Military officer; born in
Louisiana in 1798; entered the army while quite young; was in the
Black Hawk War; and was made lieutenant-colonel of dragoons in 1836. Ten years later he was colonel.
He served in the
Florida, or
Seminole, War (q. v.), and in the war with
Mexico.
In 1848 he was brevetted brigadier-general for his services in the battle of
Cerro Gordo (q. v.). He was promoted to brigadiergeneral in 1858, and placed in command of the Department of Oregon; and in July. 1859, took possession of the island of
San Juan, near
Vancouver, which
England claimed to be a part of
British Columbia, and which the
United States soon afterwards evacuated.
Harney then commanded the Department of the West; and in April. 1861, while on his way to
Washington, he was arrested by the
Confederates at
Harper's Ferry, Va., and taken to
Richmond.
He was soon released, and, on returning to
St. