Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1884-07-24
General Hoods Romance.


A writer in the Washington Chrofi.
iole relates the following dramatic in
cident in General Hoods lifes There
was visiting Mrs Jefferson Davis in
Richmond, at that time, a lady be-
longing to family in the South of
very powerful convictions, who in
beauty, cleverness and ambition, has
never had her superior in that sec-
ton: She was engaged to be married
to General Hood, With all wo-
man's natural ambition for her prom
ised husband, she determined, il pos
sible. to help him to a position where
his unqualified abilities as fighter
would find d proper sphere. The in
slant q change in the commander Of
the second great army of the Confsd-
eracy was mooted, she saw her oppor-
tunity. II will try and have you
given the command Of the Western
Army" she wrote him, land you must
succeed |" General Hood was then
about 93 years old, and had first dis
tinguished himself in two Of tho great
est battles Of the war as a division
and corps commander. He was a
man who was always ready TO fight,
no matter against what odds and a.
the army Of the Tennessee could not
be recruited much more, it was de-
cided at Richmond that some one
should command ii who would risk
two or three terrible battles, and if
it were possible, get Shermans corps
far enough apart to fall on them, and
defeat them each one at time. So
General Hood was selected. Every
one knew he would fight whenever
he got the chance, and that was main
y what was wanted at Richmond.
1t was proud day for the stately
woman he loved when it was an
nounced that General Hood was TO
be raised Professionally to the grade
Of full General and given this WE'LL
trained army. On the 18th of July
q believe that was the date) General
johnson was relieved, and it was I'M
derstood that thereafter there would
be no more thanking or stragetic oper-
ations, but some terrible battles.
Hood did his best, but the transcen-
dant genius Of johnson was lacking,
and the final battles of the l4th and
18th of December, 1854, in front of
Nashville .naarlY4a destroyed his army.
rrr .,aarpap snass IptEtnou s,qtncood
| once. Tho day afeUr- rTg TrTrvEr ne
received note from tile lady mem
toned requesting him TO call on her
at his earliest convenience. There
happened to be an oficerwith Gensr-
al Hood whom he knew very we'll
when the note reached him, and he
asked the officer to go with him TO
the house where Miss ------%4-' was.
After few moments Of waiting when
they were announced tho lady came
in with o packet in her hand. gGen-
eral Hood, she said, looking straight
into his eyes, when I became engaged
to you / had the fullest faith in your
success. / tried to help you, and did
assist in having the command Of the
| Army Of Tennessee given you. You
have failed; why or how Is now be-
side the question / can never bring
myself to bear the name Of man
who wears the prestige Of defeat. and
| sent for you to say that our engage
rnent must be at an end. Here are
lyour letters ead some things you gave
me. Now, goodbye, and let the dead
l,past be forgottsns Good-byela While
|, This vas baipg ssid General Hood was
standing on his crntches, for bis leg
| was gone anil one arm shattered. He
turned very white but said not a
word, neradid he look at tte hand
out -streLchsd TO bid him goodbye.
He grAyely bent his stately head and
went ont from her presence forever
more. BNs be never forgot nor for
gave the bitter, cruel words, and
years after In speaking Of the matter,
| be showed deep emotion. It was 80
hard to bear, for he had done all that
| the most distinguished courage could
| do TO win. Ii was an awful position
| for the officer who went with him.
/ When the conversation commenced
| he walked over 10. a. window in order
that he might not DO witness towhat
| he foresaw would be Q most painful
scene. But he could not help hear
Ing, aud never until his dying day
| will heforgstr one of the mese samaFk-
able incidents of u the war; General
Hood in 1869 married Mics Marie
Hennen, daughter Of Hon. D. N.
Hennen, Of New Orleans, She was a
| tall, handsome woman worthy Of. her
gallant and chivalric soldier Husband.
| ,fhe sad death 81 both husband and
| wife in quick succession Of tho yellow
fever in 1878 10 still fresh Id the pub
lie mind, as IL The fact that they left
nine little children, the eldest only
nine years old, TO the care Of strang-
eFs. go
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