- Joined
- Feb 27, 2017
- Location
- Ohio
Wikipedia
Hooker arrived in Washington in mid-June with a letter of introduction to Abraham Lincoln from Edward Baker, one of Lincoln's oldest and closest friends. He also found Charles Sumner, senator from his birth state Massachusetts, in an attempt to gain a command. Hooker told Sumner that if given command of a regiment, he would soon rise to command the army and eventually would take Richmond. Yet when Governor Andrews offered Hooker the colonelcy of one of the new Massachusetts regiments then in Washington, he declined because his experience entitled him to a higher rank.
Hooker grew more and more frustrated as he watched others, whom he had once outranked (including Irvin McDowell), gain prominent positions. Meanwhile, Hooker himself stayed on the sidelines. The reason was Winfield Scott, who remembered Hooker's testimony against him in 1848.
Hooker was one of the many civilian spectators who watched the battle on July 21. There is no record, however, from where he viewed the fighting.
A few days after the Battle, he was introduced to Lincoln as "Captain Hooker." His reply was classic Hooker:
"Mr. President, I was introduced to you as Captain Hooker. I am, or was, Lieutenant Colonel Hooker of the Regular Army. When this war broke out I was at home in California, and hastened to make a tender of my services to the Government, but my relation to General Scott, or some other impediment, stands in the way, and I now see no chance of making my military knowledge and experience useful. I am about to return, but before going I was anxious to pay my respects to you, Sir, and to express my wish for your personal welfare, and for your success in putting down the rebellion. And while I'm about it, Mr. President, I want to say one thing more, and that is, that I was at the battle of Bull Run the other day, and it is neither vanity or boasting in me to say that I am a damned sight better General than you, Sir, had on that field."
Shortly afterwards, Hooker received his commission as Brigadier General of Volunteers.
Source: Walter H. Hebert, Fighting Joe Hooker