GENERAL JOHN BELL HOOD

I have always enjoyed a good book and now that I have time I try and spend a part of each day reading. I love reading about history especially Old West History and Civil War History. I am currently enjoying a book about the Generals of the Civil War. One of the more interesting people in the book is General John Bell Hood. Or at least it is interesting to Me.  

General Hood was present during many of the more fierce battles of the Civil War and was first wounded during the second day at Gettysburg. The wounds from shell fragments would leave his left arm useless for the rest of his life.  After a period of recuperation, he was transferred to the western theater where on September 20, 1863 he was again wounded at the battle of Chickamauga  when a minnie ball struck his right leg.  This wound would require that his leg be amputated just a few inches below the hip.

But his wounds at Gettysburg and at Chickamauga did not stop this tenacious and determined General. Following several months of recuperation, General Hood again returned to duty and in 1864 when he was given command of the Army of Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign. His decimated army eventually retreated through Alabama and into Tennessee where they were engaged once again at the Battle of Franklin.  Hood's Army further retreated to Nashville where he was soundly defeated and for all intense and purpose the Army of Tennessee was disbanded.  Many of the Army of Tennessee remaining men traveled east to join General Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina.  

General Hood traveled to Mississippi to formulate a plan to move reinforcements from Texas and Mississippi to join forces in the east. But before any plan could be formulated General Lee Surrendered at Appomattox and General Joseph Johnston surrendered his forces near Durham, North Carolina. With the war over, General Hood surrender at Natchez, Mississippi and was paroled on May 31, 1865.

I find it interesting that after the war General Hood took up residence in New Orleans where he was a became successful in both the insurance business and as a cotton broker. In 1868, General Hood married Anna Marie Hennen and over the next 10-years the couple had 11 children including three sets of twins.  General and Mrs. Hood were involved in the New Orleans area, contributing to many philanthropic projects including assisting with supporting and raising fund for the widows and orphans, and wounded soldiers.  

The Hood's and their large family were very popular and enjoying life, entertaining visits from old soldiers and friends. But During the winter of 1878-79 a yellow fever epidemic struck the New Orleans Area.  The epidemic ruined General Hoods insurance business, eventually leaving him broke and destitute.  On August 24, 1879 the disease would claim the life of his wife and oldest child and six days later August 30, 1879, General John Bell Hood would also die of yellow fever. He is resting in the Metairie Cemetery near New Orleans, Louisiana.

With the death of both the General and his wife, the question was what would happen to the 10 children all under the age of ten. Enter the Texas Brigade Association.  The Texas Brigade Association was formed in 1872 by the surviving members of General Hood's Texas Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia. It was with the help and support of the Texas Brigade Association that all the children were adopted by seven different families from Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky and New York.  Even after their adoption the Texas Brigade Association continued to support the children.

The Texas Brigade existed until 1933 when it was disbanded as only two veterans remained.

To me the story of General Hood is one of fierce determination. Despite being seriously wounded twice during the Civil War he refused to allow his wound and injuries to define him which earned him the respect those under his command. After the war he was successful in business and as a father and he earned the respect from his community.  Following his death, the veterans who served under him took the opportunity to show their respect for their General by helping and supporting his orphaned children. 

Yes, to me the story of General John Bell Hood is a very interesting one.