General William S. Harney: Prince of DragoonsBetween the War of 1812 and the Civil War, General William S. Harney became one of the best-known military figures in America. In a career aided by Andrew Jackson and the concept of an expansible army, Harney saw duty in virtually every part of the country and participated in most of the key military episodes of his time. He chased remnants of Lafitte pirates in Louisiana, campaigned with Abraham Lincoln and Zachary Taylor during the Black Hawk War, developed Vietnam-style riverine tactics that ended the Second Seminole War, and led Winfield Scott's cavalry in the Mexican War. In the 1850s Harney devised the army's largest and most successful pre?Civil War campaign against Plains Indians, commanded troops charged with upholding federal authority in Kansas and Utah, and almost provoked hostilities with Great Britain in the Pacific Northwest. Removed from command amid false charges of disloyalty during the Missouri secession crisis, he returned as a leading member of the Indian Peace Commission of 1867?68. ø Harney was bold, ambitious, and innovative, but also impulsive, vindictive, and violent. His career illustrates the nineteenth-century army's role in implementing federal policy, highlights its limited resources compared to its responsibilities, and illuminates key aspects of its organizational structure, the behavior of its officers, and its impact on personal lives. |
Contents
Son of Tennessee Pioneers | 7 |
A Time for Learning | 14 |
Boatman Woodsman Indian Fighter | 31 |
That Infernal Pay Department | 51 |
War to the Rope in Florida | 63 |
The Road to Mexico City | 88 |
Prince of Dragoons in Texas | 113 |
Great White Chief on the Plains | 128 |
Civil Unrest in Kansas and Utah | 165 |
The Pacific Northwest No Ordinary Sphere | 188 |
Loyal Soldier in Missouri | 221 |
Our Old Friend as Peace Commissioner | 248 |
A Time for Reflection | 280 |
NOTES | 293 |
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY | 355 |
371 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
35 Cong 40 Cong Adjutant AGO:LR American April army army's ASP:MA Atkinson August Black Hawk Black Hawk War Blair British Brulé camp Camp Jackson Affair Capt command commissioners companies Creek Davis December Department DeSmet expedition February federal Florida Floyd Fort Kearny Fort Laramie Fort Leavenworth Fort Pierre frontier governor Harney to Cooper Harney to Thomas Harney's Indian Affairs Infantry Jackson January Jesup John July June Kansas Kearny Laramie Leavenworth Louis Lyon March ment Mexican Mexico miles military Missouri November October officers Oklahoma Press Oregon peace Pierre-Jean DeSmet Platte Pleasonton President Reavis regiment River roll San Juan Island Scott Second Dragoons Second Seminole War sent September serial sess Sherman Sioux soldiers South Special Order Stephen Watts Kearny Taylor territory Texas Towson treaty tribes troops Twiggs United Univ USACC Utah volunteers Walker War Department Washington West whites William