Northerners were just as anxious as southerners to know what Confederate generals looked like, and were perhaps better able to do so from widespread commercial photography. This is a nice, clear Civil War carte-de-visite photograph of John Bell Hood published by E. & H.T. Anthony in New York. There is no tax stamp, or sign of one, indicating the card predates fall 1864. Hood is posed in a seated view that Anthony has vignetted. He wears three collar stars with no wreath, but the center star is larger, as is correct for a general, and his double-breasted frock coat also has its buttons arranged in pairs, the standard configuration for a brigadier general.

Hood was born in Kentucky in 1831, graduating West Point in 1853, and serving in the 4^th US Infantry and 2^nd US Cavalry, with whom he suffered an arrow wound in action against Comanches. Resigning his commission after Fort Sumter, he served briefly as a Confederate cavalry captain and major before being commissioned Colonel of the 4^th Texas Infantry in September 1861. Promoted brigadier general in March 1862, he by then commanded the “Texas Brigade.” At Gaines Mill his brigade broke the Union line, but at great cost, beginning Hood’s long trend of costly attacks, launched with mixed success.

Given division command under Longstreet, he helped defeat Pope at Second Manassas and stabilized the Confederate right at Antietam. At Gettysburg, he urged a flanking march, but followed orders and was wounded while guiding his division forward against the Union left. At Chickamauga he led Longstreet’s advance that collapsed Rosecrans’ line, but at the cost of his right leg. He recovered to receive a promotion to lieutenant general and in July was given command of the Army of Tennessee to replace Johnston, whose defensive maneuvering in the Atlanta Campaign he had criticized. He launched several attacks against Sherman that failed, withdrew from Atlanta and later unsuccessfully tried to lure Sherman northwest into Tennessee, but was defeated by Thomas at Franklin and Nashville. After the war he moved to New Orleans and engaged in the cotton business and insurance. He died there in 1879 of yellow fever.

This is a nice wartime view in excellent condition with just slight foxing on the bottom reverse and a period pencil identification at bottom front.  [SR]

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