Hooker resigns June 27, 1863

[tmh10]

Im reading Coddington's book on Gettysburg and in the chapter, Hooker Bows Out, it is stated that Hooker tendered his resignation and was waiting for a reply. That got me thinking and sometimes that is not a good thing, but never the less, I wondered if Hooker thought, with Lee on the move, that Lincoln would refuse to accept it, and free Hooker from under Halleck's thumb, or had he lost his confidence, and wanted to avoid facing Lee again? Another question is would Lincoln have left Hooker in command if he had not sent in his resignation? They may have been wanting him replaced,and looking for a good reason, but so close to a major battle seems a big chance. They did not know Lee's intentions at this time, but with the whole ANV on the move, they had to know there would be a big battle somewhere.

I would be interested in the thoughts others on this subject.

 

[DixieRifles]

I'm pretty ignorant on Geneal Hooker but I do know that he popped back on the scene at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, TN on November 24, 1863. So don't hold back from supplying in any specifics as to the decisions that were made and Hooker's duties from the time he was relieved of command until he appeared back on the battle field.

 

[rbasin]

Hooker usually was reporting directly to Lincoln. It wasn't until really just before he resigned that Lincoln allowed Halleck in.

I just think Hooker was overwhelmed by the responsibility, and he finally cracked. How he got another command is beyond me.

 

[tmh10]

I'm pretty ignorant on Geneal Hooker but I do know that he popped back on the scene at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, TN on November 24, 1863. So don't hold back from supplying in any specifics as to the decisions that were made and Hooker's duties from the time he was relieved of command until he appeared back on the battle field.

Dixie, I tought the same as you till I looked into it. Hooker and Halleck were not big freinds here. Hooker thought being under Halleck was a big insult. Hooker had plans to hit Lee's army from the rear

 

[tmh10]

Hooker usually was reporting directly to Lincoln. It wasn't until really just before he resigned that Lincoln allowed Halleck in.

I just think Hooker was overwhelmed by the responsibility, and he finally cracked. How he got another command is beyond me.

rbasin, Halleck was in before Hooker. If you recall he caused Grant some problems. Halleck was in some ways like McClellon, in that he was good at organizing, but not a good battlefeild commander. In imy opinion Hooker was in no way able to match wits with Lee at this juncture. I also think it was an act of god that Hooker offered his resignation at this point and Lincoln and Halleck put Meade in command.

 

[Jamieva]

They had already stripped Hooker of command of his district so the only troops he directly commanded was the AotP. Hooker wanted to let Lee go north and then march on Richmond. Lincoln overruled him. Hooker also wanted to draw reinforcements from Harpers Ferry etc but he had no direct authority to do so because he did not command those troops. He asked Halleck for them and was told no. Lincoln and Halleck did not trust him in any way and in fact their desire was for Hooker to resign.

 

[JCM6395]

I don't think he thought Lincoln would accept his resignation. He wanted Halleck out of the way. Halleck seemed to be a pain in the rear end. Hooker thought threatening to resign would force the issue....which it kind of did but not to his liking. It would have been interesting to see how Hooker would have confronted Lee in the summer of 1863. Would he have been more aggressive in trying to get pay back for Chancellorsville or have been more cautious. At Chancellorsville he got knocked silly by that cannonball. Should have turned command over to his second in command.

I don't think Hooker was a bad general at all. He restored the AoP's morale after Fredericksburg. That took some real work there! I've heard that time period refer to as the AoP's Valley Forge moment. Hooker tended to backstab his superiors though. Which didn't win him any friends. He irritated Sherman to the point where he booted him out.

 

[Carronade]

I'm pretty ignorant on Geneal Hooker but I do know that he popped back on the scene at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, TN on November 24, 1863. So don't hold back from supplying in any specifics as to the decisions that were made and Hooker's duties from the time he was relieved of command until he appeared back on the battle field.

Hooker resigned as commander of the AofP but did not resign his commission; he was still a major general with a lot to his credit both as administrator and combat commander. It would have been awkward to employ him with the AofP, but when they decided to send a detachment of two corps (11th and 12th) to Chattanooga, he was put in command and, as you note, did well there.

 

[ErnieMac]

I'm pretty ignorant on Geneal Hooker but I do know that he popped back on the scene at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, TN on November 24, 1863. So don't hold back from supplying in any specifics as to the decisions that were made and Hooker's duties from the time he was relieved of command until he appeared back on the battle field.

