The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-06

history can be transcribed rs he wrote 1t.
They contain many admirable topograph-
ical slletches-in pen and ink-so we'll
defined that from these reports accurate
maps of the scene of operations may be
outlined. His eve seemed to take at
once a Photographic impression of the
field, in which hills and valleys, roads
and streams, forests and clearihgs and
landmarks were distinctly shown. He
was born topographer. But if any of
you wish to be sure that there are always
two sides to a story, you have only TO
read the reports of the same battles as
told by the commanding officers on both
sides You might almost believe that
none of them were on the field, their
stories are so contradictory.
HOOKER ENJOYED CAMPAIGN.
He was Indifferent to hardships, ex-
posure, or peril. We were reclining,
one afternoon, near Resaca, in Georgia,
at a halting-place, after hot march,
and had unsaddled our horses to freshen
the animals, and because we needed the
saddles for pillows. i asked him what
he regarded as the highest form of human
endowment. He answered: 4" Campaign
ing in an enemy's country" He was
happier in a tent than he could have
been in a palace. Hooker had humor
and wit. He said he "always caught
a cold when he slept in house" He
complained at Malvern Hill that when
he had a guide be was usually led to the
wrong road. He was always afraid of
guides. He remembered, perhaps, what
happened to Napoleon's cavalry at
Waterloo, who were destroyed by the
mistake or treachery of a guide. After
Mission Ridge Grant complained that
Hooker had lost too many men in his
pursuit of the striking Bragg
when at bay. Hooker replied that he
knew no way of swimming without
getting wet" He said to me at Fred
ericksburg that military commanders
might sometimes learn profitable
lesson from Rocky Mountain mules; that
is to say, BE sure of safe footing for
three legs before taking step forward
with the fourth"
He was jealous of the honor of his
command. In bis report of the battle
Of Williamsburg, after saying of his
friend, Gen. Keamy, that Z" he arrived
on the ground at the head of his divis-
ion, with all bis characteristic gallantry,"
Hooker at once took serious official eK-
ception to an assertion in Kearny's re-
port which did injustice to the artillery
Of the Second Division. This was some
thing Hooker never permitted from any
source.
An illustration Of
HIS sCRuPULoUs SENSE OF JUSTICE
is found in his conduct toward McCall's
Division of Pennsylvanians They had
nobly done their duty at Antietam, and
Hooker Immediately seized the occasion
TO withdraw the animadversions upon
that command which he had expressd
in his report on the battle Of Glendale,
in the Peninsular campaign.
Soldiers soon take on the traits of
their commanders. When you know a
Captain you see his company. A regi-
ment is the counterpart Of Its Colonel,
an army of Its chief. The makers
name is always on the handle. At Re
SAGA Hooker was ordered by Thomas to
take a strong redoubt covering the enc
my's line Of retreat. Two or three as
saults made by the Western troops had
failed. / happened to be Hooker's
guest at his Headquarters. He said to
me: 81 will capture that work to-day
at any cost. We are serving here, but,
we belong to the Army of the Potomac.
] owe this much TO that army" IRE
main, your orator to-day, then my SEN
ior Aid-de- Camp, volunteered his serv-
ices to lead one of the columns of But
terield's Division, which was selected
for the assault. As you may Suppose,
i was an attentive spectator of the pro-
ceedlDgs. The enemy was driven from
the redoubt, but we could not occupy it
nor move away any Of the guns, because
the work was found to be commanded
by thousands Of the enemy, intrenched
on the fanks and rear. Night closed
the combat. Not man on either side
could live inside the fort. 1t was de-
serted. Assailants and defenders slept
upon their arms-our men on the slope
Of the bill crowned by the redoubt, the
enemy in their riAe-pits About 8
o'clock, as we were talking over the in
cidents Of the day in Hooker's tent, we
heard loud cheers. Going out TO learn
the news, we were met by a detachment
hauling the guns of the redoubt to
Hooker's Headquarters His men had
profted by the night to scrape down
with their hands and bayonets the en-
brssures for the guns, and thus opening
the way, had run the cannon down the
hillside and brought their well-won
trophies to their chief, Of whom his men
were the type in determination, tenacity
and pluck. must not dwell too long
on these tempting themes. There is a
dangerous fascination in fighting our
battles oer again.
We offer you this excellent likeness