Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/69

1839. In 1845 he was on a tour of examination of public works in Europe, and during his absence was promoted to a 1st lieutenancy. On his return to the United States, the committee of the Lowell institute, Boston. Mass., attracted by Halleck's able report on " Coast Defence " (published by con- gress), invited him to deliver twelve lectures on the science of war. These he published in a volume, with an introductory chapter on the justifiableness of war, under the title of " Elements of Military Art and Science " (New York, 1846 ; 2d ed., with the addition of much valuable matter, including notes on the Mexican and Crimean wars, 1861). This popular compendium, then the best in our language, was much used by students of the mili- tary profession, and during the civil war became a manual for officers of the army, particu- larly for volun- teers. At the beginning of the Mexican war Lieut. Halleck was detailed as engineer for military opera- tions on the Pacific coast, and sailed with Capt.

Tompkins's artillery command

in the transport " Lexington," which, after a seven- months' voyage around Cape Horn, reached her destination at Monterey, Cal. During this long and tedious passage he undertook a translation from the French of Baron Jomini's "Vie politique et rnili- taire de Napoleon," which, with the aid of a friend, he revised and published with an atlas (4 vols., 8vo, New York, 1864). After partially fortifying Mon- terey as a port of refuge for our Pacific fleet and a base for incursions into California, Lieut. Halleck took an active part in affairs both civil and military. As secretary of state under the military govern- ments of Gen. Richard B. Mason and Gen. James W. Riley, he displayed great energy and high admin- istrative qualities. As a military engineer he ac- companied several expeditions, particularly that of Col. Burton, into Lower Calif ornia, and participated in several actions. Besides his engineer duties, he Serformed those of aide-de-camp to Com. Shubriek uring the naval and military operations on the Pacific coast, including the capture of Mazatlan, of which for a time Halleck was lieutenant-governor. For these services he was brevetted captain, to date from 1 May, 1847. After the termination of hostilities and the acquisition of California by the United States, a substantial government became necessary. Gen. Riley, in military command of the territory, called a convention to meet at Mon- terey, 1 Sept., 1849, to frame a state constitution. This convention, after six weeks' consideration, agreed upon a constitution, which was adopted by the people ; and by act of congress, 9 Sept., 1850, California was admitted to the Union. In all of these transactions Halleck was the central figure, on whose brow " deliberation sat and public care." As the real head of Riley's military government. he initiated the movement of state organization, pressed it with vigor, and was a member of the committee that drafted the constitution, of which instrument he was substantially the author. He remained as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Riley, and from 21 Dec.. 1852, was inspector and engineer of light-houses, and from 11 April, 1853, a mem- ber of the board of engineers for fortifications on the. Pacific coast, being promoted captain of engi- neers, 1 July, 1853. All these places he held till his resignation from the military service, 1 Aug., 1854. After leaving the army, Halleck devoted himself to the practice of law in a firm of which for some time he had been a member, and continued as director-general of the New Almaden quicksilver mine, an office he had held since 1850. Notwith- standing all these duties, he found time for study and to prepare several works, including " A Collec- tion of Mining Laws of Spain and Mexico " (1859) ; a translation of " De Fooz on the Law of Mines, with Introductory Remarks " (1860) ; and a treatise on "International Law, or Rules regulating the Intercourse of States in Peace and War " (1861). The last-named work he subsequently condensed to adapt it for the use of schools and colleges (Phila- delphia, 1866). He was also, in 1855, president of the Pacific and Atlantic railroad from San Fran- cisco to San Jose, Cal., and major-general of Cali- fornia militia in 1860-'l. Union college gave him the degree of A. M. in 1843, and that of LL. D. in 1862. In 1848 he was appointed professor of en- gineering in the Lawrence scientific school of Har- vard university, but declined the honor. At the beginning of the civil war he was at the head of the most prominent law firm in San Francisco, with large interests and much valuable proper- ty in California, and living in affluence; but he at once tendered his services in defence of the Union. Gen. Winfield Scott, knowing his worth, immediately and strongly urged upon President Lincoln his being commissioned with the highest grade in the regular army, and accordingly he was appointed a major-general, to date from 19 Aug., 1861. He went without delay to Washing- ton, was ordered to St. Louis, and on 18 Nov., 1861, took command of the Department of the Missouri, embracing the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, and western Kentucky. Around him was a chaos of insubordination, inefficiency, and peculation, requiring the prompt, energetic, and ceaseless exercise of his iron will, military knowledge, and administrative powers. The scat- tered forces of his command were a medley of almost every nationality. Missouri and Kentucky were practically but a border screen to cover the operations of the seceding south ; and even his headquarters at St. Louis, fortified at exorbitant cost and in violation of all true engineering prin- ciples, neither protected the city from insurrection within nor from besiegers without. Hardly had Halleck assumed command when he began to crush out abuses. Fraudulent contracts were annulled : useless stipendiaries were dismissed ; a colossal staff hierarchy, with more titles than brains, was disbanded ; composite organizations were pruned to simple uniformity ; the construction of fantastic fortifications was suspended : and in a few weeks order reigned in Missouri. With like vigor he dealt blow after blow upon all who, under the mask of citizens, abetted secession. But while from head- quarters thus energetically dealing with the seces- sionists at home, he did not neglect those in arms, over whom, by his admirable strategic combina- tions, he quickly secured success after success, till, in less than six weeks, a clean sweep had been made of the entire country between the Missouri and Osage rivers ; and Gen. Sterling Price, cut off from all supplies and recruits from northern Missouri, to which he had been moving, was in full retreat for Arkansas. Halleck now turned his attention to