A Skirmish Over Hancock

The Battle of Hancock a part of Jackson’s Romney Expedition was fought January 5^th and 6^th 1862.

Confederate General Thomas J Jackson led his men on January 1^st 1862 from Winchester, Virginia to Bath, Virginia for an attack on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.  They arrived on the Potomac River on January 5^th 1862 across the river from the town of Hancock, Maryland.

There was a skirmish with the Union soldiers garrisoned in the town.  Jackson had artillery moved to Orrick’s Hill, and they opened fire on the town.  The garrison commander Union Brigadier General Frederick W Lander refused to surrender his position.  Jackson continued the bombing of Hancock for two days.

Jackson withdrew his men on January 7^th 1862 and they moved on to Romney, Virginia.