William S. Harney
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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.
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[edit] 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 coast of Spain. 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 commanded 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. For his merciless handling of the battle he was known among the Sioux as "the Butcher" and "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.
[edit] 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 National Guardsmen 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 St. Louis massacre. The incident so enraged the state that the members of the General Assembly both North and South voted the next day to authorize the state's national guard (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 of the Missouri State Guard General Sterling Price (who at the time was actually pro-Union) that Missouri could remain neutral (called the Price-Harney Truce). Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson (who had favored succession) swore allegiance to the Union in the deal.
Politically-connected Lyon was not happy with the deal and Harney was called to the Washington, DC 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 his command and replaced by Lyon who was to drive the elected governor Claiborne Jackson from office in a series of battles before being killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek while pursuing the governor. He 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.
[edit] 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".
[edit] War Crimes
During both the 'Indian Wars' and the Mexican-American War, Harney was known to be a particularly brutal officer and participated in war crimes. During the Indian wars, Harney was accused of raping Indian girls at night and then having them hung in the morning. He was also subsequently indicted in a civilian court in St. Louis Missouri for beating a female slave to death. In the Mexican-American war, because of his reputation for brutality, in violation of the articles of war, he was ordered to oversee the execution of 30 Irishmen who had switched to the Mexican side in part because of the brutality of the American occupation of Mexico (which was known to have regularly engaged in rape, murder, theft, and the desecration of Catholic religious sites) as well as their own experience with American anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudice. [1]
[edit] Home
Harney's home in Sullivan, Missouri is privately owned by an organization that is seeking its restoration.
[edit] Namesakes
Harney County, Oregon is named for the general. Harney Peak is named for the general. Harney Gym located on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is also named for the general.
