The National tribune., 1892-11-10

Californians, then in Washington. called upon
| Mr. Lincoln to say good things about Hooker
| they would have been satisfied with the Offer
| of Captains commission in the Volunteers
| but they came away with the Presidents Offer
| of Brigadier Generals commission in the
Volunteer service. This was May II. 1861
| Hooker was then in Washington. waiting for
something to turn up, and he lost no time in
taking what was offered to him. He was at
| Bull Run, and became active in the defenses oi
Washington Immediately after. Like hundreds
of others, he then waited, as Mcclellan planned,
| to make display of his fighting and certain
other peculiar qualities on the Peninsula, nota-
bly, at the battle of Williamsburg where, as he
always alleged, he was forced to fall back be-
fore superior force while 10000 men were
idle. At the siege of Yorktown he had pre-
viousfy display yed such excellent qualities that
he was advanced to the grade of Major-General
of Volunteers In subsequent operations OF
the Peninsular campaign he was conspicuous.
After that he was not less so in POpe's CAM
paign against Lee, thus achieving the title of
Fighting Joe Hooker" At Antietam he was
especially distinguished, and for these services
was made Brigadier- General in the Regular
Army, his commission dating from Sept. 90
1862. A wound took him from active service
for a time, but he reappeared at Fredericks-
burg. Burnside's failure created Hooker's op-
portunity. for he was appointed to Fill the
place made vacant by Burnside's resignation of
the command Of the Army of the Potomac
Mr.. LincoIn's letter to Hooker comforting on
him this command, is ono of the most remark
able in the history of the war-in any history
perhaps. 1t was as follows:
II have placed you at the head of the Army
of the Potomac Of course / have done this
upon what appears to me to be sufficient rea-
sons, and yet l think it best for you to know
that there are some things in regard to which
ar uot vat aati sfia6x wit t halia fo
be brave and skillful soldier, which, of course,
l like. I also believe you do not mix politics
with your profession, in which You are right.
You have confidence in yourself, which is
valuable, if not indispensable, quality. You
are mbitious, which, within reasonable bounds,
does good rather than harm; but think that
during Gen. Burnsides command of the army
you have taken counsel Of your ambition and
.thwarted him as much as you could, in which
you did great wrong to the country and to
most meritorious and honorable brother officer
/ have heard, in such way as to believe it, of
your saying that both the army and the Gov
ernment needed dictator. OF course it was
not for this, but in spite of it, that have given
you the command. Only those Generals who
gain successes can set up dictators. What /
ask of you is military success, and l will risk
the dictatorship. The Government will sup
port you to the utmost of its ability, which is
neither more nor less than it has done, and
will do, to any commander. | much fear that
the spirit which you have aided to infuse into
the army of criticsing their commander and
withholding confidence from him will now
turn upon yoa. l SHALL assist you, as far can,
to put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon,
were he alive again, could get any good out of
an army while such a spirit prevailed in it.
And now, beware of rashness! Beware of rash
ness! But, with energy and sleepess vigilance,
go forward and give us victories"
1t has been contended that in writing this
letter Mr.. Lincoln displayed an accurate
superiors of his criticisms. not always just, and
sometimes even q willingness to see the Union
cause suffer harm to crafty resentments. Accu-
sations like these, it has been said are clearly
within q fair Interpretation and meaning of
Mr.. Lincoln's letter. 1t is not known that
Hooker ever resented the imputation that he
had been faithless to Burnside had stimulated
disposition in the army to criticise their COM
mander. and thereby weaken confidence in
him. He promised everything the President
desired, all that he hoped would follow his
appointment to the command of the Army of
the Potomac.
Hooker at once proceeded to reorganize the
army and put it in shape to be, as he sad
" the finest army on the planet and he de-
clared that no power could save Lee from de-
struction when he again put it in motion.
Taxing up his position at Charlottesville,
Hooker awaited Lees attack, nor did he have
to wait long. The attack came with such
suddenness and impetuosity that Hooker was
beaten. In the heat Of the battle he was