Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-08-08
miscellaneous.
GEN. HOODS ROMANCE.

A writer in the Washington Chronicle
relates the following dramatic incident
in Gen. Hoods life /: There was visiting
Mrs. Jefferson Davis in Richmond, at
that time, lady belonging to family
in the South of very powerful convic-
tons, who in beauty, cleverness and am
bition, has never had her superior in
that section She was engaged to be
married to Gen. Hood. With all a
woman's natural ambition for her prom
Used husband, she determined, if posi-
Bile, to help him to position where his
unqualed abilities as n fighter would
find a proper sphere. The instant a
change in the commander of the second
great army of the Confederacy was
mooted, she saw her opportunity. IL
will try and have you given the com
mand of the Western Army" she wrote
him, "and you must succeed y Gen.
Hood was then about 33 years old, and
had first distinguished himself in two OF
the greatest battles of the war as d.
vision and corps commander He was
a man who was always ready TO fight,
no matter against what odds and as
the army of the Tennessee could not be
recruited much more, il was decided at
Richmond that some one should com
mand it who would risk two or three terri
BILE battles, and ifpossible, get Sherman's
corps far enough apart to fall on them,
and defeat them each one at time. SO
Gen. Hood was selected Every ono
knew he would fight whenever he got
the chance, and that was mainly what
was wanted at Richmond II was o
proud day for the stately woman he
loved when il was announced that Gen
Hood was to be raised Professionally to
the grade Of full General and given this
well-trained army. On the 18th of
July Il believe that was the datc) Gen.
Johnson was relieved, and it was under
stood that thereafter there would be no
more thanking or stragetic operations,
but some terrible battles. Hood did his
best, but the transccndent genius of
johnson was lacking, aud tho final bat
ties Of the 18th and 18th of December,
1864, in front Of Nashville, nearly de-
stroyed his army. After this occurred
Gen. Hood was sent for to come to
Richmond at once. The day after his
arrival he received note from the lady
mentioned requesting him to call on her
at his earliest convenience. There hap
pened to be an officer with Gen. Hood
whom he knew very well when the note
reached him, and he asked the officer 10
go with him to the house where Miss 49,
was. After few moments Of waiting
when they were announced the lady
came 10 with packet in her hand
Gen Hood" she said, looking straight
into his eyes, when | became engaged
to you had the fulles. 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 beside
the question. | can never bring myself
10 bear the name Of man who wears
the prestige Of defeat, and sent for
you TO say that our engagement must be
at an end. Here are your letters and
some things you gave me. Now, good
bye, and let the dead past be forgotten
Goodbye" While this was being said
Gen. Hood was standing on his crutchos,
for his leg was gone and one arm shat
tered He turned very white but said
not word, nor did he look al the hand
out-stretched to bid him goodbye. He
graycly bent his stately head and wont
out from her presence forever moro. But
he never forgot nor forgave the bitter,
cruel words, and years after in speaking
Of the matter, he showed deep emotion
II was 30 hard TO bear, for he had done
all that the most distinguished courage
could do 10 win II was an awful posi-
ton for the officer who went with him 4.
When the conversation commenced he
walked over 10 window 10 order that
he might net be witness to what he
foresaw would be n most painful scene
But be could not help hearing, and
never until his dying day will he forget
one OF the most remarkable incidents Of
the war. Gen. Hood in 1869 married
Miss Marie HenDcn, a daughter Of Hon
ID. N. Hennen, Of New Orleans. She
wab tall handsome woman, worthy Of
her gallant and chivalric soldier bus
band. The sad death Of both husband
and vito in quick succession Of the yell
low fever in 1878 is still frosh in the
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