★ Harney, William Selby

William Selby Harney​

Born: August 27, 1800

Birthplace: Haysboro, Tennessee

Father: Major Thomas Harney 1762 – 1813

Mother: Margaret Peggy Hudson 1769 – 1833

Wife: Mary Elizabeth Cromwell 1826 – 1907

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Children:

John Mullanphy Harney 1842 – 1905​

(Buried: Cavalry Cemetery and Mausoleum, St. Louis, Missouri)​

Occupation after War:

2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Infantry Regiment​

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Helped force Pirate Jean Laffite to move his operations from Louisiana​

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Served on the expedition of Colonel Henry Atkinson, Upper Missouri​

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Served in the Black Hawk War against Sauk, and Fox Tribes​

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Assistant Inspector on General Zachary Taylor's Staff​

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Major in United States Army, Paymaster Corps​

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1834: Charged with beating a female slave to death with his cane​

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1835: Acquitted by the Court on March 24th​​

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Served in the Second Seminole War, in Florida​

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Colonel of United States Army, 2nd​ Dragoons in Mexican War​

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Brevetted Brigadier General for Gallantry, at Battle of Cerro Gordo​

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1849: United States Army, Commander of Department Number Five​

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1851: United States Army, Commander of Department Number Five​

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Briefly Commanded troops during the Utah Expedition​

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Commander of U.S. Army Troops during Bleeding Kansas​

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United States Army, Commander of Department of Oregon​

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1858 – 1863: Brigadier General in the United States Army​

Civil War Career:

United States Army, Commander of Department of the West​

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1861: Horrified by the Camp Jackson Affair​

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1861: Captured by the Confederate Army at Harper's Ferry​

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1861: Turned down offer to be a Commander in Confederate Army​

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1861 – 1863: Served in Washington, D.C. in Administrative Positions​

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1863: Retired from United States Army​

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1865: Brevetted Major General for his distinguished career in Army​

Occupation after War:

United States Indian Peace Commissioner​

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1865: He helped secure the Little Arkansas Treaty​

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1867: Helped secure the Medicine Lodge Treaty​

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1868: Helped Secure the Fort Laramie Treaty​

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Temporary Assignment, establish three Sioux Agencies, Missouri River​

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Was a friend of Former Confederate President Jefferson Davis​

Died: May 9, 1889

Place of Death: Orlando, Florida

Age at time of Death: 88 years old

Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

 

[Pollaco]

At the beginning of the war the US Army only had 4 general officers, Winfield Scott, John Wool, David Twiggs and William Harney.

 

[Pollaco]

Although captured at Harper's Ferry he was released because he was a Tennessean and allowed to continue on to Washington.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General William S. Harney! Salutes remembering General Harney on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

That Indian Peace Commission that he was part of was originally composed of 4 civilians, then 3 military officers were later added. Plus this commission was generally seen as a failure.The military leaders appear to be Gen. Alfred Terry, Gen. William Sherman and Gen. Christopher Augur.I have found a picture with the names Terry, Harney, Sherman, Taylor, Samuel Tappan, Gen. Augur. There are 7th and 8th members, John Henderson and John Sanborn, listed elsewhere. One of these was not an original member.

 

[Pollaco]

The Battle of Ash Hollow in the First Sioux War was also known as the Battle of Blue Water Creek or the "Harney Massacre". It was fought on September 2 and 3 of 1855 in present day Nebraska. Among the participants was Gouverneur K. Warren. The Sioux called Harney the "Butcher" for the battle, the "Hornet" for invading their territory and the "Big Chief who Swears" for the treaty he forced on them.

 

[archieclement]

The Battle of Ash Hollow in the First Sioux War was also known as the Battle of Blue Water Creek or the "Harney Massacre". It was fought on September 2 and 3 of 1855 in presrnt day Nebraska. Among the participants was Gouverneur K. Warren. The Sioux called Harney the "Butcher" for the battle, the "Hornet" for invading their territory and the "Big Chief who Swears" for the treaty he forced on them.

Guess they won in the end, as they got Harney Peak renamed Black Elk peak in 2016 after someone who helped wipe out Custer and the 7th Cav............ And Crazy Horse sculpted on mountain few miles away.

 

[Pollaco]

At the beginning of the war he was removed from Departmental command because there were doubts about "political stance". A native Tennessean he might have not been loyal to the Union. He had been reinstated but Washington authorities were still leery of him. He signed a pact with Sterling Price that the U.S. troops would not act against the Missouri State Guard as long as no action was against federal authorities.He was again removed and not given another command or post. This led to his retirement on August 1,1863.

 

[Luke Freet]

Harney was on many levels one of the most despicable officers in US history. Beating one of his own slaves to death; he was responsible for the Ash Hollow Massacre; attempted to start a war with Britain over San Juan Island in British Columbia. Of course, his command didn't last long, his role in command in Missouri being surplanted first by the enterprising Nathaniel Lyon, then officially replaced by Halleck and Fremantle.

 

[ErnieMac]

It was Harney who ordered then Captain George Pickett to occupy San Juan Island (Washington Territory) triggering the so-called Pig War in 1859. At the time the Southern states seceded in 1860 - 1861 Harney, at age 60, was the youngest of the four general officers serving in the Regular Army at the time.