Position at Antietam
Commander, Hood’s Division, Jackson’s Wing, Army of Northern Virginia (Age 31 at the battle)
Personal
1831-1879 Kentucky
Nickname: Sam
Born in Owingsville KY; son of Thomas Hood, a doctor. Married in 1868 to Anna Marie Hennen with whom he had 11 children, including three pairs of twins.
Education
West Point Class of 1853, ranked 44th of 52. Classmates: James McPherson, John Schofield, Phil Sheridan. Robert E. Lee was superintendent of the Academy at the time. Commissioned in the Second Cavalry.
Mexican War
N/A
Other military career highlights
: Served under Lee in Texas with the Second Cavalry; seriously wounded in hand-to-hand fighting with Lipan and Comanche Indians on July 10, 1857. Resigned April 16, 1861
Civilian career highlights
N/A
Civil War
Initially served in the cavalry under Joseph Johnston in Virginia until appointed as Colonel, 4th Texas on Sep 30, 1861. In February 1862, assigned to command the Texas Brigade. Led the brigade brilliantly throughout the Peninsula at Gaines Mill; Fought at Second Manassas and commanded a division at Antietam. Saw little action at Fredericksburg and missed Chancellorsville. Wounded at Gettysburg where his arm was mangled. Sent west and fought at Chickamauga where he lost a leg. Promoted to lieutenant general and corps command in February 11, 1864. Commanded a corps in the Atlanta Campaign until he relieved General Johnston of command. Lost the Battle for Atlanta by attacking recklessly. In Hood’s Tennessee campaign his army was defeated at Franklin on November 30, 1864 and nearly destroyed at Nashville by George Thomas on December Relieved of command January 1865.
Postwar
Cotton broker and insurance broker in New Orleans.
Death
Hood, his wife and eldest daughter died in the yellow fever epidemic in Louisiana, 1879. Age 48.
Quotes
“…Hood is a good fighter, very industrious on the battlefield, careless off, and I have had no opportunity of judging his action, when the whole responsibility rested upon him. I have a very high opinion of his gallantry, earnestness and zeal.” Robert E. Lee
“All lion, none of the fox.” Robert E. Lee
“Oh! he is a soldier!” Thomas J. Jackson
“Never was I so continuously troubled with fear that my horse would further injure some wounded soldier, lying helpless on the ground.” Hood describing the Cornfield at Antietam
“Give us Hood!” The Texans of Hood’s brigade demand of Robert E. Lee the return of their beloved commander enroute to South Mountain
“You shall have him gentleman.” Lee in response to men of Hood’s Division that his arrest be suspended at Battle of South Mountain.
“Would have been named by three-fourths of the army as the finest division commander in the army. His men were devoted to him and believed in him absolutely.” John Haskell
“The coolest man I ever saw” Val C. Giles
“The fierce light of his eyes, I can never forget.” Charles Venable