Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1881-08-20

ness of speech often made alienation be-
tween them. Yet this very habit gained
him, it was said, his generals commission
and believe the story is substantially true
| After the Mexican War Hooker served
as captain of artillery and brevet lieuten-
ant colonel until 1858, then resigned and
bought ranch in California. In 1853 and
| 1853 he was superintenden of military roads
IN Oregon. When the rebellion came he
was private citizen in California, and
hastened to Washington to offer his services,
but after. several months Of waiting re-
ce1ved no encourageD ent, and was about to
return home. The rebellion was then TO
be suppressed in sixty days, the govern
ment refused the offer of more troops,
those in the field were encountered by civil
ians, and the first battle, soon to be fought,
would wipe out the rebels, and all would go
on smoothly again in a few weeks.
About this time the battle came off, and
to our utter surprise we were beaten and
driven under cover More troops we're
frantically called for and more officers of
experience. A few days after the battle of
Bull Run, Hooker called at the White
House to bid the president goodbye. TAX
ing him by the hand, with that friendly de-
| tanning grasp so habitual with him, the
president said: well, Colonel Hooker,
what do you think of the battle Of Bull
RUM"
Mr.. Lincoln, I was on the field that day
and am much better general than any
you had there, was the reply.
The sef-assertion and earnestness of
Hookers speech and manner struck Mr.
Lincoln favorably.
hsnOn'f 0O homo rof ooio,aT vo ol,11
want you. and Hooker was soon commits
stoned as brigadier general
Hooker is frequently spoken Of as habit
ually incorporate. He was not. When
not III active campaign, his habits among
his intimate associates at his own head
quarters were social and cornwall. He
liked well-served dishes and good wines;
but was not partial to whisky. Many who
were during the war and are day among
our most distinguished generals could take
more whisky and brandy every day of their
lives than would supply Hooker a week.
The difference was in taste and constitu-
tlonal temperament. One glass,'of champagne
woula flush Hooker's face. His blood
coursed in sanguine currents.
On the march of the battle field he drank
less than many others. I was with him in
every battle of his after that grand review
of the army, and never saw him affected by
liquor when on duty or when there was
duty to be done. On such occasions he
was temperate.
think that compar alive few persons
have formed just conception of his abili-
ties as commander. During the entire war
he made but one failure, but that was the
one he could least afford, and it overshad-
owed his many successes. His name has
passed into history rather as the general
who, commanding an army, was defeated
at Charlottesville, than as the one. who,
in subordinate command, won beyond all
others the admiration of his comrades at
Williamsburg. Fair Cakes, Antietam, Look
out Mountain, Ringgold, Resaca, New Hope
Church, Kenesaw and Peach Tree creek.
OF scarcely any Of our leading generals,
save General Thomas, can it be said that
she did not have one marked failure to his
I score.
Unfortunately for Hooker, it was blue
day for generals when he lost that battle.
The nation and the administration had had
their surfeit of defeats, and the demand
was for one who would reap victory, and
they were not in the humor to give any one
feeling would have made Hooker, had he
then succeeded, the idol of the nation, be-
yond any of his predecessors or successors.
It was the one chance offered to become
the greatest in the land, but it was lost and
never offered him again. Yet Hooker was
a great general. Few, perhaps none Of the
rest, were better organizers, and none could
better handle troops in action. No one I'M
der whom served was SO loved and trust
ed b. those who served long under him.
His presence was magnetic and his pei SON.
al courage in battle of the highest order.
While in camp he kept his troops thor
oughly equipped, supplied and disciplined,
and visited frequently every part of his
command, inspecting personally troops, in
trenchments and picket lines, and attaching
every one to his person by his interest in
then affairs. It was never my fortune to
be with him in retreat, except on the one
occasion mentioned.
While on the march his influence and
movements inspired all parts Of the column.
His habit was to lead the march. With his
staff and small cavalry escort, you would
generally find him considerably ahead of
his infantry. Those with him had no sin
ecure. Every cross road and by-path he
had explored by staff officer and an order
~ or two, while within sight Of the main
road ahead he kept two or three men on
the alert. On finding the enemys scouts,
pickets or rearguard, as the case might be,
Hooker for the NJ oment was captain OF
skirmishers, with staff and escort deploy-
ed and skirmishing until the infantry came
/ up. Meantime he examined personally the
position, and if a fight was on hand brought
/ up his troops, pushed the enemy, and
| fought as far forward as possible, rarely
giving the enemy time to choose his own
ground or attack first. This was his hab-
ltual method as q corps commander. The
! battle of Charlottesville was tactically a
complete reversal Of his almost invariable
custom. He seemed to there feel fettered
by the importance Of awaiting the arrival
of some of his corps and by the absence OF