John Bell Hood Character Analysis in The Killer Angels

Hood is a Confederate Major General, forced to attack on the second day of battle from a position where it is impossible to mount cannon and from which every movement is clearly observed by the Union. It is clear that, by attacking from this spot, he will lose easily half of his men; yet Longstreet doesn’t go against Lee, telling Hood, with sadness, to attack as ordered. Hood does so under protest. He is badly injured in the battle, and Longstreet lies to him that his casualties weren’t so bad and that they succeeded in capturing Devil’s Den, all the while knowing that he should never have been ordered to attack. Hood’s officers take their anger out on Longstreet because they are reluctant to criticize General Lee.

John Bell Hood Character Timeline in The Killer Angels

The timeline below shows where the character John Bell Hood appears in The Killer Angels. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...the action will be. Longstreet lets Fremantle ride with him as he and John Bell Hood speculate about the size of the Union force. Fremantle knows “with the certainty of youth... (full context)

...have not entrenched, as there is nothing to stop the Yankees from attacking. Longstreet and Hood laugh, then Longstreet sobers and tells Fremantle that Meade is not the type to attack,... (full context)

Some of Hood’s scouts report that nothing stands between them and the Union army, and that it will... (full context)

Longstreet receives a further report from Hood that the Yankees have uncovered the ridge and are undefended in the rear. However, there... (full context)

Longstreet finds Hood, who explains that the ground is strewn with large boulders that make it impossible to... (full context)

Hood tells Longstreet that he will lead the attack under protest. Longstreet understands, mutely bidding the... (full context)

Longstreet visits Hood in the hospital. Hood has been drugged while the medics work on his badly wounded... (full context)

...Round Top. He talks with one of his captains, Goree, who tells him angrily that Hood’s officers are blaming Longstreet for the day’s loss. Goree says that no one will blame... (full context)

...He meets Sorrel, who reports that the Division lost a third of its men, and Hood’s losses will approach fifty percent. Longstreet realizes that this adds up to a loss of... (full context)

...him again of Lee, “a simple man, out of date,” and the accusing eyes of Hood. (full context)

...Longstreet leading the charge. Longstreet asks to speak. He tells Lee that his two divisions, Hood and McLaws, lost half their strength the day before. How can they expect to succeed... (full context)