THE FIGHTING JOE HOOKER. JOSEPH HOOKER. THE name and fame of General Joe Hooker are, or ought to be, dear to every American, for he is eminently a national man. Born in Massachusetts he has resided in every section of the country, and is cosmopolitan in habits and ideas. Nature never made him for one section of the land. He has fought over every part of the land, from Maryland to Mexico, from the Potomac to beyond the Rio Grande, and has come, a private citizen from the most westerly military district of California, to command as Brigadier-General of the regular army the most easterly department of the reunited country. Every Californian, if not every American, is proud of Joe Hooker, for he is a representative man of that peculiar race of pioneers drawn from every State of the Union and nationality of the globe. Hooker is naturally a fighting man, a belligerent by nature, as much as Philip Sheridan, and he insists on forcing every dispute to the arbitrement of arms. Actual blows satisfy him best, and from the very nature of his mental organization "war to the knife" is an admitted motto with him. A curious accident gave Hooker the title of "Fighting Joe;" but few of the multitude who read of him under that appellation, and none of those who, in the heat of political and partisan discussion, endeavored to ridicule both person and expression, suspected how accurately the title described the character of the man. A man born with his disposition would naturally seek the army. Hooker entered West Point and studied his way through with a zeal and industry which must have placed him higher than twenty-eight in a class of fifty graduates had he not, like Sheridan, suffered for his bellig erency in the estimation of the staid and steady | clearer conception of the desperate purposes and professors of that institute. He, however, got characters of the traitors than did Joe Hooker. through the course creditably in 1837, and man- The peace which ensued in 1847 found Hooker aged, being still young, and the belligerency of with the natural belligerency of his quick temhis nature not fully developed, to exist in the per fully developed, his ambition fired, and his quiet position of Adjutant of West Point. After- restless activity of mind and body increased. ward he also managed to endure the monotony He had no disposition to return to the monotony of the Adjutant-General's department for five of the Adjutant-General's office, or to the quiet years, until the war with Mexico broke out, of garrison duty, that even a captain of artilwhen he sought adventure, promotion, and fame |lery, which he had become, would have to enin the active service. The Mexican war was dure. The unadventurous career which a prothe great opportunity of many young lives, the fessional life in a settled country among civilpractical schooling of nearly all who distin-ized people promised was also without charms guished themselves during the late war for the Union. To Hooker, young, ambitious, and belligerent, the opportunity was highly welcomed. The declaration of war was hailed by him with an intense joy that would have horrified his Puritan fathers if they could have been cognizant of it. to his restless mind. He remained in the army only as long as the prospect of service in Mexico and on the Pacific coast had any promise of active service; but soon finding that the peace which followed the Mexican war was likely to be profound and undisturbed, he resigned his commission, and plunged into the excitement of pioneer life in the newly-discovered gold regions of California. He purchased a ranche across the short time became interested in the to him novel Hooker's career in Mexico was not remembered when the rebellion began or he would have earlier stood high in the confidence of the Gov-bay from the City of San Francisco, and for a ernment, for it was among the most brilliant of the many successes attained by the many very able young men engaged in that war. To have risen under the old and very faulty organization of the army, in a short war, in which there were few casualties, from a Lieutenant to be brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel of the regular army was no small achievement. Hooker was successively brevetted Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel, "for gallant and meritorious conduct" in the several conflicts at Monterey, in the affair at the National Bridge, and in the assault of Chapultepec. He was detailed, if I remember rightly, early in the campaign as Adjutant-General on the staff of General Gideon Pillow, and though Gabriel Rains and Ripley were associated with him on duty it was generally understood and felt that the young chief of staff furnished all the brains and most of the energy and industry to be found at the head-quarters of the division. Pillow, Rains, and Ripley became somewhat notorious during the late rebellion as officers of the rebel army. During the war with Mexico sectional feeling ran high on the subject of supporting the Administration in the prose-ing a commission, and gladly launched again cution of an offensive war, and very often young Hooker was compelled to hear tirades uttered by these Southern officers against his native State which gave a lukewarm support to the army, but he never allowed them to pass unreproved or unresented. A less positive character than Hooker might have been influenced in his State allegiance by such surroundings in a camp composed almost exclusively of Southern soldiers and at a head-quarters where prevailed the most intensely bitter sectionalism which then disgraced the army. The discussions which grew out of the objections which the young chief of staff took to the peculiar views of the embryo rebels only served to confirm him in his adherence to and love of the Government; and none of the old army officers entered into the war for the Union with more alacrity or with a His ranche was neglected and His health became somewhat fortunately for him, the rebelHe hastened to Washington to offer his services to the President. He succeeded after much difficulty in obtain into active service. He became a changed man. He had abandoned his bad habits