Another view of Hooker at Chancellorsville

[gary]

It is generally accepted as fact that the Union army general in charge of the Army of the Potomac, Maj. Gen. Joe Hooker, was leaning against a post when it was struck by a cannonball. Hooker suffered a concussion and was dazed for hours. He refused to relinquish command and the Union army was paralyzed while Lee's smaller army was administering heavy blows. Well, one Union bugler disputes that assertion and here's what he said about Joe Hooker:

As to the second excuse, the writer after the war became well acquainted with the bulger at Army Headquarters, and he ridiculed the idea that the solid shot had anything to dow ith Hooker's condition at any time. He said that the brandy bottle was the real reason for the fiasco. And, certainly the simple fact that a brandy bottle was frequently resorted to, is a more reasonable explanation of successive developments of the conduct and decisions of the commmander of the army than any other can be. From energetic activity, through the different grades of intoxication to final incapacity, is the age old and certain effect of too frequent resorts to the bottle. But those were the days of ignorance of the real character of alcoholic drinks. They were accounted good and necessary by the great majority of people, and were used freely as medicine, as a harmless stimulant under trying circumstances, as an innocent social indulgence and as a creator of "Dutch courage" in time of battle. It was not until the close of the war that a reazlization of the harmful effect of the use of intoxciants began to be felt.

This assertion has to be researched and can be refuted if eyewitness accounts of the cannonball could be found. Does anybody have any first hand accounts from (published) letters, diaries or journals?

[ole]

I'll anxiously wait for responses with you, gary. I've long disbelieved the "concussion" story as being patently kind. But that's the way the books have it. The "drunk" stories are also overblown, but closer to believable.

Personally, I figure that he just lost it in the pressure.

A great question.

ole

[gary]

I've emailed Ranger-Historian Don Pfanz at Fredericksburg to see what he has to say. Don knows everything (including the soundboard which he operated during a guest talk on Negro spirituals).

[OpnDownfall]

Maj. Gen. Darius Couch, has the report of Hooker's injury, in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
Stephen Sears does a good job rehabilitating Hooker in his book on Chancellorsville,though he does have some severe criticisms of some of the general's decisions.
Like most of the senior officer corps of the AoP Hooker, was a product of the growing pains of that army. Learning under McClellan and Burnside to have more confidence in Gen. Lee than themselves, whether they admitted it or not.

[M E Wolf]

Dear OpnDownfall;

