The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03
GENERAL HOOKER.
s'Fighting Joe Hoo1nr" on War
and Politics.
OLD BATTLES FOUGHT OVER Again.
Generals Grant, Sherman, Howard, Stoncman,
Aycrill, FraEk Blair.
Sharp Talk About Grants
Moral Sense.
An Inside Glimpse of the Battle of
Charlottesville.
General Amnesty a Good
Thing.
General Amnesty a Good
Thing.
From the San Francisco Chronicle, May 23l

published the following admission OF General How.
ard to representative OF this paper at an inter.
view held ut the Occidental Hotel in this city on
the 18th Of March last. The conversation had
turned on the battle OF Charlottesville and the
failure OF that campaign, through the giving way
81 General Howards corps tho ELEVENTH., and In
reply to question as to General HOward's Optn-
Ion Of who was to blame the General gave substan-
tally the following answer. After moments de-
liberation he replied:-
is strange question, feel an equally strange
Impulse to answer 4, i was my fault and win explan
o s' &c s
ncongruous clements and ought at once to have given
sSS Hs's
60 p u e sb saps a
With details my and So arsppsd ths
fearful "a i mi,aRc and e st
s o s GS1s a
Tint way IN my le before or since but that night did
death everywhere could find an excuse TO so The
A LETTER FROM GENERAL HOOKER.
On Tuesday last the following letter from General
Hooker was received by the editor of the C1goa.
tcse:-
GRAND HorrI. SAN Francisco, May q, 1877
nv DEAR sn.My attention has been called to an article
s S be bS Of
matter OF good deal Of surprise to me on coming to
to thai battle When @ honor should have
or 81 ns
eating the the public in the expectation that he
So At to to
haa none Gae The eer S Is not @ nor X It an
appears 70 have been present at the time
y.H win furnish with his and address
sa a on a ,op IN regard to this
your f MookEk Maor General
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL HOOKER.
In response to the above letter the General was
furnished with tho required name and address, and
an interview appointed for ten O'Clock A. M. yes
terday at his rooms IN the Grand Hotel. At that
hour the representative OF the Chronicle, who was
responsible Tor the report OF General Howards
versation, proceeded to the Grand Hotel, and was
introduced to General Hooker.
There was pcrceptible change in the charac-
teristic features OF the old veteran since the re.
porter last saw him on the f1eld although he is still
suffering from the effects OF stroke OF paralysis
which has partially disabled him.
The reporter was very cordially received, and in.
vited to seat near General Hooker, who opened
the interview by expressing his satisfaction at the
pullica ton OF General Towards statement.
General HOoKER-1 was very much gratifed, in
deed as well as surprised, when saw your article
In the Chroatcle relating to charlottesville. had
waited for some such acknowledgment for years,
but hardly expected 1t now.
REpoRrER-Well, sir, it was given as a simple act
OF justice. had been directed to write an account
Of your arrival; and General Howaros admission
being still fresh In my memory, gave 1t In connec-
General I5oKEE-i am very glad you did. . :.
REPORTER-I hardly expected however, that 1t
would be matter OF surprise to you, as had some
how got the impression that the facts had been
od a ama n howard
General IooxER-No, sir, the affair has never
been settled between US. He has never shown any
the letter. his admission Is not an honest one and
does not give the facts. =,
rus cHANCELLoRsvrLIE AFFAIR
y REp0RTER-Well, sir, l took part in that battle
was engaged from first to last-and have ALWAYS
felt absorbing interest in anything relating to It.
The giving WAY q the Eleventh corps has always
ssen any&kere-olsilough have looked carefully at
various histories of the and read the official
ports time and time again-any statement OF that
explanation From my knowledge of the position
Of the two armies, the movements OF the Eleventh
and Twelfth corps across the Rappahannock River,
their march to Lees rear efiecting complete sur
prise and securing the passage Of United States
Ford for the remaining corps, have been compelled
aster-fOr which never believed you responsible
as one Of the most brilliant achievements Of mill
tary genius during the war.
General HOokER-lt was, at least, not failure so
FAR as my responsibility went, although my enemies
have done their best to make 1t appear The only
failure on my part was In not bringing General
Howard to strict account for his culpability. I
have, as said In my letter, refrained from giving
e afcS 10 tnS W mn se oa 10
give the facts to the world, and let them SO into
history as they ought.
have remained silent on the matter for 80 many
years.
General HooKER-He's very bad man, but he's q
pious character. Oh know him so well He wrote to
me In New York, Offering me professorehip In his
darby college. / knew 1t would involve some
money, and had none to spare in that way. re-
specially declined the honor. But you will be more
Interested In regard to the event OF Chancellors-
ylle and will tell you all you want to know about
~ Gn unrr nm Inru gav.I Tho
REPORTER-Yes. The two large armies confronted
each other on opposite sides Of the Rappahannock
was nre sS @ sw CoPs
enemy's camp, you will remember, than any other
II l ordered him to move the rebels would at once
Burnsde's move ut the battle OF Fredericksburg
all the river crossings along the front had been
and efectually guarded. Besides, Sedgwick was
deficient In Typographical knowledge, and II would
not do to trust an Independent movement to him.
SO ordered the Eleventh and Twelfth corps to
move up the Rappahannock, cross to Lees rear as
secretly as possible and you know the result. AS
you say, 1t was one of the most successful opera
lions Of the Wharf.-The surprise was complete.
REPoRTER-I never saw troops IN better heart
than were ours Of the Twelfth when we had accom-
Oshed the march to Charlottesville and your
congratuatory order was read TO u.s.
THE STAMPEDE.
General HooKER--Nor |. IL seems as though
ton, and eager for the conflict. And now as to
nowaru. lou know our army took Its position, the
other CORDS having crossed at United States Ford
AZ commemorative, on 30th OF April, 1859,
Lees army being three or four miles In advance
nearly east On the I'd OF May Jackson moved
north and west. At one O'Clock A. M on Saturday
! sent to Howard a telegram informing him OF
ing him to keep his pickets out, keep himself
thoroughly informed as to the enemy's move.
ments, and keep me informed OF the same
at headquarters. Carl Schurz was with Howard
when my telegram was received. Howard was
lying on his bed. He never communicated the
OIder 10 Ms division commanders, and made no
disposition OF his forces He pocketed the tele.
gram Without reading It,. said he was tired, and
went TO sleep. He seemed to have been under the
impression that Jackson was retreatIng. | knew
or Jackson's movements, and was not taken by
surprise q single moment and supposed, or
course, that my telegram had made Howard fully
alive TO the situation. But, instead OF obeylng my
orders, nc went to sleep and portion OF Jackson's
forces came mp In rear Of his right. Towards
troops were away from their arms, which were