with the ease and readiness of a man of resolute and determined mind, and now, engaged in that profession which had every charm for him, he began in earnest the prosecution of the true aim of his life. He believed in fate and destiny; believed that strong minds and brave hearts control their own fortunes; and with firm confidence in himself announced to his friends who congratulated him on his appointment that one day he would be at the head of the army, of which he was then only a brigade commander. If Hooker's military career be examined critically it will be found that his success as a leader has been due to the impetuosity, boldness, and energy with which he fights. His presence on a battle-field may be said to be calculated to supply all deficiencies in the discipline of the troops. His presence and demeanor inspired his troops with the qualities of courage and daring which distinguished himself, and restored morale to broken columns with the same success as that which ever marked the presence of Philip Sheridan. As commander of the Army of the Potomac General Hooker never met with brilliant success. He assumed command at a time when the bitter jealousies which disgraced that army most impaired its energies and retarded its action. He had little of the love or admiration, and consequently little of the genuine support, of his subordinate commanders; while he was, by reason of his promotion, further removed from immediate direction of his troops, and the inspiration of his presence was lost on those who had learned to believe in him. No one will attempt to deny that Hooker held such a control over his men, and that his presence among his troops in battle had much to do with their effectiveness. His was what has been called "a powerful presence." He was destined for a leader, not a director of troops, and hence his greatest success has been as the leader of fractional corps of great armies. His battles on the Peninsula; his vigorous pursuit of the rebels from Yorktown; his conduct throughout the "battle-week on the Chickahominy;" and his engagement at Malvern Hill, were the deeds which are familiarly known throughout the country. His success as the commander of a corps in the West will eventually become not less familiar to the public; and his achievements at Lookout Mountain, Resacca, and before Atlanta will be the basis for the establishment of his true character as a military man. The "battle above the clouds," as the assault of Lookout Mountain has been called, was an episode of the operations of Chattanooga, as conducted by Grant; but it was planned in all its details and executed in all its completeness by Hooker. The original intention of Grant was to attack Lookout with a force only sufficiently large to keep busy the rebel force occupying it while the main attack was made elsewhere. The destruction of a pontoon bridge which connected Hooker's camp with that of Sherman and Thomas forced Grant to leave Hooker a much larger force than he had at first intended; and he then gave Hooker permission to assault the mountain with all his force. This order was received about noon on the 25th of November, but before nightfall he had planned and had executed an attack which was as brilliant as daring. Two months' observation of the mountain from his camp in the valley had given him a full knowledge of all its outlines, its roads, etc., and it is easy to believe that the plan which Hooker decided upon had had for some time a place in his mind. It was as unique in conception as it proved successful in execution. A small force under Osterhaus was ordered to make a feint upon the enemy's riflepits at the point (or "nose," as Rosecrans calls it) of the mountain, while with Geary and IreVOL. XXXI.-No. 185.-Uv After land and Crafts and Whitaker he moved up the valley until in rear of the enemy's position, ascended the side of the range until the head of his column reached the palisades which crown the mountain, and, forming his line of battle at right angles with the palisades, marched forward, taking the rebel works in flank and rear, and secured about thirteen hundred prisoners. The enemy fled around the "nose" of the mountain, closely pursued to a position on the opposite side, where Hooker again attacked. one or two desperate efforts the rebel works were carried, but it was at such a late hour (midnight) that it was impossible to dislodge them from a position controlling a mountainroad, by which they evacuated during the night. The mountain thus assaulted is fourteen hundred feet above the Tennessee River, and was held by a force of at least six thousand, strongly fortified. He must be a regular mountaineer who can unopposed make the ascent of the mountain without halting several times to rest; and the story of the assault seems incredible to one standing on the summit, where the rebels were posted, and looking at the rough ascent over which Hooker charged. Only a general in whom the disposition to fight was largely developed could have conceived such a project, and only troops inspired by the presence of one whom they knew to be a brave and daring leader could have executed the ambitious plan. The well-known effect of Sheridan's presence at Cedar Creek was not more remarkable in restoring the morale of his army than was that of Hooker at Peach-Tree Creek, Georgia, in retrieving the disaster which was there threatened. The Army of the Cumberland was surprised at that point on 20th July while on the march, and being vigorously attacked was in great danger of being routed. It was a well-known fact that the presence of Hooker every where along the line of the threatened and almost defeated army kept the men in line, at the work, and finally saved the day. Were it within the purpose of this sketch to do so, no better illustration of the fighting General could be given than a detailed account of this battle, in which Hooker was the central-only figure. The country is as much indebted to him personally for the victory as to Sheridan for Cedar Creek, Rousseau for Perryville, or Thomas for Chickamauga. Hooker is "his own worst enemy"-not in a common and vulgar acceptance of that term, now universally applied to