Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-16
Gen. Joseph Hooker.

nOfod, 10 iOi tHo pASSSHF oh-Ss d Sioao'
We have never had as high expectations
from him, as many have seemed To have.
That he was brave, we had 10 doubt.
That he was loyal, was unquestionable.
That he meant to hurt the rebels, his
whole course during the war had given
ample evidence While we were ever
| willing to give him credit for excellent
qualities as an officer, we could never dis
| cover in him that scope of mind, which
peculiarly qualified him for the supreme
command of large army. Hence we are
not entirely disappointed that he has not
filled public expectation. But that he has
not, should afford no reason for abusing
him, now that he has been relieved. On
this subject the Albany Evening Journal
discourses, to our mind very properly,
thus: sit is the fashion of the world to
kick a fallen man. Many IF those who
were the most c!smorous for the appoint
ment of Gen. Hooker aud most beslayered
him with pufery in the earliest days of
his administration, are now his most vlo-
lent assailants. Journals that few weeks
since insisted that the very blunders were
but the outcroppings of "masterly comb
nations" now refer to him in terms of de.
rision and contempt.
This is humanity and unfair. Gen. Hook
er has disappointed the public expecta.
tons; but this was mainly because the
public expectations exacted too much.
The mistake was in insisting that he was
not only good but great General. He
was put in a place which he could not fill,
because the place demanded not only the
talent of the soldier but the genius of the
strategist and statesman. In requiring
him to do work beyond the scope of his
abilities. he seemed to fail in all the higher
attributes of Generalship: just as man,
crushed under load greater than he can
carry, suddenly appears to be shorn of all
strength. .....
Gen. Hooker is not man to be con-
temptuously consigned to the limbo of
| military failures. Few of Generals can
show as brilliant a record in the early
| stages of the war. He was the hero OF
some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Vir-
| GINA campaign. His courage, his gallan.
| try, his chivalrous bearing, were proven
bal. Wherever the fight was thiokest,
20
wherever the example of steadfast vaor
was most needed, there he was ever
found. At Fair Oaks, in the Seven Days
| fight before Richmond, at Antietam, he
won imperishable renown. Gen. McClel
Ian, who Is proverbially chary OF compli-
ments, charaoterizes him az "that most
excellent officer, Major General Joseph
Hooker, who was eminently conspicuous
for his gallantry and ability as leader in
several hard-fought battles in Virginia.
Let US try and be just toward those VIII 0
fail, as we'll as generous toward those who
succeed. ..s H..
U@ The following is list OF deaths in
the Q. S. General Hospitals at St. Louis,
Mo-, (since last report 23d ApriD OF Wis
consin soldiers. D. L. Magruder, Q. S.
Medical Director. July l, 1868:
August Ascnerin, 90. K, Goth reg, chronic diar.
rhoea, died April 27.
Calvin P. Bliven, F, Esd, chronic diarrhoea, died
| May 2.
Corp. William Cavill, F, 14th, chronic diarrhoa
| died June "a.
Will lam Damuth, B, 2Sth, pyaernia, died May g.
Christian Danabaugh, K, I'D, pneumonia, died
| Mayo. - II
Jacob Hayes, A, Esd, phthisis pulmonatis, died
| May IL.
Carl Jenson, I, 22d, pneumonia, died May o.
| VIM. ). Jones, Ii, 23d, intermittent fever, died
June l9.
serg't Michael Lynch, c, 18th, chronic diarrhea
| died May Z.
II. Mortenson, G., 29th typhoid fever, died May IT,
Eli Els y marsh, D., 23d, chronic diarrhoea, died
| June 20.
Charles % knaper, I, aSd, chronic diarrhea, died
II. P. Frank, !, 2Sth, chronic darrhna, died June
| q, 1865.
Ransom HICKMAN c, 2ad, chronic diarrhea, died
| May e..
B. E. Richardson, E, 23d, chronic darrhea, died
| May Is.
Corp. N. W. Springer, I, 18th, chronic diarrnea
| died May Is.
Ephraim steen, B, 2Sth, pleur,sy, died April 80.
| Albert sawIn, +, 10Th, chro Lie diarrhea, died
| Mayo.
Corp. John H: Smith, G, 2s tn, chronic diarrhoa
Jacob Walker, D, 2sth, dhronio diarrhea, died
| June %. GEO. W. STURGES
| Wisconsin State Agent.