The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-13
Centenary of Fighting Joe" Hooker, Great
 Civil War Hero

Grand Army veterans will today honor the memory of one of their greatest leaders, Fighting Joe'' Hook CT, the occasion being the centenary of the birth of that hero of the Amer ican Civil war. Joseph Hooker was born in Had1ey, Mass, Nov. 13, 1914, and graduated from West Point in 1887. He served in Florida and Mex ican wars, but resigned from the army in 1858.
 At the outbreak of the Civil war he returned to the army and fought un- der Mcclellan and in Northern Vir- ginia and Maryland. He was wound ed at Antietam, where he fought with such ga11antry that the soldiers con- ferred upon him the nickname of Fighting Joe.'
 After the defeat Of Burnside at Fredericksburg in December, 1882 Gen. Hooker was placed in command of the army of the Potomac. After spending the winter in reorganizing and recruiting. he entered the field in April for march Richmond. Hooker had 12O,00 men under his command, while Lee could confront him with but half that number. Hook CT advanced on F'redericksburg, where Lee continued one the defensive, his plan being to surround the place, and to defeat the Confederates by attack ing their Hanks. while a strong front sought to crush the center. The movements on the flank and rear were successful, but the sagacfous Lee, an ticipating the main attack to be de- 1ivered on his left wing, massed his forces and forced Hooker to retire to Chance11orsvi11e., The battle was re- sumed on the following day. when ssStonewa1I', Jackson drove in the right under Howard, upon the Union center led by Hooker, while Lee prevented the Union left under Meade from go- ing to the assistance of the imperilled center ssStonewa1I'' Jackson, the bril- liant Confederate commander, was rnortaIy wounded during this engage 1nent On the third day Hooker was attacked and defeated by Lees united forces and the whole Union army was driven back across the Rappahannock- During this battle Gen. Hooker was severely injured when cannon-bal1 struck the pillar of a building on which he was. leaning. The shock caused concussion of the brain, and the leader was incapacitated from giv- ing orders at critical moments. Gen. Hooker was severely criticized for his retirement upon Chancellorsville, he fore his injury, which many. believed was a grave tactical error, since a cer- tifed advance might have insured SUI cess.
 If Hooker suffered serious defeat at Chance1lorsville, and was compelled to resign his command, he more than redeemed himself at Chattanooga in the following November. He was the hero of the famous "battIe above the clouds at Lookout Mountain Hooker was then serving under Grant. and he was confronted, not by the great Lee, but by Bragg. The battle began when Hooker and his men stormed and carried the earthworks lighting Joe" and his army had to scale the almost precipitous sides of the countain. The Confederates were taken by surprise, but they fought desperately before they were driven from the position. As Hooker went into action, Thomas army swept up the slopes in their front. The ad- vance was irresistible, and the Con- federate retreat became a rout
 Gen. Hooker retired from the army in 1868 and devotetd the remainder of his life to pursuits of peace. He died in Garden City, N. Y. in 1879.