Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-26
GEN. HOODS LOVE ROMANCE.
How His Sweetheart Helped Him to a
Position, and How She Repudiated
Him when He Failed to Win Battles.

Position, and How She Repudiated
Him when He Failed to Win Battles.
A writer in the Washington Chronicle
relates the following dramatic incident
in the dead warriors life: There was
visiting Mrs. Jefferson Davis in Rich
mond, at that time, lady belonging to
family in the South of very powerful
| convictions, who, in beauty, cleyerness
and ambition 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
ised husband, she determined, if possible,
to help him to position where his un-
Qualified abilities as a fighter would find
a proper sphere. The instant change in
the commander of the second great army
of the Confedefacy was noted, she
saw her opportunity. 81 will try
to have you given the command
OF the Western Army" she wrote
him, land you must succeed" Gen.
HOcd was then about thnty-three years
old, and had first distinguished himself in
two of the greatest battles of the war as
division and corps commander. He was
man who was always ready to fight, no
matter against what odds; and as the
Army of the Tennessee could not be re-
cruited much more, it was decided at
INAAAAAnOnO lAldAb oNulC Out buOulU NOlll-
mand it VINO would risk two or three ter
rible battles, and, If it were possible, get
Sherman's corps far enough apart to fall
on them and defeat them, each one at
time. So Gen. Hood was selected. Every
one knew he would fight whenever
he got the chance, and this was
mainly what vas wanted at Rich
mOnd. 1t was S.,rOud day for the stately
woman he loved when it was announced
not Nrrnu To hr, nrl,
iOnally to the grade of full General and
given this well-trained army. On the
18th Of July { l believe that was the date }
Gen. Johnston was relieved, and it was
understood that thereafter there would
be no more fanking or strategic
operations, but some terrible battles.
Hood did his best, but the transcendant
genius of Johnston was lacking, and
the final battles of the 14th and 18th of
December, 1864, in front of Nashville,
nearly destroyed his army. After this
occurred Gen. Hood was sent for to come
to Richmond at once. The day after his
arrival he received a 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 to
90 with him to the house where Miss --
when they were announced, the lady came
in with packet in her hand. "Gen.
Hood, she said, looking straight into his
eyes, ''When l became engaged to YOU |
had the fullest faith in your success. 1
tried to help you, and did assist in hav-
ing the command of the Army of Tennes.
see given you. You have failed; why
or how is now beside the question. | can
never bring myself to bear the name of a
man who wears the prestige of defeat,
and l sent for you to say that our engage
ment must be at an end. Here are your
letters and some things you gave me.
Now, goodbye, and let the dead past be
forgotten. GOod-byev' While this was be-
ing said Gen. Hood was standing on his
crutches, for his leg was gone and his
arm shattered. He turned very white,
but said not word, nor did he look at
the hand outstretched to bid him good
bye. He gravely bent his stately head and
went out from her presence forever. But he
never forgot nor fOrgave the bitter, cruek
words, and years after, in speaking of the
matter, he showed deep emotion. 1t was
so hard to bear, for he had done all that
loyalty, pluck and the most distinguished
courage could do to win. Itwas an awful
position for the officer who went with
him. When the conversation commenced
he rose and walked over to a window, in
order that he might not be witness to
what he fOresaw would be most pain
full scene. But he could not help hear
| ing, and never until his dying day
will he forget one Of the most re-
markable incidents of the war. Gen.
Hood gin 1869, married Miss Marie Hen
nen, a daughter Hon. D. n. Hennen, of
New Orleans. She was a tall, handsome
woman, worthy Of her gallant and chival-
rous soldier husband. The sad death of
both husband and wife in quick success
sion of yellow fever in 1878 is still fresh
in the public mind, as is the fact that
they left nine little children, the eldest
only years old, to the care of strangers.