Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-08
The Mistake of General Harvey.

IL seems like q resurrection to call
public attention to the name Of General
William S. Harvey. The gallant officer,
so distinguished during the Mexican
war, was so eftctually shelved during
the war or The rebellion that men en-
tirely unknown at the outbreak have
passed him on the road to fame, and he
who was expected to have been one Of
the foremost officers Of the army in up
holding the honor OF the flag for which
he had so often and CALAMITY fought,
went instead into painful Obscurity. It
was not because Gen. Harvey had shown
any direct sympathy for secession and
treason that he fell into discredit. He
lost favor at Washington early in the
rebellion because he was guilty of
grave error. The Philadelphia Enquirer
gives a history Of the error and Of the
man since its commission as follows;
After, as commander of the Western
Division, having issued several procla.
nations, warning the people Of Missouri
of the danger of rebellion, he lost his pO-
stion by undertaking to enter into q
treaty with the secession element in that
State, to abstain from military move
ments in behalf of the United States as
long as the rebels abstained from such
movements on their part This agree
meut was made with General Sterling
Price, commanding the State militia I'LL
der Claiborne Jackson, which organize
tiOn was strong in favor Of State Rights,
a y,rt Ia E,1ora1 a M barjfVy Pu
that unfortunate treaty General Harvey
undertook to tie the hands Of the United
States Government, and he put it in =
position which recognized the STATE IS
equal to the Federal authority, aud aC-
corded to the Missouri seCessionists bel
hgrreut rights. This was very grave
mistake. Doubtless General Harvey
believed that it was eXpedient, inasmuch
as thereby the peace would be preserved
in Missouri, but the Government was
Jealous of the slightest concession to the
rebel element, and it would not consent
to be bound by Harney's undertakings.
AS 4 consequence lie was displaced,
and fell into discredit, He was put away
among the officers whom it was COnsid-
cred ipjudiCious to trust, and during the
| four years when other soldiers, not hay
| ing the record or experience that he had,
were making for themselves noble re-
| cords, he was chatting his restless spirit
! in inactiOn. Duuug the war he had no
| command He had lost MS character,
and other officers whose course was dis
| Greet, and whose services were gallant,
| increased in such numbers, that he was
| entirely out of the current OF promotion
or employment in the field. The honor
| of presiding over two or three courts
| martial is all that Is placed upon his re-
! cord from 1861 to 1865. He was put
upon the retired list to make way foI
officers his Juniors in the service, who
| had not forfeited confidence by lack Of
discretion. He will be upon this Indian
| commission the oldest officer, and OuS-
| fauked by Sherman, his junior by many
years, and holding equal grade Of COM
| mission with Terry, who at the COM
/ meHcement Of the war was civilian,
! but by gallant service fought himself
| into the Regular Army and attained in a
| few months the rank which Harvey only
| won after forty years Of service. Had
! Harvey been as prudent as he was brave,
J he would have at once taken high COM
| maud. The most eminent honors were
within his reach, but he spoiled all by
an error OF Judgment. There Is no doubt
about his bravery or his loyalty, and the
country which has heard SO little OF him
during the stirring events which have
happened since 1861, will still be pleased
to know that he has been drawn from
his obscurity, and once more employed
in service for which his long expert
ence among the Indians in Florida and
upon the Plains will render him pecu-
| liarly useful.