The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-11-15

lantry as it has with politics." Physical
bravery is mere question of nerves. -
Heoker's first service was during the Flor
ida war; next, the Mexican. In the latter
he was greatly distinguished and received
unusually high brevets for this era when as
yet brevets, as a rule, were lofty distinc-
tons. The interval of his life between the
close of his service in Mexico and the full
development of the Shareholders Rebellion
has no connection with the increment of his
popularity and glory. Meanwhile the best
proof of the appreciation of his adopted
State, California, was the presentation to
him Of a magnificent sword.
He rc-entered the military service after
the first Bull Run battle rs Brisadier-Gen-
eral, and first commanded Il division, after
ward the Second of the "Old Fighting
Third Corps, as we understand it."
HIS FIRST BATTLE,
Williamsburg, Monday, May 9TH, 1862, was
he crimson aurora of the full days glory
of the Army of the Potomac. His tenacitv
Oh this occasion, until the arrival of Kear-
ny, was an example never lost upon this
1.-THE great army of the East ana of the
country" He shared with Kearny, his
brother and rival in arms, the glories of
Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, the first fight be-
fore Richmond of Oak Grove or the Peach
Orchard, or second battle Of Fair Oaks, the
prelude to the terrible "seven days fight
ing" Of the real Union victory variously
styled, but best known as Glendale; of the
other Union victory at Malvern Hill, which,
with Hooker or Kearny at the head of the
army would have been improved upon and
followed by the capture of Richmond.
Throughout the Pope campaign
HOOKER DID HIS DUTY
by his new commander, and every Major
General had initiated him Pope would not
now be the object of vituperation, nor
would Mcclellan ever have had another
chance. His fighting at Bristol Station was
perfectly splendid, although not more so
than at Groveton, and at the second or more
terrible Manassas, or Bull Run. Hooker
always boasted, and with good reason, that
his White Division of the Third Corps never
met the veterans Of Stonewall jackson with
out beatin: them. He also took a promi-
nent part in the decisive fight at Chantilly,
in which his beloved associate, Kearny, lost
his life. This engagement, amid tempest
and cleaning, so little comprehended, never
thelrss saved Washington.
AT ASTIETAM
he commanded the First Corps on the Union
right and was achieving a great success
when, as usual, his i'll luck interposed and
he was seriously wounded. He next APP
peared on the field at Fredericksburg in
command of the center grand division,
which comprised the two regular divisions
of Hancock and Hum phreys, who distin-
guished themselves in manner never ex-
ceeded, if equaled, on either side during the
whole war.
Hooker succeeded Burnside in the COM
mand of the Army Of the Potomac, and his
powers of organization, his administration,
and the moral force he brought to bear, as
we'll us his mastery conception and incep-
ton of this battle has been universally ac-
knowlcdged. Stricken down at the crisis,
in Justice he was not responsible for what
followed. His
SUBSEQUENT OPERATIONS
against Lee won for him the thanks of Con
eress which aru peculiar i'll their wording
and prrtinence. These recognize ''the skill,
energy and endurance which Gin June, 1869
first covered Washington and Baltimore
from the mcditated blow of the advancing
and powerful army of rebels led by Gen.
Robert T. Lee" The most fatal mistake of
Hooker's whole life was gratifying Halleck
by resigning his command of the Army of
the Potomac Individually Hooker was cor
rect and Halleck was wrong; but the theo-
retic bookmaker on war upset the judg-
ment of the
BRILLIANT, PRACTICAL STRATEGIST
and experienced fighter. Nevertheless, al
though Meade took Rockers place, the
battle of Gettysburg was fought with the
ammunition with which Hooker had amply
provided the soldiers, inspired and carried
forward by his energy; soldiers fed, i'll a
great measure with the rations provided by
his foresight. The same engineers he had
selected and advanced guided and posted
the troops; the same staff administered and
moved them" Everything was in place
as he disposed it; nothing was changed in
matter or spirit, is the remark of one who
loved and trusted him, Except that in per-
son Hooker was absent while still present
in spirit and inspirations" everywhere, from
Oak Ridge to the Round Tops, from the
Granite Spur to Culps HILL"
Such are the laurels, among many others,
which are due to Hooker. They
CANNOT BE TORN
tear them from the brow of that magnificent
chief, afterwards crippled by the results of
terrible injuries received in battle. Had
Hooker been less than he was, had he been
less than hi. friends claim for him, his ca
recr would have ended with the relinquish-
1nent of his role As third commander Of the
Army of the Potomac. But it was not so.
Justice would not permit it to be SO. His
fate was not the fate of either of his sue
cessors or his predecessors.
Transferred with two corps, the Eleventh
and Twelfth from the Army Of the Poto-
mac to the Army of the Cumberland, be-
leaguered in Chattanooga, Hooker brought
relief and victory with him. Counted out
of the fight he was one of the main factors
and second only to Thomas in tho
SUBSEQUENT GREAT VICTORY
on Mission Ridge.
Lookout Mountain, the key note to Chat
tanooga, the entering wedge to one of the
most popularity considered decisive conflicts
of the rebellion; the American BATTLE
Above the Clouds" the most romantic tri-
umph Of the whole war, belongs to Hooker
alone That plum was never intended for
his share. Providence, juster and more
merciful than man, determined that he
should be the one to plant the Banner OF
the Stars upon the loftiest pinnacle ever
won throughout the five years struggle by
force of arms; an etflorescence of stone as
wonderful as the feat of arms which it COM
msmorates "pulpit rock from which
the arch-dey ofthe rebellion, like the Yelled
Prophet of Kheyaskan Ono less determined