Civil war generals
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The Generals and Admirals: Joseph Hooker (1814-1879)
Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker was the Union Army General who succeeded General Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac in 1863 despite his grandiose notions of becoming a dictator. He had a reputation for being aggressive in pursuit of war, women, and liquor. While President Lincoln acknowledged that Hooker’s comments had undermined his predecessor, Ambrose Burnside, he told Henry Raymond at a White House reception on January 24 that Hooker “is stronger with the country to-day than any other man.”1
Hooker’s reputation may have been exaggerated in several areas, however. He turned out to be ineffective in the field and even his reputation for drinking was probably overstated. Historian Stephen Sears concluded, “There is good evidence that the reputation of a drinker that attached to Joe Hooker was more perceived than real.”2 John Hay, Lincoln’s secretary, made a perceptive comment on the subject. In his diary Hay described dining one evening in Washington with a
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Joseph Hooker: Early Life and Military Service
The grandson of a Revolutionary War captain, Joseph Hooker was born in Hadley, Massachusetts, on November 13, 1814. Hooker’s early education took place at Hopkins Academy in Massachusetts, and he went on to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, ranking 29th out of 50 in his class upon graduation in 1837.
Did you know? After General Joseph Hooker’s involvement in the Battle of Williamsburg during the Civil War, a newspaper headline that was supposed to read “Fighting—Joe Hooker” was accidentally printed as “Fighting Joe Hooker” in the Northern press. The moniker “Fighting Joe” stayed with Hooker for the rest of his life.
Hooker’s first field experience came in Florida during the Second Seminole War (1835-42). He later participated in the Mexican-American War (1846-48) as a staff officer, serving under the likes of famed General Winfield Scott and future U.S. President Zachary Taylor. A highly capable soldier, Hooker earned numerous accolades for bravery and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the wa
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From the Peninsula to Maryland: Hooker's role in the summer of 1862
During the Peninsula Campaign Joseph Hooker distinguished himself as an aggressive combat commander as he led the Second Division of the III Corps. He was particularly successful at the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, after which he was promoted to Major General.
When McClellan's army retreated from Richmond, Samuel Heintzelman's III Corps, including Hooker's division, was transferred to John Pope's Army of Virginia.
The Northern Virginia Campaign proved to be Heintzelman's last as a corps commander. Following the Union defeat at the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) Heintzelman was sent to Washington and Hooker assumed command of the III Corps of the Army of Virginia on September 6.
Even as the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia moved north into Maryland, Hooker's corps was returned to the Army of the Potomac along with the rest of the Army of Virginia and redesignated the I Corps on September 12.
On the approach to South Mountain McClellan organized the Army of the Potomac into three wings in order
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