Year: 1862

The New-York Tribune speaks in
the following glowing terms of Gene
raj Hooker:


" In the:history of that desperate
yet indecisive day which has made An.
tietam terrible household word, the
central interest is the contest on the
right, where Sen. Hooker fought.
Beginning it with unhesitating prompt
ness in the reconnaissance Of the night
before, he sustained it unaided, with
undinching resolution, for four hours Of
Wednesday morning, till Rebel bull
let drove him from the field. Its Incl
dents are fresh in all memories; his
exact and decisive handling of troops
on difficult ground, in the dusk of eve-
ming; his sagacity in seizing positions;
the rare GOODNESS of judgment with
which he silenced his artillery. that he
might not reveal bis lines his brilliant
tactics..of the nextimorning; the iron
resolution with which he held his
troops firm against crushing odds;
their devotion, inspired by his cour-
age and exposure his keen insight
into the battle his energy in pursuing
his success-in word, the consum-
mate Generalship which he displayed
throughout, made HIM the hero of the
battle. His Peninsular engagements
had shown that he possessed the ac-
quirements, the capacity, the PERSONAL
force which are the elements of mill
tary greatness. Antietam revealed
also that indefnable supremacy of in
tellect which we call military genius.
And beyond all other qualifications
Gen. Hooker is in earnest; has put
his beart into this war; believes. that
the rebellion can and ought to be
crushed that armed resistance to law
ful authority must be subdued by arms;
that the life of the nation is to be pre-.
served whatever goes down under the
martial tread of its defenders. How
clearly he saw the days great oppor-
tunity at Antietam, with what lofty de-
votion and how reliant on his own
strength he entered on its duties-his
answer showed when he heard that
everything he had won had been lost
by another. "I would have welcomed
mortal. wound in exchange for this,
if it had not come till night" Who
ever saw him in the battle knew his
greatness. His fault was, perhaps, in.
difference to danger. He would not,
when urged, regard his constant peril,
But it is to be recollected that his
troops had been demoralized under
Mcdowell and Pope. There are times
when General cannot remember too
carefully the value of his life. 1t was
the battle Of the war-the temper of
his soldiers uncertain. They had
broken under Mcdowell; they follow
ed him with splendid courage. Who
shall say he ought not to have led


them?


We cannot afford that a great Cen
eral should not have an adequate com.
mand. This war has not developed


such an exuberance of military talent


that we have any to spare. We have
magnificent armies, unequaled in ma
terial and equipment. We have few


Generals competent to lead them. We
have been out-generaled from the be-
ginning of the war. If there had been


on our side third part of the talent


which has won victories for treason.


the Rebellion would have been annihi-


lated long since. 1t is for such reasons
that we direct attention to the merits


of Gen. Hooker. We have no cause


to suppose they are wholly tinappreci.


ated. But the public interest demands
that they should be both gratefully re-
, cognized and fully availed Of"