I haven't seen anything to denote that Hooker was wounded or injured of any kind:
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 3.--Report of Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, U.S. Army, commanding Army of the Potomac, with congratulatory orders.
May 3, 1863--3.30 p.m.
(Received 4 p.m.)
We have had a desperate fight yesterday and to-day, which has resulted in no success to us, having lost a position of two lines which had been selected for our defense. It is now 1.30 o'clock, and there is still some firing of artillery. We may have another turn at it this p.m. I do not despair of success. If Sedgwick could have gotten up, there could have been but one result. As it is impossible for me to know the exact position of Sedgwick as regards his ability to advance and take part in the engagement, I cannot tell when it will end. We will endeavor to do our best. My troops are in good spirits. We have fought desperately to-day. No general ever commanded a more devoted army.
JOSEPH HOOKER,
Major-General.
His Excellency A. LINCOLN,
President of the United States.
------------------------------------
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 63.--Reports of Maj. Gen. Darius N. Couch, U.S. Army, commanding Second Army Corps.
FALMOUTH, VA., May 9, 1863.
SIR: In obedience to the order of the major-general commanding, I have the honor to submit the following memoranda of the part taken by the Second Corps in the recent movement across the Rappahannock:
On the morning of the 28th of April, Hancock's and French's divisions marched to Banks' Ford, Gibbon's divison remaining in position near Falmouth. Laid out works at the ford, and worked that night; also put large working parties on the road to United States Ford. Carroll's brigade, French's division, sent to United States Ford in the morning.
April 29.--Completed the road to United States Ford, and marched the two divisions to that point. Worked all night to get up the bridge trains.
April 30.--Large working parties under General Warren repairing road to get the pontoons to the river. Received a dispatch from General Meade at 9.30 a.m., saying the enemy were in force at United States Ford. Saw but few men after daylight. At 10.15 a.m. commenced moving down the bridge train. At 3.30 p.m. the bridge was ready. Received a dispatch from General Hooker, saying he expected the bridge to be down by night. Marched to Chancellorsville, arriving about 9 p.m.
May 1.--At 1 p.m. went with Hancock's division to support Sykes, who was withdrawn behind Hancock's division. Hancock in line for the night between Sykes and Griffin. French ordered to Todd's Tavern, but withdrawn and placed in reserve. «20 R R--VOL XXV, PT I» May 2.--The corps in line between Meade and Slocum. A strong picket, on the road leading to Fredericksburg, held its position under Colonel Miles, Hancock's division, after repeated assaults. The enemy felt our lines. Toward evening Hays' brigade, French's division, ordered to support Berry. My whole line intrenched.
May 3.--Part of French's division attacked and drove the enemy from the woods, capturing 300 prisoners, and retaking a Zouave regiment of the Third Corps, previously captured by the enemy. A battery and ammunition train were taken, but could not be brought off Hancock's division held the advance at Chancellorsville, in connection with a part of Slocum's corps, until ordered to fall back, at 10 a.m., which was done in good order, Hancock's division covering. Got into new position between Howard and Sickles at 12 m.
May 4.--Quiet on my front.
May 5.--Orders for the withdrawal of the army. At midnight the bridges were reported unserviceable. Telegraphic communication being cut off with General Hooker, the movement was suspended by my order.
May 6.--At 2 a.m. communication was reopened with General Hooker, the bridges were reported serviceable, and he ordered the movement to proceed. It was safely accomplished on the morning of the 6th.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. N. COUCH,
Major-General, Commanding.
Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac.
-----
HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS D'ARMEE, May 20, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, on the morning of April 28, the divisions of Major Generals Hancock and French marched at sunrise to Banks' Ford, Brigadier-General Gibbon, with his division, being retained in camp opposite Fredericksburg, subject to orders direct from the major-general commanding the army. According to instructions, the crossing at Banks' Ford was threatened by throwing up works, &c., while the road to the United States Ford was repaired.
At 2 p.m. on the 29th, the two divisions marched to that place, which had been occupied the day previous by Colonel Carroll's brigade, of French's division. Every effort was made that night to get up the pontoons. Brigadier-General Warren, of General Hooker's staff, joined, and gave his valuable assistance. The rifle-pits were held by part of a rebel brigade, most of which fell back at daylight of the 30th.
At 10.15 a.m. the difficult descent to the ford having been made practicable by General Warren, the pontoons, under Major Spaulding, were taken down to the ford, and at 3.15 p.m. one bridge was ready and the corps commenced crossing. A second bridge was also directed to be thrown over, and at 9 o'clock that evening we got into bivouac near Chancellorsville, where were already the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps.
On the morning of the 1st instant, I was directed to send a division and a battery to Todd's Tavern, a junction of roads some 6 miles distant, in the direction of Spotsylvania Court-House. Major-General French started with his division and Arnold's battery. The order for this movement was countermanded at the same time that the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, which had moved out on the Plank road, toward Fredericksburg, were ordered to return to camp.
