Gen. Hooker Can’t Be Bothered Helping Authors to Prepare His Biography

Hooker was one of the five commanders of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. He was known as a fighting general, a good administrator, and a competent planner. But he proved unequal to supreme command and was bested by Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville. After being replaced by George Meade in June 1863, he went on to regain a reputation as a solid commander with the western Army of the Cumberland around Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hooker was in command at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, playing an important role there and in Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s decisive victory at the Battle of Chattanooga.

Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, Brevoort House, New York, December 28, 1871, to one M.L. Phillips who had apparently asked Hooker if a biography of him existed. “Your letter of the 25th instant has just been received by me. In reply, I can only state that no elaborate biographical sketch of my life has yet been prepared. Applications have been made to me repeatedly for this purpose, but as yet I have found no time or inclination to devote to it. If you feel any curiosity  on the subject, perhaps the best outline that you will find is contained in a book callsed ‘Men of Progress’ issued by the New York Hartford Publishing Company…” Considering the egos of many generals, it is quite something to see Hooker’s disinterest in telling his story or perpetuating his memory.