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This is from Sears’ TO THE GATES OF RICHMOND. I have no doubt the story grew with the telling, but supposedly during the battle of Williamsburg Hood overstepped his orders but with fine results and was approached By General Johnston:
“General Hood, have you given an illustration of the Texas idea of feeling an enemy gently and falling back?” he asked. “What would your Texans have done, sir, if I had ordered them to charge and drive back the enemy?” Hood considered the question soberly before answering. “I suppose, General,“ he said, “they would driven them into the river, and tried to swim out and capture the gunboats.”
On a side note, in the interest of fair play, it’s easy to recall Mr. Hood only in the dismal light of Franklin & Nashville. It doesn’t hurt to occasionally go back and read of him at Gaines Mill, placing himself at the head of the 4th Texas and going across Boatswain’s Swamp, up the ridge and breaking the Federal line.
"Texans always move them !"
“General Hood, have you given an illustration of the Texas idea of feeling an enemy gently and falling back?” he asked. “What would your Texans have done, sir, if I had ordered them to charge and drive back the enemy?” Hood considered the question soberly before answering. “I suppose, General,“ he said, “they would driven them into the river, and tried to swim out and capture the gunboats.”
On a side note, in the interest of fair play, it’s easy to recall Mr. Hood only in the dismal light of Franklin & Nashville. It doesn’t hurt to occasionally go back and read of him at Gaines Mill, placing himself at the head of the 4th Texas and going across Boatswain’s Swamp, up the ridge and breaking the Federal line.
"Texans always move them !"
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