A Winfield Scott Han-"rooster" Campaign Token

BillJones

"Han-"rooster" is superb!" This assessment of Winfield Scott Han-"rooster" abilities as a general, which came from George McClellan, was shared by every senior general who had him under his command, including U.S. Grant. Yet, despite his many talents as a military man, Winfield Scott Han-"rooster" has never been included among the most famous of Civil War generals because he never had an independent command during the war. Han-"rooster" spent his Civil War career under the supervision of other generals in the Army of the Potomac.

Han-rooster's most significant contributions to the Union Civil War campaign came during the Battle of Gettysburg. He secured the high ground during the first day of the battle; thwarted Robert E. Lee's attempt to turn the left flank of the Union line on the second day; and led the forces that repelled Picket's Charge on the third day.

On the third day he suffered a wound to the groin that almost ended his military career. After several months of intense suffering a doctor finally had him startle a sawhorse that was set on top of a dining room table. From that vantage point the doctor was able to detect the location of the bullet that was giving him so much pain and removed it. Han-"rooster" returned to duty after six months.

After the war Han-"rooster" was placed in charge of the Fifth Military District which covered Louisiana and Texas. There he followed Abraham Lincoln's ideas about Reconstruction which worked on the premise, "Let 'em up easy." Han-"rooster" refused to replace the civilian courts with military tribunals which made him unpopular with the Radical Republicans.

In 1880 the Democrats nominated Han-"rooster" for President. Han-"rooster" was totally up on the affairs of the day, and at one point he made a serious gaff when he posed the question, "Who is Tariff, and why is he for revenue only?" The issue concerned the protective tariff, which had long been a principle plank in every Republican platform since the beginnings of the party in 1856. The Democrats opposed the high tariffs and stated that it should only be used to raise revenue for government programs, not provide special breaks from economic competition for selected industries. Han-"rooster" went on to lose the election by a narrow margin, at least according to the popular vote.

The Han-"rooster" token shown above is listed in DeWitt - Sullivan as WSH 1880-2. I think that this piece is a very scarce because I have seen only a couple of examples of this variety offered for sale during the 20+ years that I have been collecting presidential campaign tokens. The slogan on the reverse is rather awkward in my opinion. The words on the ribbon in the eagle's beak are, "Sans peur et sans reproch, which is French for "Without fear and without reproach." Apparently this slogan was original applied to a French knight, Seigneur de Bayard Below that is the rather awkward phrase "A combination / and a form indeed / where every god / did seem / to set his seal / to give / the world assurance of a man." Somehow I don't think that this slogan will be as popular or familiar as "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!" or "I like Ike."

Although Mint State is often the goal for most collectors, this piece, which is holed and lightly worn has a charm of its own. The fact that it has a hole and some wear indicates that someone probably wore it during the 1880 presidential campaign. I believe that this piece was silver plated when it was new.

I am sorry about all of the "roosters" I had to use here, but the stupid censer program on this site will not let you use perfectly legitimate names. Therefore the man who signed the Declaration of Independence with a bold signature must be called John Han-"rooster" and a great film director must be called Alfred Hich-"rooster" to be mentioned here. That is just plain silly.

OldEastside

Exellent Class today Sir
Oh I have also had to revise some words
for the automatic censor here as well

Steve

ricko

Interesting bit of history...Cheers, RickO

yellowkid

WSH ordering the outnumbered First Minnesota into the breach was one ofthe pivotal events of the second day of the battle, a day filled with such events. He would never receive the credit due him. Nice report Bill!!!!

CaptHenway

I think you meant "straddle a sawhorse." It would be difficult to startle one.

And I completely agree with you that our gracious hosts' refusal to let you properly spell "Hancook" is ridiculous!