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FDU PRESS
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| Scholarly Review |
 | William Babcock Hazen: The Best Hated Man
ISBN# 0838640893
Reviewed by: Gordon Berg, Greenbelt, MD
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A West Point graduate, class of 1855, Union General William Babcock Hazen was teaching tactics at the academy when the Civil War broke out. He began as colonel of the 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and commanded a brigade by Shiloh, where his men incurred the highest number of casualties of any unit in the Army of the Ohio. His brigade saved the Army of the Cumberland from annihilation at Stones River and fought valiantly with Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas at Chickamauga. Hazen led the commando raid at Brown's Ferry that opened the "Cracker Line" into the besieged city of Chattanooga, and his troops were the first to crest Missionary Ridge. His division was cut to pieces at Pickett's Mill because of poor planning by superior officers but was chosen by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman to attack Fort McAllister, culminating the March to the Sea.
Cooper's book includes unpublished fragments of a memoir written by Hazen's wife, the former Mildred McLean, daughter of the politically connected owner and publisher of The Washington Post and other newspapers.
Readers will end up understanding why Ambose Bierce, who served as Hazen's topographical officer during the war and later became a journalist, short story writer, and social pundit, characterized his superior officer and friend as "the best hated man I ever knew."
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