The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-08-13


but Hooker appealed from their decis
ion and lived. He was literally shot
to pieces-across the body, in the left
leg, in the right leg, through the
body and throu ugh the left shout.
der, laying bare vital artery and
SCATTERING the collar bone. These
casualties ought to have retired
an ordinary mortal but Hooker surviv-
ed, served in the trenches i'll front of
Richmond and was with the advance
body of troops that entered Richmond
on the morning of it's capture, April
3, 1865. On this occasion Col Hook
er was serving as assistant adiutant
general third division, twenty fourth
army corps, Maj. Gen. Devens COM
handing, and the first brigade of this
division, in command of brevet Brig
Gen. E. H, Ripley, Colonel of the
Ninth Vermont, was the body of
troops that entered the fallen Confed-
crate capital. Hooker organized this
column and did not forget to "put the
Vermonters ahead. - His military SER
vice was varied, always efficient, al
ways responsible, always distinguish
ed, and so highly appreciated that aft
er the war had closed and he had been
ordered to Charleston, S. c., as adju-
tant general of that department he
rendered his resignation three times
before it was accepted. Col Hooker
is said to have received more wounds
than any other Vermont officer in one
action. Congress gave him medal of
honor for distinguished gallantry i'll
action at South Mountain. A very
gallant soldier was Col. Hooker.
In Vermont politics Col Hooker for
more than decade was a conspicuous
and picturesque figure. AS chair
man of the ways and means COM
mittee, in the Legislature of 1882, rep
resenting Brattleboro, he was the
engineer and motive power of the
movement for taxing corporations,
ending in the enactment of the corpora
ton tax law. In that body he was
one of so large a number of capable,
energetic, resourceful men as is sell
dom comprised in the Vermont Gener-
al Assembly. In the House of Repre-
sentatives were DR.. Jones of Waits
field, Wing of Montpelier, Plumley of
Mortified, Munson of Manchester,
Thompson of Irasburg, Roberts of
Burlington, Burke of Albany, Fetch
er of Cavendish, Hobson of Brighton,
and Martin, then of Londonderry and
in the Senate were Walker of Rut
land, Ide of Caledonia, Hogan of
Franklin, and in both branches many
others, since known to fame, who COM
prised body of Legislators of rare capa-
bility for their duties, combination
and variety CT talents, Of strong men
of affairs, charged with very respon-
sible duties, working periodically and
harmoniously1 together, in an unself-
ish spirit, for the best good of the
State-and high among them was Col.
Hooker.
To enumerate the varied activities
of this man, the functions in which
he, was chief, would too far exceed
the limits of newspaper article, On
festive occasions, in the meetings of
the Officers Reunion Society, wherever
men of the State were assembled to-
gether for business or pleasure, Hook
er's piquant wit and humor always
"Outdid the meat, outdid the frolic
wine.'
In later years he had been missed
from public occasions. He had been
devoting himself quietly to private
affairs, but until the present year had
remained an active factor in home
municipal interests, declining at the
local election of last March longer to
remain in the official service of his
townsmen. A gallant soldier, in civil
life he served his State well. In re-
spect of Col. Hooker may the injunc-
ton, with grace and tenderness, be
observed; BE to his faults a little
blind be to his virtues very kind. -