“The Finest Army on the Planet”
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มิ.ย. 2024
- Joseph Hooker is something of an enigma among U.S. Civil War generals. He introduced corps badges to the army, held wild parties at his headquarters with ladies who became known as hookers, his brief tenure as commander of the Army of the Potomac, his decisive loss at the 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville, and, later that year in Tennessee, as the victorious leader of an assault at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, also known as the “Battle Above the Clouds.” Brash and outspoken, Hooker boasted he had "the finest army on the planet." Here's the story behind his utterance.
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Image: Library of Congress
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Punctilious ...... What a great word. I love the writings of the 1800's. Thanks for another wonderful story.
I live near Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever seen it, you have to marvel at how the whole Union army that he commanded was able to make it up, it even without dealing with Confederates shooting from the high ground. (Yes I’m aware of the inability of the Confederate cannon to fire down under a certain angle of depression.)
Hooker was absolutely correct, he had the finest army on the planet, the only problem was that Mead, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, et al had yet to take this fine army, with its superb equipment, resources, training and cadre of trained officers and use it to its full effect. Perhaps, the time wasn't ripe, perhaps all the pieces weren't yet in place and perhaps this was the reason for Hooker's lack of confidence in himself and his army. Fear of failure has caused many, otherwise great leaders, to fail.
Hooker is a favorite of mine. But why he pulled his troops back at Chancellorsville is a mystery.
Gen Butterfield was Joe's Chief of Staff at Chancellorsville. Blamed by some for the failure. Meade despised him 😊
Chachlorsvile was not a "decisive" victory for Lee at best it was a push. The Union Army thought the battle wasn't over when ordered to retreat. 2. Hooker was concussed during the battle and should have been relieved. The confederates actually suffered more dead than the Union did. Hooker did a lot for the AOP. Instituted a system of leaves. Making desertions drop substantially. He brought in Corps badges Red white and blue for the divisions in the corps. Improved the food to include vegetables and soft bread. Meade had an army with much better moral at Gettysburg then without those changes.
Hooker should’ve shut his yap and accepted Howard being promoted over him. What a dumb reason to resign. Much like Buell rejecting Grant’s offer of chance because of seniority
Howard was a Christian moral man, Hooker was not, the big reason Sherman chose to replace McPherson with Howard.