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

chL4palgn was bctentinchliS mhuo uo"h W sn'
smallest detail, as well might be expected. II
was successful In driving the enemy out, but
that was all. Beaureoard with all his army
and material OF war leisurely decamped from
the town without molestation from the great
Union army. which had been
on his front and TANKS for several days.
At first the "siege of Corinth" and its even
tual occupation was hailed AZ n great victory,
and the people orthe North were overioyed, hut
az q matter Of fact It did not amount to much.
Tho Confederate army, which was the objec-
tive, was still at large, having suffered no seri-
Gus injury In the two months campaign, except
perhaps, in morale. and not much in that re-
epect, because of the great disparity in num-
boris, which WINS we'll understood by the Con-
federatss. While from this aspect tho Corinth
campaign ives something of n fnsoc, IL was
nevertheless calculated TO add greatly to Hal
lcck's prestige. because the Union armies cleo
Tlere we're at the moment suffering defeat AMI
being driven back. After che occupation Of
Corinth. instead of marching his invinoible
army on Vickeburg, and at once clearing tho
Mississippi, he began that fatal policy of d.
vision which resulted in prolonEing the war
more thnn two years. Part of 1t, under Grant,
was sent against vicksburg. and the balance,
under Buell., toward Chattan oogn. Under this
system of diffusion the smaller Confederate
- ea'No oh WV uNiVbblNo, w NIdpiNu W
and hold back from both places double. their
numbers for many months beyond the date
when they should and could easily have bsen
OCCUPIED. Halleck's army OF 100, 900 men was
Irresistible by any force at the command OF tho
Confcderates in all that region at that time.
Halleck's st:ategio SUGGEST. which, a~nalyred
In the-liRht of future developments, was moro
apparent than real, had not advanced tho Union
cause a day in point OF time. nor oven terri
torially to any appreoiable extent. But 1t 90
CURED at q very fortunate: ~juncture in Hal
leck's fortunes. McClellan's moro pretentious
campaign against chmon undertaken In
concert with ACKNOWLEDGMENT. had end-
cd In disaster, and the Union.causc. in the East
was at a low ebb. This gave Halleck's.-.arren
achievement q consequence in the eyes of.the
nation and the Government It was not entitled
to. In the crucial test of battle one If the two
most brilliant Union Generals. upon whom the
hopes Of the nation.centred had gone down.in
defeat; the other had apparently won. Hal
leck was Immediately called to Washington
and made General-in Chief. 1t was the posi-
ton for which he was best fitted: 1t was In the
Cabinet, in counsel, thai Halleok's learning had
full play, where his ability shone. In short. he
was o theoretical. not o practical soldier.
The Corinth campaign. which was the only
one that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the field dur
a"N Wv V'As eha tho Ell 1 q I
the army. demonstrated that. with.all his.su-
perior learning and reading In the scienue.of
war. his undoubted ability in grand strategy.
and his extraordinary administrative talent.
Halleck was lacking In some of the essential
elements of character needful to make q vic
torious leader in battle. He appears to have
lacked the fighting fibre. Therefore, while.he
WAS superior in his greater attributes TO Grant.
Sherman. Sheridan. or Thomas. he was far
their inferior as \ commander in active field
operations. When the war closed, Halleck
held n low place in public esteem. He was
probably the most unpopular General in active
service. both in aud out OF the army. A strong,
unexplainable prejudice had developed against
him, which has continued. to this day.
opinions. yet / firmly hold that Halleck is en-
titled to the gratitude OF his country for his
great. his invaluable services throughout tho
war. In some particulars the Union owes
10 him moro than to any other General who
espoused its cause, more than to Grant even.
made him prominently useful to Lin ooln and
Stanton. where such another brilliant man as
and then command the respect Of both these
great mon throushout the war is Of Itself suffi-
age. His earnest patriotism was beyond all
question. and that he was faithful to Lincoln
and stanton to the end is equally certain. His
In his treatment and judgments of civilians,
but in tho main HalIeok held the scales at an
But l am not blind to this accomplished off,
GERS faults OF character and weaknesses. AL
iSle. Is q commander he was se arro oSausm and
domlneerinR in his personal manners, ~hich
. wsrs ofssn ,n ysry otie G,.,v b HIS one aI CORE;
the feelings Of a subordinate. He was the
tary bully. who takes advantage OF the terrible
Jaws Of discipline vhen occasion offers to bear
Interiors. When not browbeating bis subordt-
natesGf all RANKS he patronized them, an equal
~ anp dsas ' efsrac to { Se readtiy to b oRssG
Tested. in all the walks OF lie. There is some
those holding the reins, or to Using fortunes.
II his bulidozing tactics were boldly resented.
times | think Halleck was totally. unaware of
this great fault. But it was an inherent weak
ness which he could not control.
Another phase of his character won for him
universal condemnation. There WAS a streak
OF something like treachery about the man.
or perhaps rather the appearance of it. from
his crafty Trimming TO advance his personal
fortunes. With his equals or::superiors in rank
aud ended by winning their hearty dislike and
distrust. There were but few OF his army associ-
the war. He quarreled with nearly all OF them
II some way; or fell ont with them. While
seem with the friendly correspondence between
st. Louis and Washington. When Halleck's
seat rn,h had cI BEEN firmly an% pd fixed by by the Victories Of
1880 AsA't u Aolbh v
5 die haa been merged in his. Haileck's cor
found. among the records. After he had sue
ceeded to McClelian's place as General-in-C Chief
a quarrel soon sprsng W, between them. and
Mcclellan criticised his late friend with un-
sparin0 bitterness.
A 7 frat Hallsck manifested a great warmth
OF. feeling toward Buell., McClellan's close
friend. who had received the Kentucky COM
nland about the time Halleck won't 10 St. Lodis.
For, a time he fawncd upon Nc, lellan through
Buell., and vice versa. He was probably not
scheminR directly 10 undermine either. That
was not Halleck's ma" re at all. Both were In
a position to be helpful to him in his Rmbi-
ton. and he simply designed to use them in
forwarding 1t. Buell. finally came under his
direct m and thenceforwnrd all such
manifestations ceased, although he gave Buell.
command of, u large segment OF his "A, my sent
from Corinth against Chattanooga. proof that
at that time he Thought highly OF Buelrs mill
tary capacity. Later, as General-in-Chief he
entirely lost faith in Buell., and after Perry
Vile, recommended his supersedure by Rose
Grams. The official and personal relations be-
tween Rosecrans and Halleck were for n time
OF the friendltest character; yet after a while
they grew cold toward each other: their cor
respondence changed its confidential. cdmdrd-