When Hooker was relieved of command he went to Baltimore MD where he spent the next three months awaiting orders. As Carronade noted, an officer, whether it was a 2nd Lieutenant or a Major General, being relieved from or resigning from a position within the army was still in the army unless he resigned his commission or was discharged for cause. McClellan spent two years from November 1862 to November 1864 as a Major General awaiting orders. Only when he lost the 1864 election did he resign.

 

[Rio Bravo]

Is it true that Hooker,together with Dan Sickles & Dan Butterfield, was responsible for rounding up Prostitutes for his men, and that they ( the 'hookers' ) permanently followed his army . No wonder Hooker was popular with his men !!!

 

[tmh10]

I don't think he thought Lincoln would accept his resignation. He wanted Halleck out of the way. Halleck seemed to be a pain in the rear end. Hooker thought threatening to resign would force the issue....which it kind of did but not to his liking. It would have been interesting to see how Hooker would have confronted Lee in the summer of 1863. Would he have been more aggressive in trying to get pay back for Chancellorsville or have been more cautious. At Chancellorsville he got knocked silly by that cannonball. Should have turned command over to his second in command.

I don't think Hooker was a bad general at all. He restored the AoP's morale after Fredericksburg. That took some real work there! I've heard that time period refer to as the AoP's Valley Forge moment. Hooker tended to backstab his superiors though. Which didn't win him any friends. He irritated Sherman to the point where he booted him out.

Hooker had a lot of the same qualities as McClellan for building up an army and organization. He was I think a better feild General than Little Mac. I think if he was left in command of the AOP that the battle would not have been at Gettysburg. I think Hooker would have forced the issue before the ANV got to Gettysburg. Another problem for Hooker was Pleasonton. He edged out Buford for command of Hooker's calvary and made some errors that I don't think Buford would have. Brandy Station could have been a big victory for Hooker and possibly held Lee up if Buford had been in charge instead of Pleasonton. My opinion, some may disagree.

 

[ErnieMac]

Hooker had a lot of the same qualities as McClellan for building up an army and organization. He was I think a better feild General than Little Mac. I think if he was left in command of the AOP that the battle would not have been at Gettysburg. I think Hooker would have forced the issue before the ANV got to Gettysburg. Another problem for Hooker was Pleasonton. He edged out Buford for command of Hooker's calvary and made some errors that I don't think Buford would have. Brandy Station could have been a big victory for Hooker and possibly held Lee up if Buford had been in charge instead of Pleasonton. My opinion, some may disagree.

I agree with your assessment of Hooker's command capabilities. As Hooker resigned on June 27th when the AoP was in the Frederick MD area and Lee was screened by South Mountain I'm can't see how Hooker could have forced the battle sooner than it occurred. I'd be interested to know your thoughts about that.

 

[tmh10]

I agree with your assessment of Hooker's command capabilities. As Hooker resigned on June 27th when the AoP was in the Frederick MD area and Lee was screened by South Mountain I'm can't see how Hooker could have forced the battle sooner than it occurred. I'd be interested to know your thoughts about that.

That is true, Ernie, Lee got a two day, at least march on Hooker and had to push to stay close. Hooker I think had a chance before Lee was being screened by South Mountain, but wonder what he would have done, with the ANV after that. It is all just speculation, but I don't know that Gettysburg would have been the spot if Hooker was still in command. Halleck was still on Hooker to protect Washington and Harper's Ferry at all cost. The Hooker move to resign, was in my opinion his way of getting Halleck out of his hair, but got suprised when Lincoln accepted it. Im still reading up on it, but it seems Meade was given a bit more freedom to act.

 

[ErnieMac]

That is true, Ernie, Lee got a two day, at least march on Hooker and had to push to stay close. Hooker I think had a chance before Lee was being screened by South Mountain, but wonder what he would have done, with the ANV after that. It is all just speculation, but I don't know that Gettysburg would have been the spot if Hooker was still in command. Halleck was still on Hooker to protect Washington and Harper's Ferry at all cost. The Hooker move to resign, was in my opinion his way of getting Halleck out of his hair, but got suprised when Lincoln accepted it. Im still reading up on it, but it seems Meade was given a bit more freedom to act.

I agree that Hooker was trying a power play on Halleck and was surprised that it didn't work. It's interesting the one of the main factors in Hooker's resignation was the refusal of Halleck to authorize him to use the troops stationed at Harper's Ferry. Some hours after Hooker's resignation is received and subsequently Halleck sends a letter to Meade appointing him to command of the AoP in which he states "Harper's Ferry and its garrison are under your direct orders."

