Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-05-07
Heoker and his Generals.

While their attention Is being absorbed
by the operations of the grand army Of
the Potomac, we presume we can give our
readers nothing that will prove of more
interest than the following brief biograph-
ical sketches of its commander and his
corps generals, upon whom, in so great a
measure, now rests the issue of the great
contest for the maintenance of the Union,
MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER,
Commanders -Chief of the Army of
the Potomac, was born in Hadley, Mass,
in 1919. He entered West Point In 1888,
and was graduated in 1887, receiving a
I'd lieutenancy in the LIST artillery. At
the commencement of the Mexican war he
was appointed aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen.
Hamer, was breveted captain for gallant
ry at Monterey, obtained the post of as
sistant adiutant general with the rank of
captain, in March, lS47, and received the
brevet ranks of major and leutennant-col-
onel for distinguished conduct at the Ma
tional Bridge and Chepultepec. In Octo-
Der, lS4S, he became full captain, and
relinquished his rank in the line. Resign
ing his commission In 1858, he settled on
farm in California, where he was still
residing in 1861. Appointed brigadier
general of volunteers May II, 1861, he
was assigned a brigade in the army of the
Potomac, and afterwards promoted to the
command of division in Heintzelman's
corps. From July, 1861, to Feb, 1862,
he was stationed in southern Maryland,
on the north bank of the Potomac. In
the subsequent battles on the Yorktown
peninsula, his troops were popularity
known as "fghting Joe Hooker's divi-
SION" He was appointed major general
of volunteers July 4, 1862, and assigned
to the command of the LIST army corps In
September. He bore a distinguished part
in the second Bull Run, where he had the
command of all the forces in and around
Fairfax, and at the battle of Antietam
commanded the right wing of the federal
army, winning the highest commentator
from Gen. Mcclellan. He was wounded
in the foot in this engagement, and disa-
bled from duty for several weeks. On
Sept. q he was appointed brigadier gen.
eral in the regular ermy. In November
he superseded Gen. Porter in command OF
the 9Th corps, and shortly afterward was
assigned to the centre grand division of
the army of the Potomac, comprising the
Sd and 9Th corps. On the Oath of Janu-
airy, when Burnside was relieved, he was
appointed commander of the Army of the
Potomac.
MAJOR GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS,
Who commands the LIST army corps,
was born in Pennsylvania, was graduated
IN West Peint in l84l, and appointed I'd
lieutenant IN the Sd artillery; became LIST
lieutenant June IS, 1886; was breveted
captain for gallantry at Monterey, Sept
%, 1916, and major for gallantry at Bue-
ma Vista, Feb. 20, 1847; was aid-de-
camp to Gen. Wool in California IN 1852 +;
became captain in March, 1855; distin-
guished himself in conflicts with the In
dams near Rogue river, Oregon, in 1856
was made lieutenant colonel of the 18th
infantry, May IA, 1861, and brigadier of
volunteers Aug. 20, 1861. He commanded
the United States forces engaged at Cheat
Mountain, where the confederate Gen. R.
E. Lee was repulsed, and drove back the
enemy at Greenbrier, Oct. 3. In 1862 he
was attached to the army of the Potomac,
served through the campaigns of the
Chickahominy and Maryland, and now is
in command of the LIST army corps, form
erly Hooker's. He was appointed major
general at the last session of Congress,
and assigned to his corps April Is.
MAJOR GENERAL DARIUS M. Couch.
Who commands the I'd army corps, was
born in Putnam county, N. T., July %,
1882. He was graduated at West Point
in 1876, entered the 4th artillery, and was
in active service during the Mexican war,
attached to Capt. Washlngton's battery.
He received a brevet for gallantry at
Buena Vista, in Feb. l847, and was COM
missioned as LIST lieutenant the same year.
He was afterwards in command at Key
West barracks, aided in suppressing the
last outbreak of the Seminoles, and in
1858 obtained years leave of absence
for the purpose of making scientific tour
in Mexico. He published an account of
his explorations under the title of "Notes
of Travel" In 1854 he resigned his COM
mission and engaged in mercantile pur-
suits in New York city, but subsequently
removed to Taunton, Mass. In July,
1861, he took the field in command of the
7tlf Massachusetts regiment, and in Au
gust was appointed brigadier general of
volunteers, his commission dating from
May II. On the reorganization of the
Potomac he was assigneds the command of
a division IN the corps of Gen. Reyes,
with which he greatly distinguished him
self at the battle of Fair Oaks. He was
promoted to be major general July 4,
1862; took part in the battles of South
Mountain and Antletam, in the latter of
which he was attached to Gen. Franklin's
corps and was soon afterwards placed in
command Of the I'd (late Summers army
cornc