Arnold's battery was sent to report to Major-General Sykes at 1 p.m.,who was out on the turnpike leading to Fredericksburg. Soon after, instructions were given me by Major-General Hooker to support Sykes with a division. Hancock marched out and took up a strong position, while the former, with his command, drew in behind him. At this time there was considerable skirmishing and some artillery used. Hancock's position was held after the Twelfth Corps, on my right, had retired to Chancellorsville, and positive orders were received to fall back to the position held in the morning. Afterward instructions came to hold on until 5 p.m., connecting with Meade on my left and Slocum on the right, which was impossible, seeing that the enemy, by following up Slocum, menaced my right and rear. Hancock took up a new line to the left of Sykes. The enemy commanded this line. Lieutenant-Colo-nel Walker was seriously wounded at night by a shell. Major-General French, with his division, was held in reserve.
By morning of the 2d, Hancock got into a new position, his right connecting with Slocum's left at Chancellorsville. Colonel Miles, of the Sixty first New York, with a strong body of skirmishers, held some rifle-pits in the forest to the front, and was attacked by the enemy, but unsuccessfully. I succeeded that day in intrenching my entire line. Major-General French connected with Hancock's left, and at sunset sent Brigadier-General Hays, with his brigade, to support Major-General Berry.
At 5 a.m. on Sunday, the 3d, the battle opened with great fury. In the course of the morning the corps on my right was pushed in so as to enable the enemy to concentrate their artillery fire on Chancellorsville with great effect. Major-General French moved into the forest on the right of the Plank road, looking west ; Carroll's brigade in front. He drove the enemy, taking about 300 prisoners and recapturing a regiment of one of the corps in the hands of the rebels. Brigadier-General Caldwell's brigade, of Hancock's division, also went in creditably. General Hays' brigade was severely engaged, that fine officer being wounded and taken prisoner. Meagher, with his brigade, that had been covering a point to the right and rear of our whole line, was ordered up.
By 9 a.m. the only point contested by the two armies was the salient, Chancellorsville. On our side the woods in front were held by a part of the Twelfth Corps, under Geary; the open ground by a few regiments of Hancock's division and about eighteen pieces of artillery. The enemy succeeded in planting their batteries, most of them well covered, to the west, on our right; to the east, on our left, and southerly, on our front, concentrating their fire on this point with great accuracy and terrible execution Our guns, however, were not idle or ineffective, as their fire fell with such terrible effect upon A. P. Hill's division as to enable Geary to draw off his men, when ordered, at his leisure, and holding them with stubborn courage. Leppien's battery, of the First Corps, was badly cut up, the officers having been, all of them, either killed or wounded. I placed the brave Lieutenant Kirby in command, who held it until severely, if not mortally, wounded. Pettit, with his rifled guns, fought nobly, and so did O'Donohue, of Thomas' battery, who was mortally wounded. The gallant Colonel Cross, of the Fifth New Hampshire, and his command claim my admiration.
About 9.45 a.m. I was called to the Chandler house to briefly take command of the army, simply acting as executive officer to General Hooker in fulfilling his instructions, which were to draw in the front and make some new dispositions. On leaving Chancellorsville to see General Hooker, General Hancock was left in command at that place, withdrawing successfully upon receiving the orders. I express my thanks to this officer for his gallantry, energy, and his example of marked personal bravery. His complete report will show what that brave division did.
Major-General French was not under my immediate command during the morning, but I refer you to his report, together with those of his brigade and regimental commanders, to show how completely the work was done by him and his fine troops. I call attention to the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan, chief of artillery.
Brigadier-General Gibbon, commanding Second Division, having made his report direct to your office, I simply say that he performed well his part, seconded by his division.
The operations of the medical and ambulance corps were very gratifying; only 40 of my wounded were left on the field. Some prisoners were taken from the First Division, as will be seen by General Hancock's report.
The gentlemen of the various departments of my staff behaved with their usual gallantry and devotion. It is due to them that their names should be recorded: Lieutenant-Colonel [Francis A.] Walker, assistant adjutant-general (wounded); Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan, inspector-general and chief of artillery; Surgeon [Alexander N.] Dougherty, medical director; Surgeon [William H.] Morton, medical inspector; Major [S. Octavius] Bull, provost-marshal; Major [John B.] Burt and Captain [John S.] Schultze and [Lieut. James N.] Potter, aides-de-camp; Captain [Amos T.] Hecock, chief of ambulance corps, and Captain [Edward P.] Brownson, commissary of musters.
Lieutenant-Colonels [Richard N.] Batchelder and [Joseph S.] Smith, chiefs of the quartermaster's and commissary departments, though not in battle, performed their parts well and satisfactory. Captains [Robert E.] Ellerbeck and [Riley] Johnson, also Lieutenants [Lewis] Wetmore and [Daniel C.] Swank, of the cavalry, assisted me in the field, and were valuable aides.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. N. COUCH,
Major-general.
Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac.
[Inclosure.]
General recapitulation of losses. (*)
K Killed. M Missing.
W Wounded. T Total.
O Commissioned officers.

