The New York herald., 1879-08-31
OBITUARY..
11EurENASr GENERAL JOHN b. HOOD.

fair complexion light hair and beard, sweet smile
| and eminently courteous manner-in these terms
described General John b. Hood. one OF the most
prominent of the Confederate officers. brave soldier
though fighting in defence of a mistaken prin-
ciple. He held high place a brave and skilful
division commander. but did not possess the mill
tary genius necessary for the successful conduct of
the broader operations Of entire army He died at
four O'Clock yesterday morning. at New Orleans, of
yellow fever His daughter Ly da yesterday so ill
with the disease that her survival until morning
was despared of, and Edith Hood, another member
of his family, is also in danger.
John b. Hood was born at Owensville, Bath county.
Ky June 20. 1881. The early part Of his life
spent at Mount Sterling until his eighteenth
year. when he appointed to cadet
ship at West Point Military Academy.
from which he graduated July !.
1858. receiving an assignment to the Fourth United
States cavalry with the rank Of brevet second lou
tenant. with this command he served in garrison
at Fort Columbus in this State; frontier duty ut
Fort JONES' CAL. and with the escort of Lieutenant
williamson's Typographical party. In 1855 he
became full second lieutenant In the Second
cavalry. and while scouting In Texas had
spirited brush with Lipan and Comsnche Indians
at Devil's Run. In tho course of this fight he
ceived two arrow wounds. The story Is that his
party out getting water when his men were
caught in ambush by the red men.
When Hood saw the state OF affairs he is
said to have reused the spirit of his men
by . few words. In which he painted the
tortures that awaited them If captured. Then he
gave the word. and two-thirds Of the entire force
succeeded in cutting way through the surrounding
enemies. This took place July 20 1857. On August
49, 1858. he promoted to hrst lieutenant, and
was stationed In the South at the period when the
war of the rebellion became inevitable. He is
said to have gone into the struggle with the
greatest reluctance and only the earnest persua
sion Of intelligent friend. but matter Of fact.
sent in his resignation to the United States War
Department, April 49, 1861; offered his services to
the South. and from the moment of their acceptance
was one OF the most ardent and energetic OF the
Confederate leaders.
His first commission that OF first lieutenant
Lee, IN Virginia. and was by him sent to General
Magruder, who placed him In command OF all the
cavalry the peninsula. whereupon he given
the rank OF captain. After several successful en-
NOTED NOTED to be major and. on September 80. 1851, 1851
was ordered to Richmond. where he was
with the rank Of colonel Of infantry He
had some difficulties to overcome with this COM
mand. most of the men having never seen him and
toward any commander who might be placed over
them. account of the failure of pre-
Hoods thorough knowledge of the trade of war;
and his force Of character and courtesy and
Judgment, however, Impressed
alike with of his fitness to command and the
regiment was speedily brought to a state OF eff
cheney. Hood got his brigadicr generalship by
stroke of good fortune added the good impression
his services had created. In November, 1861. the
Fourth and Fifth Texas regiments left Richmond and
were organized into a brigade. under Colonel Wig
fall of the State Of Texas. But he the Sena-
tor elect from the State OF Texas after the meeting
OF Congress he resigned. and on the Sd Of March,
1852, Colonel Hood was appointed to take his place
Thus within the short space of ten months and
seventeen days the latter promoted from
i'm nfH Han Mt az diarO ara1
His brigade was attached to his army. and Hood
took part in every engagement in Virginia up to the
time that LonGsreet's corps was sent to reinforce
Bragg At Gettysburg he especially gathered aurels.
He made brilliant attempt to outfank one wing Of
deavor u would would be crowned GRO I with success : It was
defeated by some troops OF General Sedgewick's
Hoo up calssa s
fight wound which rendered his left arm
almost useless for the rest Of his ife Com
fought the battle Of Chicka@ausa. sspiembe. IS
a serious misfortune 70 the gallant on,cer.
He was so seriously wounded that It was
found necessary to amputate his right leg. On Sep
tember 20 he received his commission lieutenant
general. In February. 1874. he made his first ap
pearance in public after the loss Of his limb. 1t
at Richmond and he rode out on horseback. his
lost member being supplied with an artificial one
| The crowd of spectators took of their hats and
cheered him as he moved along the streets.
In May. 1874 he | was agar, again in the field and com, com
1
horse sci killed i under him He was present At all the
''' IS. 1864. succeeded @ Joe Johnson in in the COM
mand Of the Army of the Tennessee. Within
menced the battle of Peach Tree Creek. in which
lost 5000 while the Union army lost but 1000.
he aemPtea to pierce the onicm centre & ana a,
gagement lasted four hours aud resulted
saS d au.Sa the the bssso
in which General McPherson was killed. and which
called the battle of Atlanta 1t lasted only five
that !, 400 men were killed or wounded. Six days
later he again defeated by Logan. losing 5000
men. On August 81 he met with another defeat at
Jonesborough, which practically put an end to tho
campaign. He evacuated Atlanta on the next day.
From that day forth all his struggles were car
the of the south lost. He tried northward
into ar he ss, s two
extract from his official report Of the former-
Abou. four o'clock n, No,snso, 80 we s..as.ed the
temporary the lines where they
s Sa the n S ias
by cavalry Wecaptnred several stands Of coors and
great galsntry
Concerning the battle of Nashville General Beau
regard wrote in despatch to General Cooper
General Hood reports from Spring niil, December 81
s' % on as Si ss ss % sa ss M iron, Of
Tnsn ropaised on the right with heavy loss bnt 10
wards evening drove II Infantry
attack on his entire line All
pSscs o rs ua hsss he. the & ynsa
s. % a 70 & ss. d ~ SHas'
several ordnance wagons lost by on that day Our
killed nded herctofore smal-in prisoners
| not ascertxned. Major General Edward jackson and
Brigadier Generals T. u. smith aud II. H. Jsckso
| captured.
| On January 23. 1865. Hood superseded at
Tupco. Miss. by General Taylor. and he returned
turned to Georgia, where he made speech at Macon
| January 10. encouraging the people and exhorting
them not to lose hope. This action he repeated at
Augusta on February l. Meanwhile he brought con-
unfnvOrabO
port OF his doings while commanding the Army
| of tho Tennossce He laid much OF the blame Of
| his failure on Johnson. and much bitter feeling
was created thereby. On the conclusion OF the
| he visited Washington, and had interviews with
Jefferson Davis In reference to tho occurrences with
| which both were connected. After the close OF the
war General Hood took up his residence In New Or