Joseph Hooker
Joseph Hooker was a notable Union general during the American Civil War, known for his early military career and the moniker "Fighting Joe." After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1832, he served in both the Seminole and Mexican-American Wars before gaining prominence in the Civil War, particularly in 1862. He was appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac in January 1863, where he restructured the army and addressed the needs of his soldiers, leveraging a strategic advantage against Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Despite his initial successes and the implementation of a well-thought-out battle plan for the Battle of Chancellorsville, Hooker's command faltered, leading to a significant defeat. Following this setback, President Abraham Lincoln removed him from command shortly before the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg. Hooker continued to serve in various capacities, achieving success at Lookout Mountain and initially in the Atlanta Campaign but ultimately requested to be relieved of command when a junior officer was placed above him. He retired from military service in 1868, closing a complex and eventful career.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Joseph Hooker
Armed Forces Personnel
- Born: November 13, 1814
- Birthplace: Hadley, Massachusetts
- Died: October 31, 1879
- Place of death: Garden City, New York
Also known as: Fighting Joe
Born: November 13, 1814; Hadley, Massachusetts
Died: October 31, 1879; Garden City, New York
Principal wars: Mexican-American War, American Civil War
Principal battles: Chancellorsville (1863), Lookout Mountain (1863), Atlanta (1864)
Military significance: At the Battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863, Hooker was badly outgeneraled and ultimately relieved of army command. He rehabilitated his reputation somewhat in the western theater in late 1863 and 1864.
After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1832, twenty-ninth out of fifty, Joseph Hooker served in the Seminole (1835–1843) and Mexican-American Wars (1846–1848). He earned his American Civil War (1861–1865) sobriquet of Fighting Joe on eastern battlefields in 1862.
Appointed commander of the dispirited Army of the Potomac on January 26, 1863, Hooker effectively reorganized the command structure, attended to his soldiers’ needs, and developed an excellent plan to utilize his two-to-one manpower advantage over Confederate general Robert E. Lee. He boasted that he commanded “the finest army on the planet” before the Battle of Chancellorsville (1863). Despite flawlessly executing his plan in its initial stages, Hooker lost his resolve when contact was established near Chancellorsville on May 1. Hooker halted his advance suddenly and surrendered the initiative to Lee, who promptly administered a stunning and humiliating defeat to the Union cause. President Abraham Lincoln removed Hooker from command of the army on June 28, 1863, three days before Gettysburg.
Dispatched to the West, Hooker led the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps at Lookout Mountain on November 24, 1863, and performed well early in Atlanta in 1864. However, when a junior officer was appointed over him, he asked to be relieved of field command. He was relieved on July 28, 1864, and retired from the army on October 15, 1868.
Bibliography
Herbert, Walter H. Fighting Joe Hooker. New York: Bobbs Merrill, 1944.
Sears, Stephen W. “In Defense of Fighting Joe.” In Controversies and Commanders: Dispatches from the Army of the Potomac. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.
Sutherland, Daniel E. Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville: The Dare Mark Campaign. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1998.