Upcoming Meeting

The Society's public meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday April 19, 2020
was canceled due to public health concerns and closure of the Easttown Library.
The presentation rescheduled to an online meeting on 11 October 2020.

Philadelphia's Civil War Generals: Winfield Scott Hancock and George Gordon Meade

by Arch Hunter

Gen. George Gordon Meade (L) and Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock (R)

General Meade and General Hancock are two Union generals that have been greatly overlooked in the study of the Civil War. Although General Meade was not born in Philadelphia, from the age of two, the city became his home. Gen. Meade had only been commander of The Army of the Pontiac for four days before the Battle of Gettysburg, and was the first Union general to defeat the Confederacy's General Robert E. Lee.

General Winfield Scott Hancock was born in Montgomery County and attended what we now call Norristown High School. At Gettysburg, Gen. Hancock commanded Union troops on Cemetery Ridge and his troops held the middle of the line during Pickett's Charge. In 1880, Gen. Hancock was the Democratic nominee for President. He ended his public career by overseeing the funeral of President Ulysees S.Grant.

Arch Hunter earned a M.Ed. from Eastern University and recently retired from a 25-year teaching career at Marple Newtown High School in Newtown Square. Arch is also the Director of Graduate Programs at The Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge and is a host of WFYL AM 1180 “Our American Heritage” radio program heard 9-9:30 am on Saturdays. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund.

Married to his wife of 29 years Melissa and the father of 24 year old twin sons, Arch is a big-time Eagles, Phillies, and Sixers fan, and an avid "duffer" on the golf links.

 

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