58/93 I never liked that appointment, Mr.President.I should have preferred Meade or Reynolds. Hooker is a blustering thick-headed fellow, good enough, maybe, for a division or even a corps, but not for an army." "I visited him three weeks back," said Lincoln, "and I'm bound to say he has marvellously pulled round the Army of the Potomac. There's a new spirit in their ranks. You're unjust to Joe Hooker, Mr.Stanton. He's a fine organiser, and he'll fight--he's eager to fight, which McClellan and Burnside never were." "But what on earth is the good of being willing to fight if you're going to lose? |