The National tribune., 1891-07-23
GEN. JOHN E. WOOL.
Massachusetts Comrade CrilIcizcs the Old Com.
mandrr.

A Massachusetts, Comrade CritlciEcs the Old Com
mander.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As constant
reader Of your paper, ] wish 10 say that in my
judgment nothing has appeared in its columns
more deeply interesting aud instructive than
Gen. Popcs "reminiscences, or pen pictures Of
prominent Generals and others who figured
prominently in the late war.
ann one Of those who believe Gen. Pope was
very badly treated, sacrificed through the
trcachery Of a coterie Of officers Of high rank,
who were willing that the army and the couu-
try should he destroyed rather than his cam
paign in Virginia i'm 1869 should be successful.
GEN popes sketch Of Gems. Wool and Mans
field Is intensely interesting 10 me, because i
served under them both at the same time.
In the carly part of 1862 Gen, Wool was ia
command Of the Department Of Virginia, with
Headquarters at Fort Monroe, Va, and Gen.
Mansfield commanded at Newport News, ut
what was known MS Camp Butler To show how
completely Gen. POpe's pen picture Of Gen.
Wool ITALICS with the estimate the boys ut New
port News had made Of that bristliug old vet
ean, / will quote from the history Of the
29th Mass. short sketch Of what occurred
while the regiment was moving from Newport
News TO occupy Norfolk, Va, which place had
been or was about TO be evacuated 10y the
rebels
Early in May the following order was
issued
HEADQUARTEEs' DEPT or Va FoET Mo ,S95'
General Orders, No. co.
The troops 81 this command being about 10
march into The country occupied by The enemy,
they warned that puudering and depredating
upon private property VIII not be Tolerated Tor
moment The penalty If death viii bc executed
I}y command of Mai Gen. Wool.
WM ID. WHpPLE Assistant AdjutRnt- General"
After describing the march from Newport
News to Fort Monroe, the sail across the water
to Ocean View in the night aud the incidents
Of the march from Ocean View to Norfolk, the
historian says:
"A report reached Gen. Wool nj this time
that members Of the regiment had killed a
number of swine while on their march from
Ocean View 10 Norfolk, and the result was the
following order;
HEADQUARTERS DEPT or VTnGIslA
TT. MONROE, May - 1862. /
Brig Gen. EGBEET l.. NEELE, Military Governor
Of Norfolk.
SIR u las been reported at these Headquar-
ters that certain soldiers 81 Col. j. ". I'leTces
2gth Mass. yesterday killed number Of hogs,
private property Of citizens living near Ocean
View, va.
You will use every rndeavor TO ascertain who
are ihe offenders, aud II you succeed you viii
/ place them 90 close confinement and report them
] 10 these Headquarters.
N ID should b. ascertained HAT this report IL true
4 You will cause tie owners 10 he paid for the hogs
al the rate 81 $ Tor each hog. IL the money -
/ not Immediately paid, you will order the regiment
/ 10 return to Newport News forthwith aud send tAc
offender or offenders prisoners 20 Fort Monroe
Is command ~ Mai .-Geu. MOOI.
W. d. WUIPPII., Assistant Adjutant-Gencral.
"The Colonel Of the regiment was called upon
\ by Gen. Niele TO explain The matter mentioned
/ in the order The affair was thoroughly invcs-
! tigated but no evidence could be obtained 10
show that any member Of the regiment killed
4 the hogs and the name OF the person who gave
1 the information 10 Gen. Wool was requested.
! Here the whole affair ended. No one Of the
regiment was executed, nor was the regiment
/ sent back 10 Newport News in disgrace On Rc-
count Of two OF three dcfunct pigs, that prob
ably belonged TO the euemys camp aud not 10
private individuals.
4 "This was good season for orders. No sooner
/ had the Maior-General recovered from his wrath
about the hog affair than he began 10 think
about his slllful and gallant movement on
/ Norfolk, and the result was General Order No.
a. as rcplCtc with egotism and sclf-praise as it
was long and Rusty.
"The Maior-Gcncral took great credit TO him
self for having captured Norfolk aud Ports
mouth, the fact being that these cities were
evacuated by the rebels ln consequence Of the
1 movement By Gen. Mcclellan on Richmond,
and were simply occupied by the troops under
| Gen. Wool. Not drop Of blood was shed ia
the movement and not the slightest resistance
uhAt ~ AAlt AtbtA AHA4INhNAALs 4AAEEls Tic
movement did not originate with Gen. Wool,
but was commenced upon the suggestion Of
President Lincoln"
AT the time all this took place we were
| youngsters, and did not realize fully the many
ridiculous features Of Gen. WOO's silly order
about the pigs. But now, when VIC have reached
tho meridian Of life and are better able 10 COM
I prchend the circumstances, Ii seems unaccouut-
4 ably strange that man who had been soldier
rfl ife If5Ffu md had ffF0
ing possessed Of an average amount Of sense
could have become 20 completely beside himself
with rage over so tr.aing matter as the kill
ing Of a few raz0rbacks IN tie enemy's coun-
try and 20 threaten 10 send good regiment OF
veterans back 20 their camp in disgrace, at q
time when, IL ever the Government needed
all the good men il could get. Such an act
clearly proved that Gen Wool's days Of use.
fulncss were over. lie was +" back number, "
and evidently suffering fromsenilc dementia.
our historian sayg: During the Winter OF
1862 charges Of improper conduct were pre.
ferred against Col. Pierce, a court martial con.
vened aud upon trial be was found guilty and
sentenced 10 dismissal from the service Gen
Mansfield approved Of tho findings Of thu
court martial but Gen. Wool, his superior dis
approved them, aud Col. Pierce was reinstated
IN his command Oi Inc regiment"
Thus again Gen. Wool showed his weakness
in that after Pierce had been fairly tried b,
his peers aud found guilty, and the findings o
the court martial had been approved by Gen
Mansfield, who was he immediate command o
the troops at Newport News, he Gen. Wool
should allow himself 10 be Influenced by par
ties in the North 10 set aside So Just "A sentcnc,
aud restore 20 the command Of his regiment al
officer Who had disgraccd bis position and VIII,
wa in every proper sense utterly incapable O
properly commanding O rcgiment-P. MINsOR
/ second Lieutenant, Co. j., 18th Mass, Fergu
, Falls, Mimi.
Women are not slow 70 comprehend. Thoy'r