# Henry W. Halleck — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant character guide > Henry W. Halleck in Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Halleck, General Halleck, Major-General H. W. Halleck, Major-General Halleck, General H. W. Halleck **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot The cautious general-in-chief who becomes Grant's chief of staff, and whose single well-timed suggestion — 'How would Sheridan do?' — changes the cavalry's fortunes. ## Who they are Halleck occupies the awkward position of a senior commander whose caution Grant finds frustrating, yet whose institutional knowledge and quiet competence make him useful once Grant takes overall command. He sits in on Grant's interviews with Lincoln and, almost offhandedly, supplies the name that solves the cavalry problem. His presence in the memoir is a study in how the war's machinery depended on men who were neither heroes nor villains but simply useful at the right moment. ## In the story ### [Resignation—Private Life—Life at Galena—The Coming Crisis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xvi) Not mentioned in excerpts. ### [General Halleck in Command—Commanding the District of Cairo—Movement on Fort Henry—Capture of Fort Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxi) Supersedes Fremont as commander of the Department of the Missouri; initially dismissive of Grant's plan but later authorizes the move on Fort Henry. ### [Investment of Fort Donelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxii) Department commander; does not approve or disapprove of Grant's move on Donelson but sends reinforcements and intrenching tools. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxiii) Department commander; telegraphed misleading reports about Grant; ordered Grant to turn over command; later exonerated Grant. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxv) Grant's superior; assumed command at Pittsburg Landing after Shiloh and ignored Grant. ### [Halleck Assumes Command in the Field—The Advance Upon Corinth—Occupation of Corinth—The Army Separated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxvi) Assumes command in the field at Pittsburg Landing, reorganizes the army into wings, and directs the cautious siege of Corinth. He ignores Grant's authority and orders slow, entrenched advances. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxvii) Appointed general-in-chief and ordered to Washington; uncommunicative with Grant before departing. ### [The Campaign Against Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxx) General-in-chief; sends a dispatch confirming Grant's command over all troops in his department. ### [The Vicksburg Campaign: Running the Batteries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxii) General-in-Chief; Grant acknowledges Halleck's support during the campaign. ### [Capture of Port Gibson — Grierson's Raid — Occupation of Grand Gulf — Movement Up the Big Black — Battle of Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxiv) Grant anticipates Halleck's caution would disapprove of the independent campaign. ### [Movement Against Jackson—Fall of Jackson—Intercepting the Enemy—Battle of Champion's Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxv) Grant's superior; Grant informs him of the plan to attack Jackson. ### [Battle of Black River Bridge—Crossing the Big Black—Investment of Vicksburg—Assaulting the Works](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxvi) Union general-in-chief; his order to Grant to return to Grand Gulf arrives too late. ### [Siege of Vicksburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxvii) General-in-chief who appreciates the situation and forwards reinforcements without being asked. ### [Retrospect of the Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxxix) Sends dispatches regarding prisoners and orders for troop movements; expresses concern over Chattanooga. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xliii) Chief of Staff who telegraphed congratulations and expressed concern for Burnside. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlvi) Cautions Grant against sharing his plans with the President. ### [Commencement of the Grand Campaign—General Butler’s Position—Sheridan’s First Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlviii) Reports Sigel's retreat to Grant. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lii) Chief of Staff, recipient of Grant's letter. ### [Chapter LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lvii) Informs Grant of draft resistance scheme and suggests drawing troops from the field; involved in command disputes. ### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lviii) Mentioned as someone whose caution might interfere with Grant's orders to Sheridan. ### [The End of the War — The March to Washington — One of Lincoln’s Anecdotes — Grand Review at Washington — Characteristics of Lincoln and Stanton — Estimate of the Different Corps Commanders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxx) Sent to command Virginia; issues orders countermanding Sherman's authority, causing indignation. ### [Maps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/maps) Halleck is mentioned in the context of map-based strategic planning, particularly during the early stages of the war when he commanded in the West. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/endnotes) Recipient of several dispatches from Grant regarding the progress of the campaign. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/henry_w_halleck - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters