How Hookers Got Their Name

Why A Civil War General is (Mistakenly) Credited with Originating the Term

Depiction of a painting.

There is a popular misconception that the term Hooker originated during the U.S. Civil War when for a brief period during 1863 the Union’s Army of the Potomac was commanded by General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker. It is true that during this time the Army’s camp had acquired a somewhat dubious reputation as described by cavalry officer Charles Francis Adams Jr:

“During the winter when Hooker was in command, I can say from personal knowledge and experience, that the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac was a place that no self-respecting man liked to go, and no decent woman could go. It was a combination of barroom and brothel.”

Hooker’s Headquarters was located in a notorious crime-ridden slum in Northwest Washington D.C. known as Murder Bay. Due to the high volume of potential customers, scores of prostitutes flocked to the area to ply their trade.