The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-06-08
Fighting Joe Hooker's Optnfeu Of
Generals Howard and Grant.


General Joe Hooker has been inter
viewed by California reporter, and
has expressed some interesting opinions
relative to the battle of Chancellors-
vile, in which he commanded on the
Union side. He attributes the loss
OF the battle TO the incompetcucy OF
General .. y. Howard, OF whom he
speaks very CONTEMPORARY. The fol-
lowing extracts from the interview are
entertaining
Reporter-Howard is a brave man, is
he not?
General Hooker with an amused ex-
pression)-Howard is q very queer
man. / understand you Interviewed
him TO ascertain the cause OF his being
sent TO Arizona?
R.-Yes, sr, that was the object OF
nv interview with him.
General H.-Well, l can give you
more Information on that point than
you got from him. He went 10 Arizona
70 escape an investigation OF certain
Frsedmen's Bureau affairs. The gov
eminent hal so many investigations
lately that they were not anxious about
it, aud 30 il was an easy matter TO find
a prstext for sending him of
R.-But about his bravery?
General HE was always q
woman among troops. If he was not
born in petticoats he ought TO have
been. and ought 10 wear them. He
was always taken up with Sunday
schools and the temperance cause
These things are all very good you
know, out have very little to do with
Commanding an army corps He
would command a PRAYER meeting with
a good deal more ability than be would
an army.
RI should have thought that you
would have insisted on his removal
after Charlottesville.
General HI did not know all the
facts al first, although knew he was
to blame: bat | thought OF the loss OF
his arm in battle, and that he mad
made good march. Take it together,
there is not another such movement on
record as that made by the Eleventh
aud Twelfth corps in the campaign.
R.--lt must have inspired you with
the highest hopes.
General lit inspired me with the
fullest hope wouldn't have given
= picayune TO have been assured OF the
es,Ire success o! the campaign. When
| moved | moved for Lee entire army
tor there was no object in simply
driving him from Fredericksburg.
The country between there and Rich
mond i trarerssd by frequent streams,
difficult 10 cross with an army, and
every mile Lee would fall back in that
direction would Only add TO the strength
OF his pos tons.
R--The truth O: that proposition is
pretty coaclusiveiy proved by the his.
tory Of Genera, Grants campaign.
Genera H-Tha,s so. Grant lost
10000 men from the Rappahanuock to
the Jane, But at that time the war
had las,ed so long that the War Depart
ment Was ready 10 furnish any amount
of man 70 hurry il TO a conclusion, ana
Grant reached the James with As many
men g. he started with.
RI, ! Very strange that Howard
should have remained silent on the
matter for 20 MANY years.
Genera. H.-He,s a very bad man,
hu; he. pious character. Oh, |
knew him so well. He wrote to me in
New York, Offering me a profe.sorship
in his darby college. | knew It would
involve some money, and hai none TO
spare in that way. | respectfully de-
cl!nel the honor.
R-Had that campaign been success
ful there would have been different
history Of the last period of the war.
General H.-If ! had won that battle
General Grant would never have been
brought from the West. But I
wouldn't exchange places with him to-
dav. | wouldn't turn over in bed for
the Presidency.
RI suppose YOU don't intend to
vote for Grant for the next term, then ?
General H.-Well, l used 10 live
here in San Francisco, and I've come
out here 10 V sit my friends. But I've
cot to GET back in time 10 vote for
Horace next November-in fact, that :
about al I've cot on hand this sum-