----------O----------- ------Enlisted men.------ --------Aggregate.-----------
Command. K W M T K W M T K W M T
Hdqrs. Second Army Corps .... 1 .... 1 .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
Artillery Reserve .... 1 .... 1 .... 1 .... 1 .... .... .... ....
Cavalry squadron .... .... .... .... .... 2 .... 2 .... .... .... ....
First Division 5 48 30 83 72 396 571 1,039 .... .... .... ....
Second Division .... 9 .... 9 5 84 12 101 .... .... .... ....
Third Division 3 35 2 40 60 468 118 646 .... .... .... ....
Total 8 94 32 134 137 951 701 1,789 145 1,045 835 2,025
Respectfully submitted.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-general, Commanding Corps.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, May 23, 1863.

CONTINUED

[M E Wolf]

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 65.--Report of Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U.S. Army, Commanding First Division.
[excerpt]
Later in the morning I was directed by Major-General Couch to face to the rear with the men on the second line, excepting Colonel Cross' command, and march to the road running between Chancellor's house and the United States Ford, and to be ready to advance against the enemy, who were then threatening that line of communication from my rear.
Having arrived at that point, General Hooker directed me to leave one brigade there, subject to his orders (I left Brigadier-General Caldwell's command, consisting of the Sixty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, and four companies of the One hundred and forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, numbering between 500 and 600 men), and to return to my first line of battle, commanding the old turnpike road, with the remainder of my troops. I obeyed the order, closing the regiments to the right to connect again with Colonel Cross, on the turnpike leading toward Fredericksburg. The enemy threatening General Geary's right, I was directed to face Colonel Cross' command about, establishing a line of battle to protect that point. Shortly afterward Colonel Cross was ordered back, by General Couch, to occupy his original line.
[end of excerpt and continues on--with no mention of Hooker's injury]
The reports of these commanders will be found inclosed, as well as those of Brig. Gen. S. K. Zook,(*) commanding Third Brigade; Col. J. R. Brooke, commanding Fourth Brigade; Col. N. A. Miles, commanding the advanced line of skirmishers; Col. E. E. Cross,(*) Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers, commanding the right of my line; Capt. R. D. Pettit, Battery B, First New York Artillery, commanding artillery, and the reports of subordinate commanders.
We awaited the attack of the enemy in our new position until 3.30 a.m. on the morning of the 6th instant, when the movement to the rear toward the United States Ford commenced by a road which had been cut through the Wilderness for that purpose. We crossed the pontoon bridges at the United States Ford, and marched to our original camp, near Falmouth, where we arrived at 2 p.m.
The commanders of brigades--Brig. Gens. T. F. Meagher, Caldwell, and Zook--performed their duties faithfully and well. Col. J. R. Brooke, commanding Fourth Brigade, was of great assistance to me by his promptness and efficiency. Col. N. A. Miles, Sixty-first New York Volunteers, had great opportunity for distinction, and availed himself thereof, performing brilliant services. Col. E. E. Cross, Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers, performed distinguished services.
The artillery was generally detached from my command. However, Pettit's battery (B, First New York Artillery) and one-half of Thomas' (C, Fourth U.S. Artillery), under the command of First Lieut. William O'Donohue, until he was mortally wounded, and subsequently under command of Second Lieut. Edward Field, performed excellent service while under my command.
The following of my staff officers were active in carrying orders on the field, and performed their duties faithfully and well, behaving with great gallantry: Maj. John Hancock, assistant adjutant-general; Maj. G. W. Scott, Sixty-first New York Volunteers, acting assistant inspector-general; Capt. H. H. Bingham, One hundred and fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, judge-advocate of the division; First Lieuts. W. G. Mitchell, J. B. Parker, and W. D. H. Miller, aides-de- camp; First Lieut. James M. Rorty, ordnance officer, and First Lieut. W. P. Wilson, One hundred and forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, commissary of musters.
Lieutenant Mitchell, in carrying a message to General Geary's troops at a critical period of the battle, with a view of saving time, rode in front of a battery of nine guns, a few yards from the muzzles, running the gauntlet of the fire in order to save a considerable detour; and Lieutenant Parker personally and alone took prisoners 2 of the enemy in front of our picket-line, and brought them in with him.
Capt. C. H. Hoyt, chief assistant quartermaster; Capt. A. C. Voris, commissary of subsistence, and Maj. R. C. Stiles, surgeon in chief of the division, were actively employed in the operations of their respective departments.
First Lieut. George C. Anderson, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, in charge of the division ambulance corps, together with his assistants, performed their duty faithfully. The ambulances and stretcher-carriers were employed on the field under fire, and the duties of the department were executed as I have not seen them done before during the war. Several of the stretcher-carriers were killed or wounded, and a few made prisoners by the enemy.
The following of my orderlies were much exposed, and deserve mention for their good conduct during the action: Sergt. Owen McKenzie, Corpl. Thomas Watson, Privates James Wells, Alvin Stearns (wounded), John Gollinger, and Donald O'Rourke (horse killed), all of Company K, Sixth New York Cavalry, and Privates Andrew Boudreau and Henry McEnro, of Company D, Sixth New York Cavalry.
On the 15th instant, I transmitted to your headquarters a nominal and tabular statement of the losses of the division, amounting in the aggregate to 1,122.
I transmit also a sketch(*) of the positions occupied by the division in the neighborhood of the Chancellor house.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General, Commanding Division.
Captain POTTER,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Still no mention of Hooker being injured.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[diddyriddick]

Didn't I read somewhere that Hooker himself said something to the effect that he had lost his nerve?

[ole]

Originally Posted by diddyriddick

Didn't I read somewhere that Hooker himself said something to the effect that he had lost his nerve?

Yes. He did. Can't remember what he said or where I saw it. It is not in the ORs. But, in effect, he did say he simply lost it (in effect).ole

[gary]

Hooker lost his nerve after he crossed and failed to sweep up Lee's flank at Fredericksburg. Instead of advancing and attacking, he stopped and entrenched and waited for Lee.

[timewalker]

I have long suspected that Hooker conducted a brilliant flank march on Lee, came in on Lee's flank, and then froze when Lee did not do what Hooker expected him to do. Hooker was so convinced that Lee would retreat that when he didn't, Hooker simply didn't know what to do because it was so inconceivable that Lee would not retreat that Hooker did not plan for any other contingency. Lee unnerved Hooker simply by not retreating from an untenable position.