25501

Joseph Hooker criticizes using Federal troops to Joseph Hooker criticizes using Federal troops to br

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Joseph Hooker criticizes using Federal troops to Joseph Hooker criticizes using Federal troops to br
<B>Joseph Hooker criticizes using Federal troops to break the Strike of 1877</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Civil War General Joseph Hooker (1814-1879) Autograph Letter Signed,</B></I> "<I>J. Hooker Maj. Genl.</B></I>", nine pages, 5" x 8", Garden City, New York, December 20, 1877 to his former comrade-in-arms William B. Franklin (1823-1903). Hooker writes on the massive railroad strikes that crippled the nation during the summer of 1877 and the use of federal troops to break the strike. <BR><BR>"<I>You doubtless know that I was educated for a regular, or trained soldier, and until the War of the Rebellion, I had been made to believe that the strength of a Military power lay in its trained troops, and my convictions remained unchanged until the battle of Williamsburg... opened my eyes to my error. In that fight the greater part of my troops were under fire for the first time, and many of whom, I have no doubt, had never before heard the report of the discharge of a musket, and yet they went in to a battle at the earliest dawn, at one time waged with unusual violence, and stuck to it until night came, as I had never seen troops before freeze to a fight. In previously disciplining my command at Blandensburg I had remarked with how much more ease and satisfaction they were controlled, and educated than were the class of men who were recruited to fill the ranks of our regular Army. Besides they appeared to me to be more identified with our institution than the men who composed the rank and file in the regular Army, and the feeling inspired by their conduct in the first battle continued to strengthen to the end of the Rebellion, until now as it ever will be, I trust, my conviction that the strength, and perpetuity of our Nation depends upon our Militia, over any other power in the Nation, and until all our people realize this fact as I do, I fear our Militia forces will not receive the consideration from our Officials they so justly deserve. It is true strong influences were operating to the feeling of all our loyal people in the last war, as home, Country everything held dear, were involved in the issue which was not the case in the Strikers War last Summer, but under discreet intelligent Officers, I contend that the Militia are more easily influenced, and governed than corresponding numbers in an Army of trained bands... My only regret that Gov. Hartfrant was not at home in the incipient movements of the disturbers of the peace in your State, as then his prompt action would doubtless have prevented, an organization of the Mob which threatened to disturb, not only our business, but almost the existence of the Government itself... I do not now believe that it will be unwise in us to anticipate a more frequent recurrence of storms in our political World than we have yet experienced... I do not believe in the policy inaugurated by Genl. Grant in employing Soldier, and Bayonets to control, and take part in the affairs of States, and I believe it will be highly improper, and impolitic to employ the Army in any such work... We require a small standing Army to hold our Forts, and frontiers that it is all... the facilities the Rail Roads furnish us for massing troops, it is a question to my mind whether it is not better or a nation to rely on muscle, more than masonry for its defense. The latter can easily be destroyed, the former never...</B></I>" <BR><BR>A truly fine letter in which a former subordinate criticizes policies of his ex-commander in favor of the supremacy of states' rights. Reconstruction had come to an end in 1877 when the last federal troops left the former Confederate States. The experience left many, both in North and South, angry and bitter. The growing conflict between capital and labor in the rapidly industrializing nation would again test the limits of federal authority. <I>Together with</B></I> a second <B>Joseph Hooker Autograph Letter Signed,</B></I> <I>J. Hooker Maj. Genl.</B></I>", two pages, 5" x 8", Garden City, New York, September 4, 1878, again to General William B. Franklin, discussing a reunion. Very light creases, else very fine. Two fine letters between former comrades. From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.