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Fairleigh Dickinson also published my biography of William Worth Belknap, Grant’s secretary of war. It was Hazen who exposed the army ring headed by Belknap which resulted in the secretary’s impeachment. Hazen’s willingness to risk his career to stop the exploitation of the common soldier, while other officers looked the other way, fascinated me and led me to a more thorough examination of his life.

You mention in the first chapter, The Hazens, that Hazen earned enough money to take a trip to Cincinnati. On returning home, “he was convinced that he needed a first-class education since he aspired to something more than being a farmer. He determined that the Military Academy at West Point would be ideal for him” due to the education, career, and social standing that would be provided. What do you believe led to Hazen’s decision and determination to go to West Point?

It would be pure speculation as to what particular incident or series of incidents encountered on the trip provided his deep-seated motivation to attend the Academy. He must have seen, on his trip, the respect that the uniform commanded, regardless of the wealth, social standing, or background of the wearer.

Hazen seemed to be surrounded by many corrupt individuals throughout his career. Thus, he acquired many enemies, which brought controversy in his life. Why did Hazen remain determined to reveal and correct the wrong doings and corruption he encountered rather than succumb to it?

You are asking a question that would require having Hazen on a couch for years delving into the underpinning of his psychology. Thankfully, there are men and women who believe they are honor bound to point out evil doing. With Hazen it may have been ingrained in him by his parents or by the honor code at West Point. It is equally possible that it was done for the self gratification obtained from the publicity surrounding his actions.

The Hazen family line was fairly prosperous, as you mention each generation accumulating wealth and property. Why was it, then, that William Babcock Hazen had to personally fund his trip to Cincinnati, rather than his parents?

I also mention that the 1,500 acres owed by Hazen’s great-grandfather had to be split among twelve children. His grandfather also had to split his land among his seven children. Too many children and so little land. Hazen’s father decided to build his own fortune and acquire more land by moving west.

You discuss the feud between Lieutenant Phillip Sheridan and Hazen. Sheridan’s biographer, Hutton, writes that Sheridan’s “persecution of General William B. Hazen displayed even more glaringly a cruel pettiness.” Yet, you mention the Hazen unnecessarily acquired Rosecrans as an enemy because he was unable to walk away from a criticism without answering back. Is this need to answer criticism and to prove himself right a quality of pompousness due to the praises that Hazen received throughout his career by superiors and peers?

First, Hazen was probably damned more often than praised. Second, he was not pompous. You are correct that he was unable to walk away from what he considered an unjust criticism no matter what the cost to him personally. It was a character trait, ingrained in his personality, and a trait that I admire.

--Lorna Marie McManus

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