Winfield Scott Hancock as 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." 

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