those who indulge their appetite at the expense of the brain. His weakness is not of the vulgar order, but has been the disease of great minds immemorial. His great crime against weak humanity lies in the fact that he was born a critic. Iago was not more positively critical than Hooker, though he is not necessarily "nothing if not critical." He can not resist the temptation to criticise; and being unable to appreciate that questionable code of morality in which policy dictates that the truth is not always to be spoken, he has made himself life-long enemics. He can attribute with perfect justice every failure of his life to that one "weakness of the noble mind." It accelerated his retirement from the service in 1853. It originated the difficulties which nearly prevented his re-entry into the service in 1861. It retarded his promotion: lay at the root of all his difficulties as commander of the Army of the Potomac, made enemies of his subordinates, and defeated his every plan, and at last forced him to resign command of the army. It nearly defeated his every effort to regain a command. It cost him many difficulties in the event, and finally forced him to retire from active command under Sherman just as the war was being wound up with the grand crescendo movement of Grant. dent, he permitted Hooker to beg for admission for some months, keeping him dancing unavailingly at the doors of the war-office. Hooker lingered for several months, only leaving the city to witness the Bull Run battle; but at last wearied out and seeing no hope of attaining his ends he determined to return to California. Before leaving, however, he called upon the President, whom he had never met, to pay his parting respects, and was introduced as "Captain Hooker." The President received him in his usual kind style, but was about to dismiss him, as time required that he should dismiss many, with a few civil phrases, when he was surprised by Hooker's determined tones into listening to his history. The candor of Hooker's criticisms make them "Mr. President," he began, "my friend highly palatable. One naturally admires the de- makes a mistake. I am not 'Captain Hookcision which marks them; and though his rea-er,' but was once Lieutenant-Colonel Hooker sonings may not be correct, nor his deductions just, we must enjoy the perfect independence with which they are uttered. of the regular army. I was lately a farmer in California, but since the rebellion broke out I have been here trying to get into the service, but His criticism on the battle of Bull Run first find I am not wanted. I am about to return brought him to the consideration of Mr. Lin-home, but before going I was anxious to pay my coln, who read characters at a glance. His respects to you, and to express my wishes for famous criticism on M'Clellan, on which he did your personal welfare and success in quelling not hesitate (he never hesitates either to censure this rebellion. And I want to say one word or to fight) to attribute the failure of the penin- more," he added, abruptly: "I was at Bull sula campaign to "the want of generalship on Run the other day, Mr. President, and it is no the part of our commander," gave him more vanity in me to say I am a damned sight better publicity than his battles. The late President general than you had on that field.” used to remark that he had never had occasion to change the favorable opinion which he formed of Hooker on hearing his criticism on the battle of Bull Run. The criticism on M'Clellan indicates the character of the critic as that of a quick, resolute, decided man, ready to take all responsibilities. The character has been fully established by Hooker since he uttered that remarkably free criticism. His retirement from the army was accelerated, and his subsequent return to the service was retarded, as has been stated, by this habit of freely criticising the operations of the army. The history of his troubles is as follows: Immediately after the close of the war with Mexico Hooker was called upon to testify before a Court of Investigation, which had the settlement of the difficulties between Pillow and Worth growing out of the assault on Chapultepec. In the course of his examination he very freely criticised some of the movements of General Scott; and with that confidence in his own judgment, which is a marked characteristic of Hooker, and which, strange to say, betrays nothing egotistical about it, told how he should have accomplished the same ends at less loss by other movements. Scott, with good reason, was mortally offended; and when Hooker's resignation reached his hands in the routine channel of business, it was not delayed for lack of approval, but was forwarded with a recommendation that it be accepted. When he wished at the beginning of the rebellion to return to the army the same officer stood in the way; and being supreme in authority, under the Presi The President, who was Hooker's firmest friend afterward, used to take great pleasure in telling the circumstance, and the effect of the speech upon him. The boast was made in the tone not of a braggart but of a firm, confident man who looked him straight in the eye, and, when the President said afterward, appeared at that moment as if fully competent to make good his words. He was satisfied that he would at least try, and, impressed with his resolute air, he rose from his chair and requested him to defer his return to California. Hooker remained, and among the numerous changes which followed the battle of Bull Run was the transformation of "Mr. Hooker" into "BrigadierGeneral Hooker." Hooker sometimes indulged in sharp criticisms even in his official reports. During the battle in Lookout Valley Hooker sent a portion of his left wing, under Shurtz, to the assistance of Geary; but General Shurtz became mixed as to his topography, and did not reach the battlefield until too late. He reported, in extenuation of his failure, that he had found a wide swamp in his path, and had been compelled to go around it. Hooker, in his official report, after stating General Shurtz's excuse, adds very quietly that he had thoroughly examined the country between General Shurtz's camp and the