The "Cold, Calculating Owl" Henry W. Halleck

[Battleline]

3896 Characters
Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck (b. 1815, d. 1872) Order and discipline were key tenets of Henry Wager Halleck throughout the Civil War. Halleck parlayed success in the west into command of all Federal armies from July of 1862 until March of 1864. He continued on as chief of staff after Gen. U.S. Grant assumed command of all armies. Halleck was recognized as one of the fathers of the “total war” concept, authorizing Sherman’s March to the Sea and Sheridan’s ravaging of the Shenandoah Valley. Halleck earned the nicknames of “Old Brains” and “Old Wooden Head.” He also was called a “cold, calculating owl.” Halleck was born in Westernville, New York, Jan. 16, 1815. As a U.S. Military Academy cadet, Halleck excelled in the classroom and was third in the Class of 1839. His first assignment after graduation was with fortifying New York Harbor. He traveled, was a published author and lectured prior to the outbreak of the Mexican War. During that conflict, Halleck was in California as part of the military government. He served as secretary of state, chief of staff in lower California and military governor of Mazatlan. He was breveted to captain of engineers at the close of the war. He was made full captain in 1853. He served as an aid to Gen. Bennet Riley, inspecting lighthouses and coastal fortifications. He also helped to formulate the California constitution. Halleck resigned from the army in 1854, founding the law firm of Halleck, Peachy & Billings. Halleck turned down spots on the California Supreme Court and U.S. Senate, focusing on business, writing and the state militia. He published books on mining law and international law, building a fortune. He married a granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton in 1855 and became the brother-in-law of Gen. Schuyler Hamilton. When the Civil War started, Gen. Winfield Scott recommended Halleck be appointed major general in the regular U.S. Army. This was done to rank from Aug. 19, 1861. He was behind only Scott, George B. McClellan and John Fremont. Halleck turned in early success in the western theater. Replacing Fremont in St. Louis in November of 1861, Halleck showed his talents as an administrator and straightened out what had been chaos in the Department of Missouri. His subordinates came through with victories. U.S. Grant won at Forts Henry and Donelson. Samuel Curtis triumphed at Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge). John Pope earned fame at Island No. 10. Don Carlos Buell’s forces triumphed. Halleck was pressed to replace Grant after his army was surprised at Shiloh, but Halleck ignored the outcry and kept Grant. In fact, Halleck and Grant formed a good relationship as Halleck kept Grant’s command supplied and reinforced. That also would be the case when the pair worked in concert in the East late in the war. Halleck’s command grew to include Ohio and Kansas as part of the Department of the Mississippi. When Halleck left his desk to command troops in the field, partially in response to the Shiloh surprise, there was a much different result. Slow movement on Corinth in May 1862, defended by a Confederate force half the size of his own, allowed the Confederates to evacuate leisurely. Still, he had done enough to be summoned to Washington. Named general-in-chief in July 1862, Halleck went to command all Federal troops. He excelled at raising men and material and stressed order and discipline, but made many enemies in his handling of the armies. In March 1864, Halleck was named chief of staff as his former subordinate, Grant, was made commander of Federal armies. Halleck still carried out the same duties as before. At the conclusion of the war, he commanded the Military Division of the James before being transferred to the Command of the Pacific in San Francisco. In 1869, he commanded the Division of the South, headquartered in Louisville. Halleck died there Jan. 9, 1872, and was buried in Brooklyn.

[jkBluesman]

Tough job to keep the limit that's for sure. I was a bit surprised on how you described the relationship between Halleck and Grant. In his memoires the latter blames Halleck for not following up his victory at Forts Henry and Donelson and leaves in general not a good impression of Halleck. But maybe Grant was influenced by the rift between Halleck and Sherman in 1865 by the time he wrote his memoires.

[Battleline]

I took much of what I wrote from Heidler's Encyclopedia and Generals in Blue. The only comment by Grant I found was acknowledging Halleck's "gigantic intellect" from Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War. It's odd that Halleck hated field command, but seemed to do a good job in organizing and running things from the rear. One would assume his ratings would be pretty low as a field commander, but that really wasn't his role.

[Gil R.]

That was fast. Thanks.

[Drex]

Its interesting to read in Sherman's memoirs, that he and Halleck served together in california and were on frindly terms.

[General Quarters]

Love the "cold, calculating owl" quote!

The Buell sentence is a bit of a dangler. I am not aware of any Buell triumphs that added to the case for Halleck's rising star. He was not under Buell's command until after his star had risen.

I don't know how to get more into the space available. Halleck's repeated undermining of Grant -- relieving him and putting CF Smith in charge, recommending others ahead of him for promotion, giving his Army to Thomas while kicking him upstairs to "second in command" of the whole force -- but this is probably more striking than their better relationship later. Also, as chief of staff, Lincoln's frustration that he could not get Halleck to make any decisions or even clear recommendations on vital questions. "If you can't help me with this , you are of no value to me," Lincoln said, or words to that effect.

[jkBluesman]

Not to forget his concerns on the safety of Washington which frustrated almost every commander of the Army of the Potomac, espacially Hooker and Meade.

[Battleline]

Originally, I didn't have Buell in there, but the Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War mentioned that Halleck received credit for victories of his subordinates, including Buell, I put him in there too. Buell's highlight probably was getting his troops to Shiloh during the evening of the first day, which helped to stabilize the Federal lines there.

[General Quarters]

Good documentation but still puzzling, since I don't think Buell was Halleck's "subordinate" at that point.

[Battleline]

Warner's Generals in Blue states that Buell did serve under Halleck during the Corinth campaign. The big question is when did Buell pass from McClellan's command, having been sent into Kentucky and Tennessee by Little Mac (according to GIB) but ended up helping Grant, who was under Halleck at the time of Shiloh.
One thing I have discovered is that Warner wasn't quite as clear with the facts in Generals in Blue as he was in Generals in Gray. Of course, the different Federal ranks, brevets, volunteer ranks and regular ranks are pretty darned confusing in their own right.
Ezra Warner's works, Generals in Gray and Generals in Blue are excellent starting points for biographies. I know I've stated that before. Both can be found in some of the big chain book stories which dominate the urban settings.

[Gil R.]

Let me know if anything needs changing. I'll put off doing Halleck for now. (I did get some done at the airport a few days ago, and will do so again when I fly back to the U.S. on Saturday.)

[General Quarters]

My mistake then. Thanks.