William Selby Harney (22 August, 1800 - 9 May, 1889) was a
cavalry officer in the
U.S. Army during the
Mexican-American War and the
Indian Wars.
Early military career
Harney started his military career in 1818 as a second lieutenant in the
1st U.S. Infantry. He forced the pirate
Jean Lafitte to move his operations to the
Spanish Main. He served with distinction during the
Seminole Wars and the
Blackhawk War.
During the
Mexican-American War he was appointed
colonel and commanded the 2nd
Dragoons. The 2nd Dragoons were attached to
John E. Wool's command during the
Chihuahua Expedition and the
Battle of Buena Vista. Harney joined
Winfield Scott's Army as senior cavalry officer Fighting with distinction at the
battle of Cerro Gordo he received a promotion to
brevet brigadier general. He was placed in command of Military Department Number 5 after the war. While on leave in
Paris he was recalled to lead an expedition against the
Sioux after the
Grattan Massacre culminating in the
Battle of Ash Hollow in 1855. After the Battle of Ash Hollow, Harney was known amongst the Sioux as "Woman Killer." He was then placed in command of the
Department of Oregon. During this time he sent troops under Captain
George E. Pickett to
San Juan Island precipitating the
Pig War. Due to these altercations with the
British he was recalled. Briefly in command of troops during the
Utah War he was again recalled and placed in command of troops sent to deal with the
Bleeding Kansas affair. Promoted to full
brigadier general on June 14, 1858 he was one of four general officers in the regular army at the opening of the
Civil War.
Civil War
Harney commanded the Army's
Department of the West at
Jefferson Barracks in
St. Louis, Missouri at the beginning of the war. Missouri started the war as a "armed neutral" vowing not to send men or money to either side while at the same time remaining part of the Union. The neutrality was put to the test on May 10, 1861 when Union General
Nathaniel Lyon paraded captured Missouri State Militia through the streets after he claimed they were attempting to seize the
St. Louis Arsenal for the Confederate cause. Lyon's troops fired on the crowd in what is called the
Camp Jackson Affair. The incident so enraged the state that the members of the General Assembly voted the next day to authorize the state's militia (renamed the
Missouri State Guard) to fight any army north or south that attacked the state.
Harney tried to calm the situation by striking a deal with the Missouri State Guard General
Sterling Price that Missouri could remain neutral (called the
Price-Harney Truce). Missouri Governor
Claiborne Jackson (who favored secession) swore allegiance to the Union in the deal.
Politically connected Lyon was not happy with the deal and Harney was called to the
Washington, D.C. to discuss the case. He was captured by Confederates en route and was offered a command by Confederate General
Robert E. Lee. He refused and was released to continue on to Washington, where he was relieved of his command and replaced by Lyon, who was to drive the elected governor
Claiborne Jackson in a series of battles before being killed at the
Battle of Wilson's Creek while pursuing the governor. Harney retired in 1863 and was breveted to Major General in 1865 in recognition of his long and distinguished career. President
Lincoln said that the removal of General Harney was one of the greatest mistakes of his administration.
Peace negotiator
Though a then-well-known cavalry officer of the Indian Wars, William Harney worked for peace with the Indians by advocating a good neighbor policy and strove throughout his career to improve the nation's treatment of the native population, vainly seeking to have them treated fairly. The
Crows gave him the name "Man-who-runs-like-the-deer" after he challenged them to foot races outside the walls of the fort. After the Civil War he was a key figure in the Indian Peace Commission that negotiated treaties with all the Plains Indians in 1867-68, and urged Congress to honor past treaties. After his death in
Orlando, Florida, the
Sioux changed his name to "Man-who-always-kept-his-word".
Controversies
Harney was known for having a particularly brutal streak. Harney commanded the US troops at the
Battle of Ash Hollow in 1855, which some view as a massacre rather than a battle, and which resulted in the killing of roughly 85 men, women and children. He was also court-martialed by the army four times, as well as tried in a civilian court in St. Louis, Missouri for bludgeoning his female slave Hanna to death for losing his keys — he fled the state when a mob pursued him, he was ultimately found not guilty. In the Mexican-American war, he oversaw the execution of thirty members of the
San Patricio Battalion after the
Battle of Chapultepec; these were primarily Irish Catholic immigrants who had deserted the US army to fight for Mexico. While overseeing the hangings, Harney ordered Francis O’Conner hanged even though both his legs had been amputated the day before. When the army surgeon informed the colonel that the absent San Patricio had lost both his legs in battle, Harney, in a rage, replied:
This incident was in violation of the articles of war requiring swift executions. He was never punished for his actions and was promoted to brigadier general shortly after, accompanying the commander in chief in a triumphal march in Mexico City. It should be noted that Harney's actions in regards to the hanging of the amputee were not in fact a crime, in that the order to hang the members of the San Patricio brigade as an example did not originate in his command but in higher ups in the command. Harneys statement is very telling in this sense. Harney refers to his "orders" to hang 30 men. The "war crime" here involves the argument that these men should have been executed via a firing squad as opposed to hung, which it is obvious was not Harney's decision to make. In reference to this controversy read the executions section of the following link, also a wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Battalion.
Home
Harney's home in
Sullivan, Missouri is privately owned by the Harney Mansion Foundation, a private organization which is seeking funds for the restoration of the structure. The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce cooperates with the foundation and can arrange visits to the home.
Namesakes
Footnotes
See also
