The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-15
General Hooker.

! General Hooker.
1t has been published by the friends of
Gen. HOOKER, that, at the breaking out of
the rebellion, he was resident of Califor-
MIA, reduced in fortune, and, in familiar
phrase, con his last legs" Pecuniary re-
verses, and untoward luck following him
through series of years, had induced dis
sipating habits, and these had produced
their natural damaging influence upon his
character and standing in community. OF
anervous, excitable temperament, he was
quickly and powerfully affected by the
commissions at the East; without means,
he saw in the civil war chances for en-
ployment which he needed, and in line
for which he had been educated.
On leaving California for Washington,
it was related to his credit, that he prom
ised his friends either to leave his body on
the field, or win name which should
make him famous. The statement has
also been frequently made, that, on apply
ing for position in the service, shortly after
the first Bull Run battle, and on being
blufHy asked by the President what he
knew of military affairs, he replied quite
as bluf1y-sI am better General than
you've got in your army!" And it is said
that the President was so pleased with his
confident tone and prompt manner, that
he ordered him to be commissioned on the
spot.
| These incidents show, what is true Of
HOOKER, that he cherishes the most I'M
bounded confidence in himself. His career
in the service has further shown that he is
man not merely possessing military tai
ents, but of rare courage in action, and
dashing to the point of recklessness. These
| are attractive qualities, and have served to
give him great reputation. The soubriqaet
of Fighting Joe," which he has fairly
earned, has added to the fame he coveted !;
and all this, with the confidence reposed
in him by the government, has made him
the object Of large expectations on the part
of the people. And these expectations, it
must be owned, have been vastly stimu-
lated by himself. He has not hesitated,
officially and unofficially, by direct asser-
ton and by inferential statement, to i'm
press upon the government and the coun-
try, not merely his thorough self-reliance:
but his possession above other Generals OF
the necessary qualities for high and sue
cessful command. Our readers will re-
member the fact, that, in the official &C
counts of the battles in which he has been
engaged, he has been free not merely to
tell all he had done, but what far more
glorious results might have been achieved
had he been in chief command. His re-
ports of the battles of Williamsburg and
Antietam will serve as examples of the Pc
culiarities we mention.
This habit Of self-compliment, coupled
with the habit of unfavorable criticism to-
wards others, and frequently his superiors
has led many to hesitate in awarding him
place among the greatest of men OF
generals For, it has been found, as 6
rule, that those who possess in the highest
degree the substantial qualities which pro-
duce greatness, are not boastful and vaunt.
ing, but generally modest leaving theil
actions to argue for them before the world
and fix their true position.
There are those who have been disposed
to question General HooKERs Judgment
and integrity And we confess that, with
the highest admiration of some of his ex-
PLOTS in the field, we have felt compelled
to share such a doubt. We have taken
some pains to look over his testimony be-
fore the Committee on the Conduct of the
War, thinking that it would form, perhaps,
the best basis for just estimate of his
character; and our opinion of his discre-
ton and honesty was greatly lessened by
the examination. The review of that tes-
timony is not within the scope of this
article; and yet we will refer to one OF
two points by way Of illustration. OF
course, with his opinion, at the outstart Of
his testimony, that the failure of the pen.
insular campaign was attributable to the
want of generalship on the part of the
commander, We have no fault to find. Il
he thought so, he had right to say So
But. when he attempted to particularize in
what this want of generalship consisted
he seemed to show lack of Judgment
honesty, and even of good memory. After
he had given an account of the battle o.
williamsburg, the Committee asked him
the question:
Is it your judgment that YOU could have
gone into Richmond then?
To which General HOOKER replied.
think we could have moved right on. and
got into Richmond by the second day after the
battle, scithout another gun being fired.
The distance from Williamsburg to Rich
mond is fifty miles, in straight line; and
| hu onv rossible rOnta for an arm a