The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-03-08

General: / respectfully recommend
that Brighten. j. b. Hood be promoted
to the rank of a Major-General. He was
under my command during the engage
ments along the Chickahominy, COM
mencing on the 9th of June last, when
he rendered distinguished service.
Though not of my command in the re-
Gently hard-fought battle near Sharps-
burg, Nd, yet for a portion of the day
] had occasion to give directions re-
specting his operations, and it gives me
pleasure to say that his duties were dis
charged with such ability and zeal as to
command my admiration. / regard him
as one of the most promising officers of
the army.
II am, General, your obedient SER
want,
"(Signed) T. J. Jackson, Major-Gen-
Gen. s. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspec-
tOr-General, G. s. A.
Endorsed, New York, Nov. 8, 1856"
1.-The inclosed letter from Gen. Jack
son to Gen. Cooper was handed to Gen.
Hood by Mr.. Meyer Ga former clerk in
the Southern Hotel In this city. The
letter is the original, and preserved by
Mr.. Meyer.
"(Signed) F. S. Stockdale."
The foregoing letter is doubly kind in
Its tenor, inasmuch as 1 was not serv-
Ing in Gen. Jackson's Corps at the time.
Retreat Across the Potomac.
During the 18th the Confederate army
remained in possession of the field, bur-
led the dead, and that night crossed
near Shepherdstown to the south side
Of the Potomac. Soon thereafter my
division marched to a point north of
Winchester, and passed pleasant
month In the beautiful Valley of the
Shenandoah. My arrest. which Gen.
Lee, just prior to the battle of Boons-
boro Gap, had been gracious enough to
suspend, was never recOnsidered; the
temporary release became permanent,
and. In lieu of being summoned to a
eourt-martial, was shortly afterwards
promoted TO the rank OF Major-General,
with the command Of two additional
brigades.
The accession Of Benning's and An
derson's Brigades, which had already
taken part in number of battles, COM
posed a division which any General
might Justly have felt honored to COM
mand. The former brigade had been
calamity led by Gen. Toombs at Sharps-
burg. / experienced much interest in
training these troops, as I end@avored
to excite emulation among them and
thoroughly arouse their pride, in ac-
cordance with the system Of education
had pursued with the 4th Tex, Laws,
unfortunate organization Of brigades by
States, l lost the 18th Ga. and Hamp-
toms Legion, to both of which COM
mands, i, as well as my Texas troops,
had become warmly attached. The
former had served with me longer than
the latter. and in every emergency had
proved itself bold and trusty; 1t styled
itself. from a feeling Of brotherhood, the
Sd Tex.
Whilst / lost these two excellent
bodies OF men. l gained the Sd Ark, a
large regiment, commanded by Col. Van
Manning, brave and accomplished SOL
dier, who served with distinction, and,
In truth, merited higher rank and q
larger command. / also lost the 9Th N
C., 9Th and 18th Miss. which. after long
and gallant service in Laws Brigade,
were also transferred to other COM
mands: thus, unfortunately, were sew
cred relations which had been engen-
dered and strengthened by common
trials and dangers.
Back to the Rappshaanock.
The latter part Of October McClel-
ian's movements determined Gen. Lee
TO withdraw from the Valley of the
Shenandoah. leaving his cavalry in rear,
and TO return to the Valley Of the Rap
pahannock. Accordingly, my division
took It's place. about the 26th, in the
marching columns OF Longstreet'
the latter point. During the previous
month Of quiet and rest the troops had
received a supply Of shoes and clothing
and had improved in drill and disci-
pline. This splendid corps, therefore
exhibited very different appearance
from that which 1t presented In Its
ragged and bare-fOoted condition q
short period before I'm Maryland.
We halted in the vicinity of Culpeper
Court House, where shortly afterwards
Intelligence was received that McClel-
Ian had been superseded by the APP
pointment of Burnside. This General
promptly made q demonstration on the
Upper Rappahannock, as he moved to-
ward Fredericksburg. Gen. Lee crossed
to the south side Of the Rapidan, and
BY the latter part OF November the
Federal and Confederate armies again
confronted one another at Fredericks-
burg, where We quietly awaited the de-
yelopment of events.
On the 18th Of January, 1863, Gen
Burnside having completed all neces-
sary preparation, began to lay pontoons
above and below the railroad bridge
which had been destroyed. That entire
day and night he consumed in crossing
his forces to the southern bank OF the
river, under cover of, at least, 10(
pieces of artillery. During the 18th hi
formed his line below and above Deer
Run, whilst upon the range of hill.
overlooking the valley Lees forces lay
I'm readiness TO receive the attack Gen
Jackson had, meantime, moved up Il
form line on our right, and that day
IL / remember correctly, as we wer,
riding together i'm direction of Gen
Lees headquarters, the conversation
turned upon the future, and he asket
me IL l expected to live to see the enc
of the war. / replied that ! did no
know, but was inclined to think would
survive; at the same time / considered
1t most likely / would be badly shat.
tered before the termination OF the
struggle. / naturally addressed hin
the same question, and, without heslta
ton, he answered that he did not ex
pect to live through to the close OF thu
contest. Moreover, that he could no
cay that he desired to do so. With THU
sad turn In the conversation the sub
feet dropped. Often since have