Born in Owingsville, Kentucky, in 1831, John Bell Hood rapidly ascended through the ranks to become one of the most talked about and debated figures in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. A West Point graduate at 22, his early military career with the United States Army in California and Texas foreshadowed a trajectory marked by both brilliance and controversy. When the winds of secession swept the nation, Hood resigned his U.S. Army commission in April 1861, aligning himself with the Confederacy as a cavalry captain, a decision that would indelibly etch his name into the annals of American history.
His promotion to Colonel of the 4th Texas Infantry quickly followed, setting the stage for a series of battlefield exploits that would initially define him as a daring and effective leader. John B. Hood distinguished himself in numerous key engagements, starting with the Peninsula Campaign and the battles of Second Manassas. At the Battle of Gaines’ Mill on June 27, a pivotal moment in the Seven Days Battles, Hood spearheaded a brigade charge that decisively broke the Union line. This action was lauded as one of the Confederacy’s most successful maneuvers during the entire campaign, although it came at a heavy cost with every officer in his brigade becoming casualties.
By 1862, Hood’s battlefield successes led to his promotion to Major General. He continued to be a significant figure in major battles such as Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg, further solidifying his reputation as a bold and aggressive commander. However, the Battle of Gettysburg would mark a turning point. Ordered by General Longstreet to attack the Union left flank, a plan Hood disagreed with, his command was met with fierce resistance in areas like Devil’s Den and Little Round Top. Severely wounded in the arm at Gettysburg, and subsequently losing a leg at Chickamauga, John B. Hood demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity, returning to service after recovery.
His appointment to Lieutenant General in 1864 placed him under J.E. Johnston, whom he would eventually replace in command. Taking charge during the Atlanta Campaign, John B. Hood lived up to his reputation for aggressive tactics. In an attempt to lift Sherman’s siege of Atlanta, he launched four major offensives during the summer. These included an immediate attack at Peachtree Creek, but despite their ferocity, all offensives failed, resulting in substantial Confederate losses. Ultimately, on September 2, 1864, facing insurmountable odds, Hood evacuated Atlanta, ordering the destruction of military supplies and infrastructure to prevent them from falling into Union hands.
Undeterred, John B. Hood led his army into Tennessee, seeking to regain momentum. However, his forces were severely weakened at the Battle of Franklin as they attempted to breach heavily fortified Union positions. The subsequent Battle of Nashville brought further defeat at the hands of Union forces led by General Thomas, effectively crippling Hood’s army. In January 1865, at his own request, Hood was relieved of command, reverting to his rank of Lieutenant General. His hopes to command the Texas army were dashed as the Confederacy’s end drew near. In May 1865, John B. Hood surrendered to Union forces in Natchez, Mississippi.
After the war, Hood sought a new life in New Orleans, where he lived with his wife and family. His life was tragically cut short when he succumbed to yellow fever in 1879. John B. Hood’s legacy remains a complex study in military leadership, marked by periods of brilliance and critical failures, forever intertwined with the tumultuous narrative of the American Civil War.
