The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01

Of Halleck's influence upon tho events out Of
which grew their reputation as great military
leaders and statesmen. In some respects Hal
look was the superior of the first four and the
main reliance OF the last two In the heroulean
task Of organizing and maintaining the armies
Of the Union and directing its military policy.
In the science and laws Of war. IN the tech
niQue of the art, in administrative talents,
Halleck was doubtless the superior of any man
in either army. Gen. Sherman says that The
was the best informed scholar of tho military
art in America, Mcclellan not excepted" and
this was after the two. from being tho warm
est friends. had become ertranged.
Prior to the ou sbreak Of the rebellion, Halleck
had achieved reputation as an administrative
organizer In California, whore he had been do
tailed as engineer for operations on the Pacific
coast ut the beginning of tho Mexican war.
Here he had displayed extraordinary talent IN
the military government. of which Eo was the
real head. after the American occupation, and
- puto,S-uently in the organization, under Con.
dlothin' of . civil government after the Mexlcans
20 70 : been conquered. He was tho central ng-
J IRE of the California Convention to frame a
State Constitution. In all those affairs he
displayed Q great and varied ability. From tho
date OF his graduation from West Point, July
]. 1889. third in his class. HalIeck had been .
writer on military topics and international
law. and stood high among men Of Ietters and
In the law. In the practice of which he had on
gagged in San Francisco after his resignation
from the regular army, which occurred Aug. l,
1854. His treatise on international Law, or
Rules Regulating the Intercourse of States in
Peace and War;" holds to.this day the highest
rank among puhlicists, ssboth civil and military.
Thus ut the outbreak Of ,ae rebellion, whom
he was 40 yeara OF age, Halleck was already q
marked man; q brilliant graduate of the Mill
tary- Academy. with u rich experience in mill
tary. civil. and business AFFAIR.", he was by
army men generally considered one of tho
eblest military man in tho country, although he
had then been out of the service for more than
seyen years. Con. Winfield Scott, knowine.his
worth and a~ttainments, Immediately and
BtronRly urged upon President Lincoln Hal
Ieck's appointment to the highest grade In the
regular army. 1t is not surprising under the 70
circumstances that he should be made a Major
+" General at once. and be assigned to tho Depart
ment OF the Missouri. with Headquarters ut st.
Louis, superseding. Fremont. This was the
greatest territorial NINA In the country.
Great things were expected of Halleck, nor
did he fall in the performances of his part. A
military writer has said that on his arrival at
1t. Louis Halleck found "a chaos of insubor-
dination, tneficiency. and population" requir-
Ing The prompt. energetic, and ceaseless exer-
oiss D. his iron will. thorough knowledge of
both military. and civil law, and admInistra-
tive powers. They were all brought into play
with salutary effect. During tho fall AMI
winter of 1S6l-62, by his honesty and frmness
OF purpose Halleck completely revolutionizsd
affairs in Missouri. crushed out abuses. and
suppressed lurking treason throughout the
State, and put things on q permanent Union
footing. His relentless hostility to fraud of
all kinds. and stringent application OF mill
tary discipline and law to the affairs of the
department. made him many enemies. but his
complete success IL undlsputed. Even his one
mics admitted this much, and respected Hal
leck accordingly. He won the highest enco-
miums.of the Govern ment, and indicated the
confidence placed in him by Scott.
Not only had his administration been q sue
cess, but no was the great organizer of sue
cessful war In the West. Until he came, ar
fairs In Missouri and western Kentucky, and
even in southern Illinois and Indiana. had O
decided look OF anarchy. But his experience
In the early days Of California had thoroughly
EQUIPPED Halleck for dealing with lawlesa
elements, and he soon had things toned down.
For tho field no mobiiizei powerful forces:
while Buell. was temporizing and hesitating iu
the hijt.ling great military department, Hal
ieck was urging him on. and making energetic
preparation himself TO strike. When he did
move, success was immediate in every quar-
ter. BY his admirable stragetio combine
uons. within six months his subordinate Gem
erals. the men OF action In the field, Grant,
Pope. and Curtis, had been enabled TO achieve
great victories over the Confederates at Donel-
aon, Pea Ridge, Island No. 10. and else where;
10 capture and drive their armies out of Mis-
Eouri and Kentucky. and open the Mississippi
down TO Vicksburg. His operations were IN
deed mastery. The president INN ediattly
promoted him to the supreme command In the
West, covering all the territory between tho
Alleghanies and the Rocky Mountains.
ffa IL 49,. "a - m -.