The daily gazette., 1880-02-02
FIRST EDITION.
ADTANCE AND RETREAT
BY General John Bell Hood.

UNITED STATES ARMY-CALIFoRNIA
AND TEXAS CONFEDERATE STATES
ARMY-vIGINIA, YORKTOWN, Ell
THAM's LANDING, SEVEN PINES OR
FAIR OAKS.
Ireceived at the age Of seventeen an
appointment as Cadet at West Point
through my maternal uncle, Judge
French, WHO was then In Congress. /
fancled q military life, although 1t was
not my fathers choice. He occupied a
high position In the medical world, and
preferred i should adopt his profession
he offered me every inducement-even
the privilege Of completing my studies III
Europe. l, nevertheless, adhered to my
decision. Doubtless had inherited
this predilec:ion frum my grandfathers,
who were soldiers under Washington.
They were Of English origin had set
tied at an early period in Virginia, and
after taking an active part In the War of
Independence, emigrated TO Kentucky,
''the dark and bloody eIourd," where
they lived in constant warfare with the
Indians. One of them was married In
the Fort Of Boonsboro', the first fortifica-
ton constructed In that State, the land
OF my nativity.
entered the Military Academy In
1S4o, and graduated in the Glass Of
Sheridan, McPherson and Schofeld, In
1858, when / was appointed Brevet
Second Lieutenant In the Fourth
Infantry. ! sailed from New York IN
November of that year 10 Join my regi-
ment In California, via Panama. On
my arrival at San Francisco-at that
time small city built upon sandhils
and fats, and distinguished for It's foggy
Atmospheric, tegetber with one of my
classmates, deemed it but proper that
officers OF the United States Army
should go to the hotel in q carriage but
to our astonishment, on hailing driver
we found the charge TO be twenty dol
lars in gold. This aspect Of affairs
our pay being only shout sixty dollars a
month-compelled us to hold consulia-
ton with our brother officers aud TO
adopt the only alternative: 10 proceed
on foot to whatever quarters we desired
10 occupy.
After having been stationed short
period at Benicia Barracks, [ was direct
ed TO report for duty to Captain Judah
at Fort Jones, Scott's Valley, in the
northern portion of California. Colo
regimen, with Captain u. s. Grant as
Quarter Master. IL was at this post l
formed warm attachment to Lieuten-
ant George Crook, now Brigadier Gen.
eral in the Army, and who has so sig
Dally distinguished himself as an Indian
fighter. Although he completed his
course at West Point year before
graduated, his purse was not much long
ei than my own; IL became therefore
necessary for us TO devise some plan TO
get along in thi, country Of gold aud ex-
travagance. We concluded TO associate
ourselves with Doctor Sorrell and Lieu
tenant Bonnycastle in the organization
Of a mess, and, as we were fond OF hunt
Ing and game was plentiful, to supply
our own table with every variety there
Of and 10 send the surplus to market
for sale. This financial policy worked
admirably, and since had at the age of
fifteen, during the absence of my IA
the- IN Philadelphia, taken charge of
his farm for one year with considerable
success, Crook an were led to secure
land and SOW large crop wheat. Just
before the harvest, however, was Or
dered in command of a detachment OF
Dragons to serve as escort to Lieuten-
ant Williamson Of the Typographical
Engineers upon a surveying expe-
dition In the direction of Salt
Lake. My duties were soon brought to
close by the receipt of an appointment
MS SeeApd Lieutenant in the Second Cav
airy, new regiment organized in accord
with an Act of Congress, in 1855, and
commanded by Colonel Albert Sidney
Johntson, with X. K. Lee as Lieutenant
Colonel, George Ii. Thomas and W. j..
Hardee as Majors. Lieutenant Philip
Sheridan relieved me, and l returned to
San Francisco Ell route to Jefferson Bar
racks, Missouri, the rendezvous of the
regiment. At the former place met,
for the first time, In his bank, w. L.
Sherman, who possessed as at present
the same piercing eye and nervous i'm
pulsive temperament. Little indeed did
anticipate at that period the great the
atre OF life upon which | was destined
so soon to be thrown as an actor with
him and others just mentioned, and who
have since become so distinguished and
prominent as American soldiers.
In the early Autumn Of 1855 sailed
from San Francisco for New York, via
Panama, and reported for duty at Jeffer-
son Barracks, Missouri. Soon thereafter,
If my memory betray me not, received
draft for about one thousand dollars in
gold, as my share of the profit in the
wheat crop cared for by Lieutenant
Crook and myself. In November |
marched with my regiment to Fort Belk-
nap, Texas, which place we reached
about the middle of December. Shortly
afterward, Camp Cooper was established
on the Clear Fork OF the B-azos. Major
George Il. Thomas was placed in com
mand till the arrival of Lieutenan. Col
onel r. X. Lee, to whom l had become
very much attached at West Point where
he was Superintendent whilst l was q
Cadet. My relations and duties were
: therefore most pleasant during my ser.
vice at Camp Cooper. The Government
, had under advisement, a. this period the
construction OF fort in that vicinity
1t was Colonel Lees custom 10 often ride
over the country in search of suitable
location, and to request each day one oi
more of his officers to accompany him
in order TO avail himself of theil
views In regard to the best point a
which to establish this military post
Whilst riding with him upon on,
of these excursions, and enjoyin,
: the scenery and balmy air as We
passed over the high and undulatinl
b prsiries of that beautiful region,the con
n versation turned upon matrimony, whel
he said to me with all the earnesLness O
!, q parent: "Never marry unless YOU cal