A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory. Grant was the most acclaimed union general during the american civil war and was twice elected president. Longstreets hammer blow at manassas warfare history network. Henry wager halleck was born in 1815 to a family of upstate new york farmers, an occupation he loathed from the start. Office, with its extensive apparatus a novel and very difficult undertaking. In the summer of 1862, president lincoln called general henry w. He was a master of administration, logistics, and the politics necessary at the top of the military hierarchy, but exerted little effective control over field operations from his post in washington, d. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory, old brains.
His grandfather sent him to union collegewhere he was elected to phi beta kappaand he went on to graduate third in his class from west point. Lincolns chief of staff and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The civil war, 1862 army center of military history. Halleck endorsed successful strategies that were not his own, and proved an able administrator of military supply. Stephen edward ambrose january 10, 1936 october, 2002 was an american historian and biographer of u.
He served as generalinchief and as chief of staff later in the war. Major general henry halleck is one of the most maligned union army leaders of the civil war. The new union general in chief, henry halleck, had given mcclellan a choice. Friends of padre steves world something a bit different. Marszaleks splendid fulllength biography commander of all lincolns armies. Joness three brigades of georgians and south carolinians from longstreets wing formed up to assault the union troops on henry hill. Halleck s book was published in 1846 and though it was not a standard text at west point it was probably the most read book among contemporary officers. Anders book sets out to challenge that conventional wisdom, showing old brains as a principled, intelligent administrator with strong loyalties to effective military officers and an effective, if understated, management style. Henry halleck 1864 iowa henry halleck in 1870 united states federal census henry halleck was born circa 1864, at birth place, iowa, to peter halleck and mary halleck. Every ounce of food and forage must be regarded as precious as diamonds.
Elements of military art and science by henry wager. Halleck, he writes, halleck wondered whether it was up to him to give command in the west to grant or whether lincoln wanted to make that decision himself. At west point, halleck was a favorite student of esteemed theorist dennis hart mahan. Again this is a part of one of the chapters of my gettysburg and civil war text, but this time dealing with two men who were the first american military theorists, dennis hart mahan, the father of alfred thayer mahan the great naval strategist and henry. Lincoln and his generals is more of a biography of lincoln and his generals than it is a history book. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. This book offers several strong points, features and perspectives. During the american civil war, he became the commander of the union armies in the western theater in 1862. At west point, halleck was a favorite student of esteemed theorist dennis.
Henry halleck may be regarded as one of the fathers of modern warfare. Henry wager halleck january 16, 1815 january 9, 1872 was a united states army officer. Halleck was born in the small village in upstate new york where we reside. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. An associate member of the national academy of design, lazarus also painted miniature portraits and was represented in this medium in the academys centennial exhibition in 1925. Initially raised on the family farm in westernville, ny, halleck quickly grew to detest the agricultural lifestyle and ran away at a young age. For one union general henry halleck the march into mississippi. Elements of military art and science halleck, henry wager on. In harrisons novel, while hallecks role is fairly important, he does not personally appear. Biographical sketches of halleck and his chief of staff, gen.
Henry wager halleck 18151872 the civil war career of the muchmaligned union commander in chief and chief of staff, henry w. It consists of 157 articles and establishes policies on the treatment of prisoners, civilians when found to be engaged in guerrilla warfare, exchanges, and flags of truce. Henry halleck set out slowly from pittsburg landing, tenn. Mahan, halleck, and the beginning of american military. Marszalek belknap press, 324 pages civil war enthusiasts rarely get excited about general henry wager halleck, even. Henry halleck was an intelligent, abrasive general of mixed ability.
Halleck has long required a serious biography by an accomplished civil war historian. He graduated from the united states military academy in 1839. Imho, anders comes into the book with an axe to grind the rehabilitation of halleck and is insufficiently objective. Even though this claim is referenced, it seems a bit over the top. Mcclellan resented and resisted halleck s authority, and stubbornly refused to advance, thinking halleck would eventually recognize the folly of a withdrawal. When i sent copies of this book to members of my family and some friends, their reactions were all the same. This book finally sheds light on how old brains earned his moniker, and what he didand gallingly failed to. A union catastrophe by the name of red river posted on august 2, 2014 by caroline davis while the spring of 1864 marked the launch of a union overland campaign in virginia, it also signified a federal disaster in the west. In july 1862, lincoln made halleck the generalinchief of all union armies.
