The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-27

O7l- nalleck Is SDout Iorty-t NO years OF age, /
Aad was born il Weston, Oneida county, New
4 oFk, where his grandfather, one hundred /
years cid, and bale and hearty--lstely resided. |
Ger. Hallecks father was the Hon. Joseph |
Halleck, who died about three years since |
Gen. Halleck entered the Military Academy /
ss q West Point cadet, in 1885, stood third in !
the class, and was breyetted second lieutenant
OF engineers July /, 1899. He was Acting |
Assistant Professor of Engineers at the Mill
tary Aeadamy from July, 1889, to June, lsAo. |
Ia lS4i he was the author of military work
on Bitumen and its Uses" etc. In January,
1s45, he was appointed First Lieutenant, and
during the year he was selected by the COM
mittee Of the Lowell Institute at Boston, TO
deliver one of the regular course of lectures
the subject being Military Science and Art"
These lectures he compiled in q neat volume
daring the following year, adding thereto
lengthy introduction on the "Justifableness
of War The work contains much valuable
elementary instruction. as well as abundance
OF historical illustration, and is written with
ability. In ls4T he was brevetted Captain for
gallant ccndGct in affairs with the enemy on
the 10th and goth days of November, Is47,
aud for meritorions service in California He
was Secretary of the Territory of California
under the military governments of Gems.
Kearney, Mason and Riley, from l847 to tbs
end of l849. He was chief Of the staff of
Commodore Shubrick, in the naval and mill
t9ry operations on the Pacific coast in 1847
and lS48 and was a member of the convention
IN l849 TO form, and OF the committee TO draft,
the Constitution of the State of California
In July, 1854, be was appointed Captain of
Engineers, and resigned August /, 1854.
A very Interesting anecdote is told of the
early life and studies Of the General. As it is
expressive of the frmness of character and
manliness which have distinguished him dur
ing his life, we give it here When about
sixteen years Of age, he formed the determi-
nation TO leave his home unknown to his par
ents, and seek his fortune in the world After
consulting an uncle, who resided in Syracuse,
he removed to Hudson, n. Y and took board
in the family of /. " Basset and, under the
patronage of the aforesaid uncle, commenced
MS studies at the Hudson Academy, which was
at that time conducted by J. w. Fairfield
To conceal his residence from his father, he en-
tered the academy under the name of Henry
Wager, and was thus known during his three
years residence in Hudson. He was known as
young man Of quick perception and studious
habits, acquitting himself with honor in his
studies. After finishing his course at this
academy, through the influence of the uncle
before mentioned, he was appointed cadet at
West Point, and in due course graduated with
honor, receiving his lieutenants commission.
He has served the country faithfully and well.
He is related, on his mothers side, to the fam
lily of Wagers in Columbia county, she being
niece Of the late Rev. Daniel Wager of
Client.
Gen. Halleck was appointed major general
10 the United States Army in August last, a.
the instance of Lieut. Gen. Scott, then about
to retire from active service. HIS commission
bears date the 18th of August 1861. At the
time of his appointment, Gen, Halleck was
the leading member of most prominent law
firm in San Francisco. Placed, u1on his ar
rival from the Pacific, in command of the
Department of the West, he promptly swept
away the abuses which had crept into the
saryice under Fremonts administration, and
from the very hour he assumed command the
record Of the war in the West has been q sue
csssion of victories Under his mastery poll
cy the rebels have been driven from Missouri
Middle and West Tennessee, including the
clpital of the State, have been occupied by
the Union armies, and q Judgment obtained
for our troops in Northern Mississippi and
Alabama, and Northwestern Arkansas. From
his headquarters at st. Louis Gen. Halleck
with mastery skill, directed the movements oil
the grand armies under Generals Buell., Grant
Pope and Curtis, besides controlling the &C
ton Of subordinate commanders in different
paris Of Missouri; and he has enjoyed the re-
ward of witnessing the opening o. the Missis.
sppi valley by the ram feet y under Colone
Elliot.
During the period when he command the
army Of the Southwest aletter from st. Louii
spoke thus of his action aud services :-"Thert
Is surprising vigor id the course pursued BY
Major General Halleck i'd his dealings witt
the Missouri rebels. He Has bridge burner
and marauders tried and executed; SO Their,
il an end of bridge burning and marauding
He levies on the property Off traitors Z
H..
their homes by Price and his followers HI
puts mutinous volunteers to work on fortifca
tons. He requires officers of the Universit,
OF Missouri, which was endowed by the Uni
ted States, to take the oath of allegianc,
or resign within thirty days. He require
presidents and directors of railroad comDanie
ID do the same, and also directs them to emplo,
none but loyal citizens on their roads d,
directs that no contracts be made except will
persons who have taken the oath OF allegiance
and he orders that all clerks, agents and iyi
employees in the service of the government
also take it. Gen. Halleck does all these ex
traerdinary things Under military law, anC
as he is known to be well versed in militar,
Jurisprudence and the author of 8 work on
kindred branch, he does not do them ignor
antly.
Msjor General Halleck, in personal appear
snce, is below the medium height straight
active and well formed, and has brisk, ener
getc gait, significant of his firm and decisiv,
character His nose is delicate and vel
formed, his forehead ample and his mouth b,
no means devoid of humor. His eye is OF
hazel color, clear as morning star, and Of in
tense brilliancy. When he looks at man i
seems as though he were going literally to reas
him through and through. No amount o
oily duplicity, no brazen effrontery, no stud
led conceslment could avail anything befor
t1at keen, penetrating glSnce, it is an eye t.
make all rogues tremble, and even honest mel
look about them to be sure they have rot beef
up TO some mischief. The profound and i'm
plict confidence in him of all who have ha.
dealings with him is no mystery after seein,
what manner ofman be is.
Independent OF his military capacity, Gen
LII. 4. IL. -. L..