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HOOKER, Joseph (1814-1879) General, U. S. Army. Autograph letter signed ("Joseph Hooker") to Thomas Brainerd, Camp near West Point, 14 May 1862. 2 pp., 4to. -- HOOKER. ALS ("J. Hooker") to Gen. L. Thomas, 12 February 1863. 1 page, 8vo, stationery of Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac, tape on closed tear. Requesting to be informed upon the arrival of two cavalry companies.
HIGH SELF-PRAISE AFTER THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG: "IT WAS CONTESTED WITH THE UTMOST COURAGE AND DETERMINATION BY MY COMMAND" AND BRUTAL CONTEMPT FOR MCCLELLAN AND MCDOWELL: "THEY ARE BOTH BOYS AMONG SOLDIERS"
"On the 5th inst.," Hooker begins his vivid 1862 letter, "I fought a great battle, probably the most severe one that has been fought during the war. It is called the battle of Williamsburgh and will reflect imperishable credit on all engaged in it. Your reports of it up to this time are exceedingly meagre and imperfect but as soon as the official reports are published & the facts are known you will find that it reflects great credit on our Arms. The battle commenced at 7½ o'clock and ended with the coming of the night. It was contested with the utmost courage and determination by my command. Joe Johnston commanded the rebel forces & numbered more than three times my own. My loss was 1575, officers and men--that of the rebels more than double that number. For the description of it you must read my report when published, which I suppose will be soon." The day after the battle, Hooker recalls, "the Prince de Joinville embraced me and exclaimed You are a soldier--this is high praise for he has more sense than all of McClellan's staff put together--including the General." McClellan would not like his report, he predicted, as it would contain "the severest censure" of his superior. But he was unfazed. "The fact is he is no more of a General than McDowell. They are both boys among soldiers."
Hooker and McClellan had one thing in common: They both overestimated the size of the enemy forces against them. There were some 40,700 Federals engaged at Williamsburg against 31,800 Confederates. He was wrong about the casualty disparity too. The U. S. forces sustained total casualties of 2,239 (including 456 killed), while total rebel casualties were only 1,603.
Hooker's 1862 letter amply illustrates the traits for which Lincoln rebuked him in January 1863 when he gave him command of the Army of the Potomac. While crediting Hooker for his courage and professionalism, he also noted "You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm; but I think that during General Burnside's command of the army, you have taken counsel of your ambition, and thwarted him as much as you could....I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the army, of criticizing their commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you." It did. When Lee bested him at Chancellorsville, Lincoln relieved Hooker and installed Meade. Together 2 items.
(2)
HIGH SELF-PRAISE AFTER THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG: "IT WAS CONTESTED WITH THE UTMOST COURAGE AND DETERMINATION BY MY COMMAND" AND BRUTAL CONTEMPT FOR MCCLELLAN AND MCDOWELL: "THEY ARE BOTH BOYS AMONG SOLDIERS"
"On the 5th inst.," Hooker begins his vivid 1862 letter, "I fought a great battle, probably the most severe one that has been fought during the war. It is called the battle of Williamsburgh and will reflect imperishable credit on all engaged in it. Your reports of it up to this time are exceedingly meagre and imperfect but as soon as the official reports are published & the facts are known you will find that it reflects great credit on our Arms. The battle commenced at 7½ o'clock and ended with the coming of the night. It was contested with the utmost courage and determination by my command. Joe Johnston commanded the rebel forces & numbered more than three times my own. My loss was 1575, officers and men--that of the rebels more than double that number. For the description of it you must read my report when published, which I suppose will be soon." The day after the battle, Hooker recalls, "the Prince de Joinville embraced me and exclaimed You are a soldier--this is high praise for he has more sense than all of McClellan's staff put together--including the General." McClellan would not like his report, he predicted, as it would contain "the severest censure" of his superior. But he was unfazed. "The fact is he is no more of a General than McDowell. They are both boys among soldiers."
Hooker and McClellan had one thing in common: They both overestimated the size of the enemy forces against them. There were some 40,700 Federals engaged at Williamsburg against 31,800 Confederates. He was wrong about the casualty disparity too. The U. S. forces sustained total casualties of 2,239 (including 456 killed), while total rebel casualties were only 1,603.
Hooker's 1862 letter amply illustrates the traits for which Lincoln rebuked him in January 1863 when he gave him command of the Army of the Potomac. While crediting Hooker for his courage and professionalism, he also noted "You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm; but I think that during General Burnside's command of the army, you have taken counsel of your ambition, and thwarted him as much as you could....I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the army, of criticizing their commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you." It did. When Lee bested him at Chancellorsville, Lincoln relieved Hooker and installed Meade. Together 2 items.
(2)