battle-field, and that it was evident that the General had been mistaken as to the existence of the swamp. When Burnside was in command of the Army of the Potomac he executed an order, which was afterward suppressed by the President, dismiss ing several officers of his army from the service for various reasons. Among the number was General Hooker, dismissed, as might naturally be supposed, for having criticised the action of his commanding General at Fredericksburg. The order, which was known as "General Order No. 8," was not carried into effect, and only saw the light through the treachery of a clerk in the Adjutant-General's office of the army. On the contrary, Burnside soon after resigned and Hooker assumed command of his army. ough-bred gentleman. Hooker has energy equal to Grant; but he has not Grant's patience, stoicism, or imperturbability. He is not content, like Grant, to wait for results. His strength lies in his momentum; Grant's in his weight. It was perhaps because Hooker so nearly resembles him, and because Howard had such opposite characteristics, that Sherman preferred the latter as commander of the Army of the Tennessee. Howard and Hooker have certain qualities in common, but yet are as different in organization as Sherman and Howard. Howard is, like Hooker, a finished gentleman. No one meeting him can fail to notice that both are equally graceful, equally handsome, equally dignified, considerate, manly, and courteous. But Howard, unlike Hooker, is exceedingly methodical, is always calm, self-possessed, and of a lymphatic rather than bilious temperament. Hooker is ever sanguine, Howard a quick worker; but it is not to be supposed that Hooker flags in his hasty labor. His energy never gives out, and he is as persistent as Thomas, more so than Sherman, and vies with Grant in this respect. Hooker left the Army of the Cumberland in consequence of having freely criticised Sherman's movements on the advance on Atlanta. The failure of Sherman to promptly follow up his success in seizing Snake Creek Gap, and to retrieve the blunder of M'Pherson on retiring before Resacca in May, 1864, was particularly provoking not only to Hooker but to every other commander who saw Joe Johnston clip through Sherman's fingers in consequence of that delay, and Hooker very freely alluded to it as a blunder. The natural consequence of this, and subsequent instances of candid criticism on Hooker's part, was the creation of some considerable prejudice against him in Sherman's mind, and, It is not to be supposed from what has been when he found an opportunity, he took occa- said about Hooker's disposition to criticise that sion to resent it. When M'Pherson was killed he is of a vindictive nature. His disgust is not Hooker was left the senior Major-General in irrevocable. He is always ready to forgive a command of a corps in Sherman's army, and he blunder when retrieved by a success. He is naturally expected to be placed in command, particularly constant in his friendships. There the more so as the President so desired. But are several instances of his friendship for men, Sherman appointed General O. O. Howard to which are remembered without being remarkathe command, subject of course to the approval ble except for their constancy, and as illustrating of the Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Lincoln tel- the kindness of his heart. He was particularly egraphed Sherman requesting him to appoint devoted years ago to a friend whom he made in General Hooker, and in Sherman's reiteration Mexico under rather singular circumstances. of his desire to have General Howard appoint- During the battle of Churubusco he was sent by ed, the President urged Hooker's appointment Pillow with an order to one of the brigade comin stronger terms. General Sherman replied manders. Being compelled to cross a ditched that "his resignation was at the service of the field-very common in Mexico-he went on foot, President," and made it a condition of Hooker's with only his sabre at his side. While crossing appointment that he should be allowed to re- the field he was suddenly attacked, not by Mexsign. The consequence was that Howard was ican Lancers, but by a Mexican bull, who dashed appointed and Hooker was relieved at his own unexpectedly at him. He immediately turned request, and sent by the President to command and gave battle in the true matador style, thrustthe Department of the Northwest. He retained ing with his sabre whenever an opportunity offerthis command until July last, when he was or-ed, and springing out of the way with all the activdered to relieve General Dix, and assumed command of the Department of the East on July 15, 1865. ity of a bull-fighting Spaniard. He was fast getting weary of the sport, however, when he saw a private of the Mounted Rifles and called on him Like most nervous men Hooker is untiringly to shoot the beast. The soldier quickly obeyed energetic. He goes at every thing, as he does orders, crossed the ditch and shot the bull, much at the enemy, with a dash. He talks at you to the relief of Hooker. The soldier immediwith vigor, piles argument on argument in rap-ately afterward disappeared, and Hooker found id succession-which requires no less vigorous thought to follow and answer-couples facts with invectives, and winds up with a grand charge of resistless eloquence which has much the same effect as the grand charge of a reserve force in battle. He works with the same rapidity-the same nervous, resistless energy, and does not know what fatigue is. He has energy equal to Sherman, and in his organization and habits is like Sherman. Hooker is the very impersonation of manly grace, dignity, delicacy—a thor-| it impossible to discover him, though search was made through camp for the preserver of his life. He did not give up the search, however, and at last discovered the man four years after in Washington. He was in want. Hooker having some influence obtained him a position in one of the departments at Washington, where he still remains a firm friend of Joe Hooker, and boasting of enjoying the friendship of the "commander of the best army on the planet." The title of "Fighting Joe" is very offensive |