I also can't fault your logic in thinking the battle would not have occurred at Gettysburg. Had Hooker not resigned I think Lincoln and Halleck would have had him on a short leash. Perhaps Big Pipe Creek would have been the spot. IMO one of J.E.B. Stuart's best performances of the war was shielding Lee's army and keeping Pleasanton (and Hooker) away from the passes of the Blue Ridge.

 

[rbasin]

rbasin, Halleck was in before Hooker. If you recall he caused Grant some problems. Halleck was in some ways like McClellon, in that he was good at organizing, but not a good battlefeild commander. In imy opinion Hooker was in no way able to match wits with Lee at this juncture. I also think it was an act of god that Hooker offered his resignation at this point and Lincoln and Halleck put Meade in command.

I understand that. I meant that Halleck was eventually allowed in on the Lincoln-Hooker conversation. Hooker did clean up after Burnside. Jackson said that Hooker's plan was good, except he sent away his cavalry, which was what allowed Jackson to flank him.

 

[rbasin]

I agree that Hooker was trying a power play on Halleck and was surprised that it didn't work. It's interesting the one of the main factors in Hooker's resignation was the refusal of Halleck to authorize him to use the troops stationed at Harper's Ferry. Some hours after Hooker's resignation is received and subsequently Halleck sends a letter to Meade appointing him to command of the AoP in which he states "Harper's Ferry and its garrison are under your direct orders."

I also can't fault your logic in thinking the battle would not have occurred at Gettysburg. Had Hooker not resigned I think Lincoln and Halleck would have had him on a short leash. Perhaps Big Pipe Creek would have been the spot. IMO one of J.E.B. Stuart's best performances of the war was shielding Lee's army and keeping Pleasanton (and Hooker) away from the passes of the Blue Ridge.

Halleck's instructions to Hooker in regard to Harper's Ferry was to make sure it was safe, as well as Washington, from Lee. He vastly outnumbered Lee, so this shouldn't have been much of an issue. Hooker had been given the choice of other troops, such as Dix's, which he refused.

 

[Jamieva]

I wouldn't say he vastly outnumbered Lee at that point. Longstreet's other 2 divisions were back from SE Virginia and the AotP had lost units at the end of their enlistment period after Chancellorsville.

 

[ErnieMac]

Halleck to Hooker in a message sent at 10:30 a.m., June 27, 1863:
"Maryland Heights have always been regarded as an important point to be held by us, and much expense and labor incurred in fortifying them. I cannot approve their abandonment, except in case of absolute necessity."

Halleck to Meade in a message sent at 3:30 p.m., June 28, 1863:
"The garrison at Harper's Ferry is under your orders. You can diminish or increase it as you think the circumstances justify."

Halleck to Meade in a message sent at 1:30 p.m., June 30, 1863:
"If you abandon Harper's Ferry, ordnance stores must not be destroyed. Such destruction can be justified only by absolute necessity."

Stanton to Meade in a message sent at 3:30p.m., June 30, 1863:
"It is proper you should know that General French this morning evacuated Maryland Heights, blowing up his magazine, spiking the large cannon, and destroying surplus stores. A telegram from him, received this evening, indicates that he is still at Sandy Hook, waiting orders, and doubtful what he should do with his force. Please instruct him what you wish him to do."

 

[BillO]

Halleck to Hooker in a message sent at 10:30 a.m., June 27, 1863:
"Maryland Heights have always been regarded as an important point to be held by us, and much expense and labor incurred in fortifying them. I cannot approve their abandonment, except in case of absolute necessity."

Halleck to Meade in a message sent at 3:30 p.m., June 28, 1863:
"The garrison at Harper's Ferry is under your orders. You can diminish or increase it as you think the circumstances justify."

Halleck to Meade in a message sent at 1:30 p.m., June 30, 1863:
"If you abandon Harper's Ferry, ordnance stores must not be destroyed. Such destruction can be justified only by absolute necessity."

Stanton to Meade in a message sent at 3:30p.m., June 30, 1863:
"It is proper you should know that General French this morning evacuated Maryland Heights, blowing up his magazine, spiking the large cannon, and destroying surplus stores. A telegram from him, received this evening, indicates that he is still at Sandy Hook, waiting orders, and doubtful what he should do with his force. Please instruct him what you wish him to do."

Back seat drivers suck. Especially when they outrank you.

 

[Chattahooch33]

He pretty much saw himself out after Kolb's Farm. He claimed that he was being attacked by the entire Confederate army but in actuality it was only Hood's corps. Sherman called him out on it and told him to never exaggerate again and according to Sherman he "sulked" for the rest of the campaign.