The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
SECOND ONLY TO LEE
Gen John B. Hood Nineteenth Century knight.
Southern States Adopt His Children.

commanded the LEFT wing Of Brare's
army and led the principal charge IN that
bloody battle, one Of the most deadly OF
ali the war
Chickamauga marked the summit OF
success for Hood. His gallantry and dar-
ing thrilled the South So far be had
proved himself equal TO every task 20
which he has been assigned. He was
promoted 70 be lieutenant general, and
in July. 1854. he succeeded Gen. Joseph
Z. Johnston In command Of the army op-
posing Sherman.
Against such a master q strategy as
William 7. Sherman. Hood could not hold
out. II IS true, Of course. that the spirit
OF the South was broken and that the
men fought out OF pure doggedness, and
not with confidence Of victory. sherman
had little respect for Hoods ability, con
sidering him less able. in fact. than Joe
Johnston, and not a few Southern SOL
diers think Sherman was partly right.
Hood, Ike many another brave soldier.
probably was more capable OF carrying
out the brilliant plans OF another com
niander than OF conceiving brilliant plans
of his own account and then attending 20
their execution. Sherman drove Hood be-
fore him steadily and surely from point
to point until Hood made his final stand
al Atlanta
When that city fell Hood made one de-
sFairing effort TO turn the tide. He raced
around Sherman's forces and tried 70 cut
the Union general of from his communi-
cations. expecting to compel Sherman 10
turn back But the backbone Of the Con-
feGeracy was broken, and minor defeats
and minor victories cut no figure In the
inevitable results.
Hood came in for bitter criticism FOR
the manner IN which he conducted the
campaign against Sherman. Losers gen
orally are blamed Johnston was one or
the most savage OF his critics. and the
two had some sharp correspondence as a
result Of Johnstons biting, satirical re-
dections regarding Hoods capacity as a
commander.
But then Johnston was caustice in his
observations as 70 every prominent Con-
federate general
To Hood the winter OF '64 was the most
sorrowful OF his life. His army crushed
and ragged. he held responsible by many
for its defeats. the cause OF the South
opeless. surrender was inevitable.
He Faced Bitter Defeat.
April Co. brought ADpomattox. In June
Hood surrendered, and he wrote the let
ter 20 the woman he loved. and she re-
fused 10 release him.
Then there opened a new life 70 the
saCly crippled soldier. When the lovers
married they made their home IN New
Orleans Their union was blessed with
many children.
For a time Hood prospered. he showed
an excellent capacity for business. and as
an officer OF an insurance company he
managed rs affairs in fine style. he
might have accumulated a modest fortune
had he confined his attentions 70 that one
branch Of Industry. but to provide for the
big family he had dependent upon him he
invested all his savings in a new enter
prise and the whole amount was lost
In 1873 yellow fever appeared in New
Orleans HIS wife and eldest child were
stricken and died within few hours OF
each other Then Hood was stricken. and
Oh August %. 1873. he died
When the news Of Hoods death was
telegraphed 70 the outside world one OF
those great waves OF sympathy that
sometimes spread over the land went
through the South
What IS 20 become OF the children OF
John Hood?' some one asked.
The response was immediate. No one
doubted that the children OF such a noble
father and such noble mother were
worthy OF the best tribute the South could
pay.
From one end OF the Southland 70 the
other came offers 10 adopt one, two.
three, or more OF the children. Rich fam
lies and families IN moderate circUm-
stances Wed with each other in their ef-
I forts be befriend the orphans.
And the poor, Who ever knew the time
when the poor were not touched by the
needs OF the innocent and the helpless?
Wards OF Southern States.
With hundreds OF eager claimants for
the children. It was hard. indeed. TO de-
eide. When the problem seemed 10 be
most difficult a soldier who had fought
by the side OF Hood came forward and
declared that the question was not one
for families. but for the South 70 decide:
that the children of Hood belonged 20
the South and they should become wards
Of the Confederate States.
The South is swayed by the heart The
idea appealed 20 Il as worthy or Hood. Il
was acted on at once.
Virginia demanded the right 20 become
the guardian OF one OF the orphans. Texas
demanded the privilege Of OCing made
the guardian OF another. Georgia demand
ed another. And so on down the line.
And So as IN the days OF old the chill
dren OF great knights became the wards
of the king. the children OF John Hood, a
nineteenth century knight, became wards
of the Southern states