A Hancock Family Tragedy

Clement Hancock, Jr. and Temperance Jackson Hancock of Crawford County, Georgia gave four of their five sons in defense of the Confederacy as well as a grandson. At war's end there remained but one son & two grandsons to carry forth the Hancock name from Clement's family. Thus in our family was perpetuated the tragedy that befell so many Southerners during this bloody conflict.

John C. Hancock was the only son to survive the war. He served with Co. F, 57th Regiment,Ga. Volunteer Infantry as did his brother Wilborn. He surrendered with the command of General Joseph E. Johnston in Greensboro, NC on April 26, 1865. He returned to Crawford Co., married but never had children.

Henry H. Hancock and his younger brother, Thomas Jackson Hancock, joined Company C, 27th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry on September 10, 1861. Henry fell in battle on September 17, 1862 at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), Maryland and Thomas Jackson became ill with pneumonia in December 1864 while with the Army of Virginia. He was hospitalized in Richmond, died there on December 3, 1864 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

Henry's son, John H. upon turning 19 entered the same unit as his father, Co. C, 27th Regiment, Georgia Volunteers. He joined on February 22, 1864 as Henry H. Hancock, Jr. and was shown as "present" for duty as of April 30, 1864, then there is no further record of him. Where he died and where he is buried remains unknown.

Wilborn Hancock, Co. F, 57th Regiment,Ga. Volunteer Infantry was wounded in the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4, 1863. Wilborn was hospitalized in Mississippi and later moved to a hospital in Macon, Georgia. He never recovered from his injuries and died in 1865 and is buried in the Clement Hancock family cemetery.

Another son to give his life for the Cause was a 26 year-old. He enlisted as a private on March 1, 1862 in Americus, Georgia as a member of Company B - 11th Battalion, Georgia Artillery which was also known as the Sumter Flying Artillery. On July 2, 1863 he was killed during the second day of battle at Gettysburg the greatest battle ever fought in the Western Hemisphere. Opposing a Union Army of 93,000 men, the Confederate force of 75,000 men suffered 28,000 casualties. This loss at Gettysburg was one from which the Confederacy never recovered.

Rachael Hancock Grant and Sarah Hancock Scarborough, sisters of this much- loved brother whose resting place remains unknown, each sought to memorialize him by passing through their progeny his name, Little Berry. My grandfather, uncle and cousin have been the honored recipients of this name. Bearers today also include Donald Berry Moody and Daniel Berry Moody.

It is my hope that future generations will continue this tradition so that this young man who did not live to have sons of his own to carry forth his name may be remembered and honored for his sacrifice.

The Clement Hancock Family