Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-08-08
General Hooker Relieved.

The death Of Gen. McPherson, which was q
heavy lose to the Army Of the West, has, 1t ap-
pears, been the occasion Of q heavier loss in
tho retirement Of Gen. Hooker. We state that
the general impression is, that this was occa-
STONED by the injustice done TO Gen. Hooker by
promoting Gen. Howard 10 the command Of the
grand division consisting Of three corps, made
vacant by the death OF Mcpherson. Gen. How
ard is considerably Hooker's junior in the ser
vice, and II may be said, without denying to
Gen. Howard excellent military qualities, that
Hooker stands far above him In actual achieve
ments and In the estimation OF the country and
Of the army, and particularly In the hearts OF
the soldiers under his command-a thing which
Gen. Sherman, perhaps, does not value very
highly, but which makes an army inyincible.
To the general public this Injustice will not
be modified by the fact that the general pro-
NOTED over Hooker is the one through whose
negligence Hooker's army suffered the disaster
at Chancellorsviile, and The loss Of that cam
paign. We use the word adyisedly, from a
settled conviction formed upon the evidence,
that the disaster TO the 1lth corps was due TO
the negligence Of Its commander. He may have
redeemed his reputation since. But before that
Hooker had achieved reputation that one mis-
fortune ought not to tarnish, especially In this
war in which men rise TO the chief command
without having achieved success. And as to
Hooker's career since, 1t Is unsurpassed In bril-
liant and effective service, and II has contrib
uted as much TO the reputation Of the Army Of
the West as he did to the lighting reputation Of
the Army OF the Potomac, In spite Of Its unready
commander.
1t is perhaps too much to expect OF human
nature that SO brilliant and successful soldier
as Hooker should be regarded with lofty equa-'
nimity by Q superior whose military career,
though very consumptive of men and means,
has continually lacked the prestige OF victory.
But 1t Is unfortunate that there is not higher
authority, free from professional inhrmities,
to place our best generals where the country
most needs them.
As TO Hooker's qualities, we doubt II they are
fully understood by the country at large, al
though the results are appreciated. He Is re-
garded as q bold, dashing Generals but few,
perhaps, are aware that these qualities are sub
ordinste TO thorough soldiership, which dis
tlnguishes them from rashness, and gives them
| the best guarantee-0f success.
The soubriquet "Fightlng Joe Hooker"
given TO him In the Army OF the Potomac, at
the time the country was suffering from
General In whom there was no fight, has, per-
haps, impaired his Just reputation. But when
1t Is known that the whole management Of
every department Of the service In his troops
is brought under his daily supervision, that
| every day he requires and inspects reports of
the condition OF his men, supplies, transporta-
| tion, and OF all the business connected with
|
| and every day In the saddle overlooking his
mon, 1t will be understood that his dash is
supported by that preparation and constant
readiness which make 1t prudent and skilful
gsneralship.
In this connection we may appropriately
refer TO the march of Hooker's army from the
Rappahannock 10 Pennsylvania, when Lee
invaded that state-a march which, considering
the extended position Of the army when Lees
movement was developed, the rapldity with
which the march was made, and the good con-
dItion in which the troops were carried 10 the
decisive point, is one Of the great achieve
ments Of this war. Several of those marches
were over twenty miles day. And such were
the dispositions that Lee In his report stated
that he was baffied because he could get no
Information of the situation Of Hooker's army.
That report shows that his campaign was
already defeated by the rapid and skillful
movements of Hooker's army. And 1t will be
remembered In the same connection that Nc
Clellan marched TO relieve Pennsylvania, on a
similar occasion, at the rate Of six miles . day.
The difference between this continual readi-
moss and more loose management, 10 shown
in the different manner in which the attacks Of
the both and 29d were received by the different
corps that were attacked on those dAys The
hrst, the brunt OF which fell on Hooker's corps,
though the enemy appeared in heavy masses
without warning, was repulsed without serious |