandy Hook , New Jersey.
Things just got worse for Captain Hancock. In 1911, his Mother, Elizabeth Gwynn Hancock, died. In January 1912, his wife, Marcia McLennan Hancock, committed suicide by swallowing poison. She was buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC. Gwynn Hancock died of lobar pneumonia in December 1912. He was buried at West Point.
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