At breakfast this morning, I proposed to Katie to ride over
to the Insane Asylum and see Genl. Hooker, to which she agreed; and she having
provided a basket of grapes, peaches, etc., we went. We were very kindly
received by Mrs. Nichols, who ushered us into the General's room. He was lying
on a couch, but suffering no pain, he talked very freely as far as time would
permit, of the recent events. He said that at Richmond, when the order came to
withdraw the army, he advised McClellan to disobey, and proposed a plan for an
advance on Richmond. McClellan gave him the order to advance, but, before the
time for movement came, recalled it, and gave orders for evacuation. When
Hooker expected to march to Richmond, therefore, he found himself, to his
surprise, compelled to fall back to the Chickahominy on his way to Aquia. I
said to him, “General, if my advice had been followed, you would have commanded
after the retreat to James River, if not before.” He replied, “If I had
commanded, Richmond would have been ours.” He then spoke of the Battle of
Antietam, where he received his wound, and expressed his deep sorrow that he
could not remain on the field three hours longer. “If I could have done so,” he
said, “our victory would have been complete; for I had already gained enough
and seen enough to make the route of the enemy sure.” After he had been carried
off, he said, McClellan sent for him again to lead an advance. The General
impressed me favorably as a frank, manly, brave and energetic soldier, of
somewhat less breadth of intellect than I had expected, however, though not of
less quickness, clearness and activity.
While we were conversing, Dr. Nichols came in and I had some
talk with him in an adjoining room. He said the General's wound was as little
dangerous as a foot wound could be, the ball having passed through the fleshy
part just above the sole and below the instep, probably without touching a
bone. I suggested the trial of Dr. Foster's balm. He made no special objection,
but said the wound was doing as well as possible, without inflammation and very
little matter; and he thought it unnecessary to try any experiments. I could
not help concurring in this and postponed Dr. F. and his balm. — The Doctor
said he first knew him when he encamped below him last year; that he became
deeply interested in him; that when he heard he was wounded, he went up to
Frederic, seeking him; that he missed him; but that his message reached him,
and he came down to the Asylum himself. I asked, “What is your estimate of him?”
— “Brave, energetic, full of life, skilful on the field, not comprehensive
enough, perhaps, for plan and conduct of a great campaign; but at least equal
in this respect, if not superior to any General in the service.”
Mr. Rives (of the Globe), his daughter and son-in-law came
in and we took our leave; Dr Nichols having first strongly recommended to me to
secure the appointment of Col. Dwight, of Mass., as a Brigadier General.
Returned home and went to Department Found Genl. Robinson,
of Pittsburgh, there, and Mr. Piatt and Dr. Harkness. Got Harrington to go with
P. and H. to War Department. — Mr. Welles came in, about appointment of Pease,
in Wisconsin, and I asked him to write a note about it. — Attorney-General
Bates called, with Mr. Gibson of St. Louis, about pecuniary aid to Gov. Gamble —
both telling a very different story from Farrar and Dick. Promised to look at
papers and answer tomorrow. — Stanton came in about payment of paroled soldiers
at Camp Chase, which I promised to provide for. Said that he proposed to make
the Department of Florida, with Thayer as Governor and Garfield as Commanding
General, if I approved of Garfield. I said 1 approved heartily. Said he had
insisted on removal of Buell, and leaving Thomas in command. I could not
disapprove of this, though I think less highly of him than he seems to think. —
He went and Barney came in. Asked him to dine. Declined, but promised to call
in the evening. — Mr. Hamilton, on invitation, came to our house to stay while
in town.
In the evening, many callers — Miss Schenck, Genl. and Mrs.
McDowell, Genl. Garfield, and others. Young Mr. Walley came, with letters from
his father, and I brought him in and introduced him to Katie and our guests.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 90-2
