The Portland daily press., 1895-05-08

| for business.
On the breaking out of the war Of Sc
cession he felt it to be his duty, as a
| loyal graduate of West Point to offer his
services to the government. He came to
| Washington for that purpose, A bout
the same time Grant was in attendance
at McClellan's headquaIte tiers in the West,
seeking in vain recognition and employ
ment
The battle of Williamsburg gave to
Hooker his well known title of "Fight-
ing Joe Hooker" a title always repug-
nant to the General. He regarded it as
vulgar rather than popular He pre-
ferred to be esteemed for his attainments
in the science OF war, and not for his fe- |
rocity in combat. He knew very we'll that
there were enough fighting Joes" and
"fighting Jims" in the army without
him. His ambition was higher.
Hooker had no patience with that class
of commanders who cannot move with |
out orders, too often a convenient excuse
for doing nothing. He never looked
with Indifference upon troops hard
pressed and overtaxed by an enemy. His
ehivalrous nature at once sent him for
ward with help; so he was always stung
to the quick when ne found masses OF
men near him held aloof by their chiefs,
while he was contending against superior
forces of the enemy.
In his report of tbs battle of Williams
burg he exclaims, and can recall his
tones when he read these words to me,
History will not be believed when it is
told that the noble officers and men of
my division were permitted to carry on
this unequal struggle, from morning
until night, unaided, in the presence of
more than &c. 900 of their comrades, with
arms in their hands. Nevertheless it
is.true. If we fail to capture the rebel
army on the plains of Williamsburg, it
surely will not be ascribed to the want
of courage or conduct in my command"
When Hooker was assigned to the COM
mand OF the army OF the Potomac ii
| had fallen to an extreme depth of de-
moralization. Nearly 5000 officers and
more than $4,000 men were absent with
| out leave. Desertions nun bered at least
200 day. The army had failed in sew
eral campaigns. Three commanders had
been superseded. Recruiting had come
to a halt. Re-enforcements We're not in
sight.
The proclamation of emancipation had
placed a new phase on the war. 1t had
gravely divided public opinion in the
North. unfortunately spreading dissen-
| sions in the army, and discouraging re-
enlistments among the two-year men,
| whose term of service was about to ex-
pire. Hooker brought back the absentees
and restored the morale of the army,
reviving it's confidence in itself and its
leader. He gave his army lncessant oc-
cupation-the best remedy for demoral
ization-and In April '63, it was ready
for another campaign, more effective
than it had been at any period of the
war.
The most successful commanders in our
armies have been those who had the most
confidence in the volunteer forces. From
Remington in the revolutionary war, to
Appomattox; from Stark to Grant, this
hos he lf hn
!. armies of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
in the West, like the army of the Poto-
mac in the East, were almost exclusively
made up of volunteers. All their best
work was done by volunteers These
great leaders learned to confide in them.
Hook er was foremost in the army of
: the Potomac for his confidence in volnn-
, ters. His brigade, division, corps, were
, all volunteers. He believed them capa-
BILE of anything soldiers could do. He
loved his commands. He exercised great
personal influence over them. For him
they would peform miracles, so he be-
lieved. Hooker and Kearny created the
} Sd Army corps. OF the 800 remigents of
the Union army, most conspicuous for
distinguished conduct, and for the sever
, est losses suffered in battle, as enumerat-
ed by Fox, in his historical summary,
33 are taken from the roster of the 3D.
Army corps. There were "a corps of in
fantry in the army, besides the cavalry
: and artillery. 1t, therefore, appears that
nearly one-sixth Of the best fighting bat
talions in the army were the pupils of
these Sd corps commanders.
In the conception of military operations
Hooker was audacious, original, acute;
In executing them he was energetic, yet
circumspect and prudent. He was severe
in discipline, exacting in his demands
upon officers and men; lofty in his ideal
of the soldiers intrepidity, fortitude,
earnestness and zeal; yet he was gener-
GUS in praise, quick to see and recognize
ability and merit, as well in the ranks of
his adversary as in his own. He never
underestimate the army of northern
Virginia. He always said that the dis
cipline of Lees army made it inoompara-
bly, the most efficient force of it's num-
hers ever organized. He never ceased to
lament that the gentle, tender nature of
Lincoln made it impossible to impose
upon our armies the rigorous discipline
maintained in the rebel armies. The
government of Davis, the rebel ruler.
was military despotism inspired by his
military training from boyhood
Hooker pushed reconnaissance to the
enemy's line of battle, until be could see
it and measure it's strength. Obstinate
and tenacious in defense, his assaults
were persistent and irresistible. He liked
yol.ey firing by rank, with its deem vol
ness He admired the orderly fire of artill-
cry, every shot deliberately delivered, in
regular succession as in salute. He en-
loved its rhythm. At Chan cellorsville,
there was great park of artillery under
Weed, whose fire was like funeral
march, Hooker's command was always
In hand, responsive to his touch at
moments notice-never astray-always
in position.
he was gifted with a quick intuition
of his enemy's purpose. His thirst for
information about the enemy was in
cessapt, and he took the best means to
get it at whatever cost. Whom necessary
he went to his picket line and reconnoit-
cred in person. Although never waste
full of lives and limbs he counted them
as nothing compared with victory. A
soldier by intuition and instinct and
nrofession, Hooker's sword was adorned
| by the best omplishments known to
the art of war.
He maneuvred an army as easily as a
comnany. His pickets were always
nnshed to the very toes of his adversary
-~~rann NRgn aRgT rg1TypNn