Marszalek emeritus, ole miss, has given us a wellrounded biography of henry halleck, who, if today largely relegated to the background, was among the most influential soldiers in the civil war. My paper was titled a cold and calculating owl a reputation revisited. In the 1941 film they died with their boots on, sydney. I used this book a couple of decades ago when researching majgen. Siege of corinth by henry halleck in 1862 historynet. A union catastrophe by the name of red river emerging. In an effort to push matters lincoln issued general war order no. Henry halleck was a general in the united states army.
Halleck for the first time during the corinth campaign in april and may 1862 were not sure what to make of him. Jacksons wing began a tardy push against the federal right. The bios are limited to the war, but it reads more like a biography, so that it is not simply facts and dates, but has some personal interest. Buy a cheap copy of commander of all lincolns armies. Halleck was a military theoretician who was a good. Richard halleck, emma halleck and 4 other siblings. Joness troops surged up the slope of henry hill into the teeth of the union musketry and artillery. A summary of outbreak of the civil war in s ulysses s. On the plus side, though, the book does contain a large amount of quotes of halleck s own writing, and since he never wrote his memoirs, theres some value there.
Henry wager halleck for a paper for the local historical society. Lincolns secretary of the navy gideon welless harsh words embody the stereotype into which union generalinchief henry wager halleck has been cast by most historians since appomattox. While still very young he fled the farm in search of an education. Henry wager halleck was born january 16, 1815, on the family farm in oneida county, new york. Work was therefore pushed with great vigor on the defences, to enable the. Best books on henry old brains halleck book, movie. Finding that he despised farm work, henry ran away from home at a young age and was raised primarily by his uncle, who set him on the path to a military education. Halleck was dubbed old brains by the troops after the corinth campaign, but he was. These two outposts, fort donelson and fort henry, were the two confederate positions. This book was written in 1999, marszaleks book came out in 2004. Halleck, was summarized by secretary of the navy gideon welles as he originates nothing, anticipates nothing. Many were like major general henry halleck, a west pointer who left the army to. Interred 20 may 1882 died of brights disease in littleton, nc at the age of 26 years.
Halleck demonstrates, this popular view of halleck is not far from the truth. Henry halleck old brains famous for writing and editing several military books, he was placed in command of the union armys western department early in the war. Discover book depositorys huge selection of henry halleck books online. He was an important participant in the admission of california as a state and became a. This book is available for free download in a number of formats. He had advised generalinchief henry halleck on the subject, and president abraham lincoln worked on the order personally along with four generals and lieber. Henry wager halleck january 16, 1815 january 9, 1872 was a united states army officer, scholar, and lawyer. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. This important book provides new insights on the union command structure. The author of this book, anders, is a west point grad. Halleck was a cautious general who believed strongly in thorough preparations for battle and in the value of defensive fortifications over quick, aggressive action. Born january 16, 1815, henry wager halleck was the son of war of 1812 veteran joseph halleck and his wife catherine wager halleck.
Halleck, union officer during the american civil war who, despite his administrative skill as general in chief 186264, failed to achieve an overall battle strategy for union forces. Halleck, edmund kirby smith and leonidas polkwhose fame endures a century later, can be called representative, then among the motives that lead men to deeds of valor in times of crisis are a devotion to theory and system, b the necessity to escape from a nagging family, and c heaveninspired conviction. In late april 1862, in the aftermath of the battle of shiloh, the largest military force ever assembled in north america a 125,000man, threearmy union leviathan under the command of maj. Halleck, fulllength portrait, wearing military uniform, seated on rearing horse. I came across this book in trying to find a good read on halleck. The project gutenberg ebook of personal memoirs of u. Eventually halleck decided that neither grant nor buell had the. Halleck, old brains, was the union army general who commanded the department of missouri succeeding john c. He was an important participant in the admission of california as a state and became a successful lawyer and land developer.
1401 628 937 182 1101 1418 1071 751 1489 1335 274 283 1226 250 343 1207 174 1119 331 244 324 1496 518 718 364 262 1183 857 863 799