Joseph Hooker

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Joseph Hooker Joseph Hooker was born in 1814 in Hadley Massachusetts. Hooker attended the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and graduated from there in 1837. In one article about him, he was said to be "One of the most immodest and immoral of the high Union commanders." Hooker's nickname was Fighting Joe in the army because he was a good leader and brave when he fought.

In 1937 after he graduated from West Point, Hooker was sent to fight in the Mexican War. There he won three brevets, which is a commission promoting a military officer in rank without an increase in pay, which made him lieutenant colonel at Monterey. On February 21, 1853, Hooker resigned from the army, and settled in California where he got involved in the farming and land business.

Hooker went back to the army on January, 1963 where he was assigned by President Lincoln to become commander of the Army of the Potomac.

Because of Hooker, the army was organized and strengthened, but his command during battle was poor mainly because he could not deal with the surprise actions of the Confederate army. Because of his loss to the Confederates led by General Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville in May, 1963, Hooker resigned as commander of the Potomac army but then in July became commander of the XI and XII corps.

Hooker fought in several more battles, some which made him famous were the taking back of Malvern Hill from the Confederates, the taking of Lookout Mountain in 1863, and on November, 1863's Battle of Chattanooga by keeping open the supply lines. Because of his successes as General, in 1968 when he retired from the army, he retired with the full rank of Major General. Hooker died on October 31, 1879 in Garden City New York.