Generals in Blue: Hooker

Joseph Hooker

(The widely repeated story that the term “hooker” for prostitute was derived from his womanizing is untrue. And he was a moderate drinker but not a drunkard.) What impressed Lincoln was Hooker’s reputation as a fighter. Moreover, he was a good organizer and strategist. In the spring of 1863, Hooker crossed the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers with a massive force of 135,000 troops. In a brilliantly executed maneuver around Lee’s flank, designed to draw the Confederates out of their entrenched positions at Chancellorsville, he seemed to be on the verge of a stunning victory. After two days of fighting, the outcome of the battle was still a toss-up despite Hooker's tentativeness, serious tactical mistakes by his lieutenants, Lee's audacity, and Stonewall Jackson’s surprise counterattack. Then, on the third day, Confederate artillery scored a direct hit on Hooker's headquarters, shattering the porch pillar where he stood. Momentarily knocked unconscious and suffering from a severe concussion, Hooker did not fully recover for days. In the confusion, his army slowly withdrew back across the Rappahannock to safety. After Chancellorsville, Hooker was replaced by Meade and sent to Chattanooga. Hooker joined Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, then, passed over for promotion, he finished the war far away from the fighting. He retired as a major general in 1868 and died in New York on October 31, 1879. Such is the cruelty of fate that historians cite Chancellorsville as Lee’s greatest victory, and Jackson’s mortal wound there helped make him a demigod; but Hooker's freak injury may have decided the battle and condemned "Fighting Joe" to the ranks of failed generals.

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Joe Hooker was born on November 13, 1814, in Hadley, Massachusetts. A graduate of West Point (1837), by all accounts he was a fine young officer. In the Mexican War he won three brevets for gallant and meritorious service. In August 1848 he was appointed captain of the 1st Artillery, but instead he mysteriously served as assistant adjutant general of the Pacific Division. (He testified against his old Mexican War commander, Winfield Scott, in a court of inquiry, and apparently was blackballed.) In 1853 he resigned his commission and took up farming in California. When the Civil War began he became a colonel of the California militia. In August 1862 he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers. Shortly thereafter he joined George B. McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign and displayed skillful aggressiveness from Williamsburg to Malvern Hill. “Fighting Joe Hooker” (as the press labeled him) was given command of a corps and seemed to live up to his nom de guerre at Second Manassas, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In January 1863 he replaced Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln knew Hooker was an ambitious conniver and carouser who ran his mouth too much.

© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College

Joseph Hooker
	(The widely repeated story that the term “hooker” for prostitute was derived from his womanizing is untrue. And he was a moderate drinker but not a drunkard.) What impressed Lincoln was Hooker’s reputation as a fighter. Moreover, he was a good organizer and strategist. In the spring of 1863, Hooker crossed the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers with a massive force of 135,000 troops. In a brilliantly executed maneuver around Lee’s flank, designed to draw the Confederates out of their entrenched positions at Chancellorsville, he seemed to be on the verge of a stunning victory. After two days of fighting, the outcome of the battle was still a toss-up despite Hooker's tentativeness, serious tactical mistakes by his lieutenants, Lee's audacity, and Stonewall Jackson’s surprise counterattack. Then, on the third day, Confederate artillery scored a direct hit on Hooker's headquarters, shattering the porch pillar where he stood. Momentarily knocked unconscious and suffering from a severe concussion, Hooker did not fully recover for days. In the confusion, his army slowly withdrew back across the Rappahannock to safety. After Chancellorsville, Hooker was replaced by Meade and sent to Chattanooga. Hooker joined Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, then, passed over for promotion, he finished the war far away from the fighting. He retired as a major general in 1868 and died in New York on October 31, 1879. Such is the cruelty of fate that historians cite Chancellorsville as Lee’s greatest victory, and Jackson’s mortal wound there helped make him a demigod; but Hooker's freak injury may have decided the battle and condemned "Fighting Joe" to the ranks of failed generals. Generals >
Joe Hooker was born on November 13, 1814, in Hadley, Massachusetts. A graduate of West Point (1837), by all accounts he was a fine young officer. In the Mexican War he won three brevets for gallant and meritorious service. In August 1848 he was appointed captain of the 1st Artillery, but instead he mysteriously served as assistant adjutant general of the Pacific Division. (He testified against his old Mexican War commander, Winfield Scott, in a court of inquiry, and apparently was blackballed.) In 1853 he resigned his commission and took up farming in California. When the Civil War began he became a colonel of the California militia. In August 1862 he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers. Shortly thereafter he joined George B. McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign and displayed skillful aggressiveness from Williamsburg to Malvern Hill. “Fighting Joe Hooker” (as the press labeled him) was given command of a corps and seemed to live up to his nom de guerre at Second Manassas, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In January 1863 he replaced Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln knew Hooker was an ambitious conniver and carouser who ran his mouth too much.
© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College