The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-02-27
FEBRUARY 81, 1868,


how Cen. Hooker got into the Service.
We 6nd the following Interesting story
about General Hooker in the Chicago
Tribune: N
awhen The war broke out, General
: Hooker. then In California. came post.
haste 10 Washington TO offer bis services
10 the governmonl. Gen. Scott was al
.he head OF the military affairs OF the
coun and between that old gentleman
and General Hooker was a feud dating
back to the Mexican war; hence, as every
thing relating TO the army was referred 70
Gen. Scott, Hooker was suffered TO apply
10 vain even for regimenlsl command.
Disguised and mad, be made bis prePsr.
aiions 10 return to the Pacific coast, and
was abont TO start, when che first battle
Of Bull Run was ioughk There was
nothing Ia that TO encourage; 20 be went
up to the White House. as the last thing
before leaving, to call on the President,
whom he had never seen. He was in
2troduced BY some mistake Of his friend as
Captain Hooker. and the following was
The conversation that ensued:
"Hooker--'Mr. President, was intro
duced to you as Captain Hooker. am
or was Lieut.. Colonel Hooker OF the reg
ular army. When this war begsn, was
at home In California, and FASTENED 10
make tender of my services TO the Gov
ernment; but my relation to Gen. Scott
OF some other impediment stands in the
way, aud ses no chance Of making my
military knowledge and experience use
full. l am about 10 return. but before
going was anxious to pay my respects
to you and 10 express my wishes for your
personal welfare and for your success 10
putting down this internal rebellion. And
] want, while ] am att, to say one thing
More; was at Bull Run the other day,
Mr.. President, and IL Is no vanity or
Boosting 10 me to say that am -
sight better general than you, sir, had on
that feldp
"The President, ,inre repeating this speech.
says that he looked at the speaker to see
what manner OF man he was who made
such boast. His eye was steady and
clear, his manner not half so confident as
his words, and altogether he had the air
OF a man Of sense and intelligence, who
thoroughly believed in himself, and who
would at least try to make his words
good. I was impressed with him, and
rising out ofmy chair walked up to him,
and putting my hand on his shoulder
said, sColonel, mot Lieut.. Colonel Hooker,
stay. have use for you, and regiment
for you 10 command .
ale did stay. The promised regiment
was put under his orders, and from it he
was soon PROMOTED to a brigade, and
thence TO major generals place in com
mand Of division.
."In every position in which he has
been put, says Mr.. Lincoln, Gen. Hook.
er has equelled the expectations which
his self-confdence excited. As IA Colonel,
as Brigadier and as a Major General be
has done exceedingly well, and should
he ever be called to command this army
] have no doubt he would acquit himself
ns galianily as any man in the country.
"Thats the way that Gen. Hooker got
into The service. In Washington, Mr..
Lincoln's partiality for him is no secret
When il was determined to remove Nc
Clellan, the head of the Fitz John Porter
gang, the question Of successorship was
both important and embarrassing. The
Presidents inclination aud preference
pointed to Fighting Joe,' as the MAN.
and he yielded them to the representations
OF Gen. Halleck and others with great re-
luctance, and, as is said, with secret FORE
hodings Of what was 10 follow"