Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-07-25

most OlneT peOpl6 ne OCcdslouAAy CooD
a drink, but never when going into
action. It has been said that he was
under the influence of liquor ut the
battle of Charlottesville. That was .
malicious falsehood. 1 knew two ONO
ers on Gen. Hooker's private stan du
ing that battle, Col. Gambler and Major
Lawrence. Both of those gentlemen
are now dead, but years ago they as
sured me that Gen. Hooker did not
touch a drop of liquor that day"
Col. Charles C. Rivers, an inspecto,
in the custom house, remembers Gen.
Hooker well. He served under Hooker
in the Eleventh Massachusetts, First
brigade, Second Division of the Third
Army corps.
Gen. Hooker" said Col. Rivers,
was a man soft of speech and very
neat in personal appearance. He was
one of those men who always look well
no matter what the circumstances
under which they are living.
He always wore a 'dickie'-one Of
those high standing collars SO fash
ionable forty or fifty years ago. That
collar was known as 'Hooker's baro-
meter Whenever we saw the old
man come out of his tent with one
side of that collar loppeu over we
would begin to look for trouble.
1.-The old mans collar says fight
would be the message sent down the
line. And the sign never failed.
Il was not on the generals staff
and of course 1 came in contact with
him but seldom. 1 remember one
occasion, distinctly, however. 1t was
when l was promoted to be second
lieutenant. / needed a sword fitting
to my new dignity, and 1 went to Gen.
Hooker to get permission to go to
Washington to purchase one.
$50 you want to buy a sword?' said
he. Haven't we plenty Of swords in
Campo
Eyes, sir, but not the kind 1 want
1 answered.
"'Come with me, young man, and
we'll see if we can't find you a good
sword
1--WE went down where the stores
were kept and finally came upon a
wagon loaded with old sabres. They
were ancient weapons, most OF them
relics of the Mexican war. I couldn't
have welded one of them with both
hands.
Help yourself, young man. said
the general, waving his hand toward
the wagon.
"'But, general protested, I could
not lift one of those things, let alone
use it,
There was a twinkle in the gener-
ais eye as he answered. Al WE'LL
he said, it is race of puny mon nova
days. Those were mere toys for the
Mexican veterans. Well, young man.
you shall go to Washington and buy
you a sword. a pretty one with q
leather scabbard.'
Now his manner of saying this was
so delicious that offense was impos-
sible. He knew 1 was young and
wanted bright, snowy sword, and he
thought he would give me an object
lesson in the style of arm used by the
troopers of the Mexican war.
THE general was as kind hearted
as a woman. 1 remember that dur
ing the second battle OF Bull Run
Hooker's old brigade was sent against
a fortified position that should not
have been attacked by anything less
than a whole division. The brigade
sustained terrible slaughter-the loss
was simply appalling.
The remnant struggled back and
reformed. 1t was heartrending sight
enough to make the spectators weep
Indeed, the men themselvS could not
restrain their tears. Such awful slaugh-
ter-sucn unnecessary defamation has
seldom been the experience of any
troops.
LAS the men stood in line after the
engagement, down came Gen. Hooker.
When the boys caught sight of him
a mighty shout went up.
Uncle JOEL they cried, Uncle
joel
Il have never heard another such
cry. 1t was mixture of pathos and
pain and affection. 1t was the cry
of a sick boy to his father, the wall of
a lad sob-choked with grief and des-
pair.
with the rush of an avalanche, the
men broke ranks and swept down on
the general. They crowded about him