Henry Wager Halleck was a senior United States Army officer, scholar, and lawyer. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory: "Old Brains". He was an important participant in the admission of California as a state and became a successful lawyer and land developer. Halleck served as the General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States from 1862 to 1864, and then became Chief of Staff for the remainder of the war when Ulysses S. Grant was appointed to that position.
BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, CAMP DEFIANCE, Cairo, IUl., August 23, 1861. SIR: In the affair of the little steamer W. D. Terry, taken by Captain Stembel, of gunboat Lexington, yesterday morning, at…
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KANAWHA, Camp Piney, November 19, 1861. SIR: In execution of a general plan, of which you were fully advised in my last dispatch, I succeeded [ November…
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIG, San Francisco, November 29, 1861. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. O.: SIR: Since my communication of the 26th instant, nothing of interest…
Washington, D. C. Washington, D. C., December 31, 1861. General HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo.: General McClellan i issick. Are General Buell and yourself in concert? When he moves on Bowling…
Lousiville, January 3, 1862. General H. W. HALLECK, U. $. A. i Commanding Department of Missouri: My DEAR GENERAL: I received your dispatch, and with more delay than I meant…
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, January 3, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commanding Department of Missouri : GENERAL: It is of the: greatest importance that the rebel troops in…
Cairo, January 8, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo.: Your instruetions of the 6th were received this morning and immediate preparations made for carrying them out.” Commodore…
Cairo, January 12, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo.: Before the receipt of your telegram directing delay in the demonstration previously ordered, I had commenced by sending…
Cairo, Ill., January 24, 1862. Sig: Being in temporary command of this district, it becomes my duty to submit the following report of the expedition which left Cairo under. orders…
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CAIRO, Cairo, Ill., January 24, 1862. Sig: Being in temporary command of this district, it becomes my duty to submit the following report of the expedition which…
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, Paducah, Ky., January 27, 1862. SIR: On the 25th instant I briefly reported my return on that day. The distance from Callaway to Aurora is by…
CAIRO CAIRO, January 28, 1862. Maj. Gen. Henry W. HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo. : Commanding General Grant and myself are of opinion that Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, ean…
DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, Camp Fogg, Tenn., February 13, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the engagement of January 19, near Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky:…
Fort Donelson, February 21, 1862. I am now in possession of Clarksville, but will move no force there except General Smithâs division until I hear from General Halleck. There is…
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT WEST TENNESSEE, Fort Donelson, February 21, 1862. I am now in possession of Clarksville, but will move no force there except General Smith’s division until I hear from…
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT WEST TENNESSEE, Fort Donelson, February 22, 1862. GENERAL: The preparations made by the enemy for the eue of this position were very extensive. A complete and accurate survey…
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, EXPED’Y CORPS, Fernandina, Fla., March 13, 1862. GENERAL: Your letters of the 10th and 12th instant were received this evening, through Mr. Boutelle, U. S. Coast Survey,…
MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT, HDQRS. IN THE FIELD, Franklin, Va., May 16, 1862. Srp: I have the honor to inclose you the official reports of BrigadierGenerals Schenck and Milroy concerning the action…
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, May 28, 1862. May 28, 1862—6 a. m. (Received 10.50 a. m.) My troops were not in condition to execute your order otherwise than has been…
Winchester, June 12, 1862. My dispatch has been evidently misunderstood by you. I have never thought of falling back, but am exerting all my power to advance my command night…
[Inclosure D.] June 15, 1862. HEADQUARTERS COLUMN FROM California, Tucson, Arig., June 15, 1862. GENERAL: I have forwarded by another express the originals of the notes numbered 2, which the…
June 18, 1862. June 18, 1862. Major-General HALLECK, Corinth, Miss.: Your dispatch received and directions will be attended to. A guide named Austin left here for Corinth, who knows that…
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, June 18, 1862. June 18, 1862. Major-General HALLECK, Corinth, Miss.: Your dispatch received and directions will be attended to. A guide named Austin left here…
La Grange, Tenn. La Grange, Tenn., June 19, 1862. General HALLECK, Corinth : The expedition sent to Holly Springs is now returning, having scattered all the loose fragments of the…