The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-09-19
LIEUT.. GENERAL JOHN B. HOOD.
New York Herald |

A tall, thin, wiry looking man, with
a grave face, fair complexion, light
hair and beard, a sweet smile and an
eminently courteous manner-in these
terms was described General John b.
Hood, one of the most prominent of
the Confederate officers.
John B. Hood was born at Owens
vile, Bath county, KY, on June %,
1881. The early part of his life was
spent at Mount Sterling until his
eighteenth year, when he was appoint
ed to a cadetship at West Point Mill
tary Academy, from which he was
graduated July 1, 1858, receiving an
assignment to the Fourth United States
cavalry, with the rank of brevet second
lieutenant. With this command he
served in garrison at Fort Columbus,
in this State; on frontier duty at Fort
Jones, CAL, and with the escort of
Lieutenant Williamson's Topographic
cal party. In 1855 he became full Sec
ond lieutenant in the Second cavalry,
and while scouting in Texas had
spirited brush with Lipan and Co
manche Indians at DEVILS Run. In
the course of this fight he received two
arrow wounds. The story is that his
party was out getting water when his
men were caught in an 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
IS, 1858, he was promoted to first lieu
tenant, and was stationed in the South
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bellion became inevitable. He is said
to have gone into the struggle with the
greatest reluctance, and, only on the
earnest persuasion of an intelligent
friend, but as matter of fact, he sent
in his resignation to the United States
War Department, April 16, 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 was that of first
lieutenant. He was first ordered to
report to General Lee, in Virginia, and
was by him sent to General Magruder,
who placed him in command of all the
cavalry on the peninsula, whereupon
he was given the rank of captain.
After several successful encounters with
the Northern forces he was promoted
W OC AhdJoA5 StuSty oIl boCpISthOSI oO3
1861, was ordered to Richmond, where
he was placed in command of the
Fourth Texas Volunteers, with the
rank of colonel of infantry. He had
some difficulties to overcome with this
command, most of the men having
never seen him and some Of the officers
being unfavorably disposed toward any
commander who might be placed over
them, on account of the failure of a
previous officer to organize the regi-
ment properly. Hoods thorough knowl-
edge of the "trade of war;" and his
force of character and courtesy and
Judgment, however, soon impressed
officers and men alike with sense of
his fitness to command, and the regi-
ment was speedily brought to state
generalship by stroke of good fortune,
added to the good impression his SER
vices had created. In November, 1861,
the Fourth and Fifth Texas regiments
left Richmond and were organized in
to a brigade, under Colonel Wigfall, of
the State of Texas. But as he was the
Senator elect from the State of Texas,
after the meeting of Congress he re-
signed, and on the Sd of March, 1862,
Colonel Hood was appointed to take
his place. Thus within the short space
of ten months and seventeen days the
latter was promoted from the rank of
lieutenant to that of brigadier general.
His brigade was attached to his army,
and Hood took part in every engage
ment in Virginia up to the time that
Longstreet's corps was sent to rein
force Bragg. At Gettysburg he es-
pecially gathered laurels. He made a
brilliant attempt to outfiank one wing
of Meade's army. AT one time it ap-
peared as if his endeavor would be
crowned with success. 1t was defeated
by some troops of General Sedgewick's
corps, who, coming up fresh, beat back
the "Texas Brigade" Hood carried
away from this fight wound which
rendered his left arm almost useless for
the rest of his life. Commanding a
division of Longstreet's corps, with the
rank of Major General, he fought the
battle of Chickamauga, September 10
and 20, 1868. Here his bravery and
dash were again conspicuous, but re-
suited in serious misfortune to the
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