|
Winfield Scott Hancock, Poet
Named after General Winfield
Scott, the hero of the War of 1812, Winfield Scott Hancock would become
an American Hero in in the Civil War. He became known as "Hancock the
Superb," and "the Paladin of the Northern Armies" in the Northern
States. In the South he was called, "The Thunderbolt of the Army
of the Potomac." The Cheyenne Indians called him the "Old Man of
the Thunder." Hancock also was Democratic Candidate for
President and was also the founder of the National Rifle Association
At sixteen years of age in
1840, Hancock began an appointment to West Point. Preparing to leave for
the academy he wrote the verse below. It was dated December
9, 1839 and found in the album of Miss Sarah Woodman who later became
Mrs. W. B. Hahn.
Wreath thy garlands, fairest one,
'Ere the beams of days are gone;
Soon will close each fragrant flower!
Blooming in the garden's bower,
While the midnight dews are shed
O'er each sleeping floweret's head.
Wreath thy garlands, fairest one,
Soon will Summer's reign be gone!
Tempests come with chilling breath,
Sweeping o'er the barren heath;
So stern Winter's fearless band
Stalk in fierceness o'er the land.
Wreath thy garlands, fairest one,
Soon will set life's glowing sun;
Youth's gay dreams too quickly fade,
Loving hearts are soon betrayed.
Wreath thy garlands 'ere their bloom
Fade around thy earthly tomb.
-
Winfield Scott Hancock, 1839
Sources:
http://www.geocities.com/superbhancock/biography.html -
http://www.geocities.com/superbhancock/writings01.html |
