Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-08-08
Col. Hooker's Military Record.

Col. Hooker's career as a soldier
began with his enlistment as private
in Company F with the Fourth regi-
ment September 6, 1861. His pro-
motion as sergeant major came three
weeks later. In April, 1862, he was
made lieutenant of Company E, and
in August, 1862, first lieutenant of the
same company. He was appointed
captain and assistant adjutant gen.
eral of United States Volunteers July
81, 1864, and was breveted major and
lieutenant colonel of United States
Volunteers November 4, 1865, for gal
liant and meritorious service during
the war.
He commanded his company during
the Peninsula campaign. and was pres
ent in action at Lees Mills, Williams
burg, Golding's Farm, Savage Station
and White Oak Swamp, Virginia; and
Champions Gap, South Mountain and
Antietam. Maryland. At the first
battle of Fredericksburg, he served as
aide on the staff of the third brigade,
second division, sixth corps, was trans
ferred as acting assistant adjutant
general upon the staff of Brigadier
General Edwin H. Stoughton, COM
manding the second Vermont brigade
at Fairfax Court House, Virginia.
When Brigadier General George H.
Stannard assumed command of this
brigade, Lieut.. Hooker was assigned
to his staff. He served in this posi-
ton through the three days fighting
at the battle of Gettysburg. For gal
lantry in action at Gettysburg he was
recommended for promotion to cap
tain and assistant adjutant general
United States Volunteers.
In the campaign of 1864 he was as
sistant adjutant general, first brigade,
second division. 18th army corps, and
led nine regiments into battle at Cold
Harbor June 8. 1864. In this battle
he was severely wounded five times;
first, across the body; second, left leg;
third, right leg; fourth, through body,
right side; fifth, through left shoulder,
leaving the sub-clavium artery entirely
bare, and shattering the collar bone,
(Which was mostly removed). The two
last wounds were considered fatal by
the surgeons at the time of the bat
tie.
Upon recovery, Captain Hooker was
assigned to duty as assistant adjutant
general third division, oath corps, un-
der Gen. Charles Devens, and served in
the trenches in front of Richmond
This division, with the first brigade,
Gen. E. H. Ripley, colonel of the
Ninth Vermont regiment, commanding
led the advance of the Union troops
into the city of Richmond on the
morning of it's capture April 3, 1865.
The organization of this column was
in charge of Captain George w. Hook
er, who did not forget to "put the Yer
monters ahead" After the surrender
of Richmond, Assistant Adjdtant Gen.
Hookers division comprised all the
troops in and around Richmond. La
ter he was ordered to Charleston, S. c.,
as adjutant general Of that department.
The war having closed. he rendered
his resignation, but did so three times
before it was accepted. Col. Hooker
probably received more wounds than
any other Vermont officer in any one
action. In addition to being wounded
FIVE times at Cold Harbor, he was also
wounded once at South Mountain. He
received a medal of honor from Con-
gress for his distinguished gallantry in
action at the battle Of South Mountain.
An interesting story of his conduct
at this time is related in another col
umn by Col H. E. Taylor, who was a
member of Company f with Col Hook
/ er in the old Fourth Vermont regiment
/ An old army comrade says of Col
/ Hooker: "a braver soldier neverlived.
He was one of the type of dashing
young officers, who was absolutely
! fearless, no matter how great the dan
ger which he faced.