Year: 1863

When the war broke out, Gen Hooker
then in California, came post haste to
Washington to offer his services to the
Government. General Scott was at the
head of the military affairs of the coun-
try; and between that old gentleman and
General Hooker was teud dating back
to the Mexican war; hence. as everything
relating to the army was referred to
Scott, Hooker was suffered to apply in
vain for even a regimental command.
Disguised and mad, he made his prepar-
ations to return to the Pacific coast, and
was about to start, when the first battle
OF Bull Bun was fought. There was
nothing in that to encourage; so he went
up to the White House, as the last thing
before leaving, to call on the President
whom he had never seen. He was intro
duced by some mistake of his friend as
Capt. Hooker, and the following was the
conversation that ensued:


Hooker-"Mr President, was intro
duced to you as Capt Hooker, l am or
was Lieut.. Col Hooker of the regular
army When this war began, l was at
home in California, and hastened to
make tender OF my services to the Gov
ernment; but my relation to Gen Scott,
or some other ilnpediment stands in the
way, and | see no chance of making my
military knowledge and exle ience use
full | am about to return; but before
going was anxious to pay my respects
to you, and to express my wishes for your
personal welfare and for your success in
putting down this Internal rebellion
And want, while am at it, to say one
thing more: was at Bull Run, the
other day, Mr.. President, and it is no
vanity or boasting in me to say that am
a - sight better General than you, sir,
had on that feld!'


he President, in repeating this speech,
SAYS that he looked at the speaker To see
what manner of man he was who made
such boast; His eye was steady and
clear, his manner not half so confident
as his words, and altogether he had the
air of a man Of sense and intelligence
who thoroughly believed in himself, and
who would at least try 10 make his words
good. | was impressed with him, and
rising out OF my chair, walked up to him,
and putting my hand on his shoulder,
said: Colonel, not Lieut. Colonel, Hook
er, stay! l have use for you, and regi-
ment tor you to mmand!'


He did stay The promised regiment
was put under his orders, and from it he
was soon promoted to a brigade, and
thence to a Major Generals place in
command of a division.


"In every position in which he has
been put" says Mr.. lincoln, General
IL
which his selEconfidence excited. As a
Colonel, as a Brigadier, and as Major
General, he has done exceedingly well,
and should he ever be called to COM
mand this army, l have no doubt he
would acquit himself as gallantly as any
man in the country"


That's the way that Gen. Hooker got
into the service. In Washington, Mr..
Lincoln's partiality for him is no secret.
When it was determined to remove Nc.
Clelan, the head OF the Fitz John Porter
gang. the question of successorship was
both important and embarrassing. The
Presidents incinations and preferences
pointed to " Fighting 10" as the man;
and he yielded them to the represen-
tations of General Halleck and others,
with great reluctance, ana, as is SAID
with secret forebodings of what was to
follow.


We believe in Hooker because he is
thoroughly in earnest, and because he is
a man Of genius for military affairs His
idea of war is that which all great com
manders have had-that it means kill
ing, and that the struggle which is the
shortest and fercest is the least bloody
and the most mercifuL He regards the
rebellion as monster iniquIty to be
overcome only by hard knocks and he
would hoot at the man who should affirm
that until that rebel army is defeated
and scattered, there can be compromise
and peace He is in the prime of life
he has a vigorous constitution, an unu
sualIy good theoretical education, the
value of which he has proved in the
field; and he has that high moral cour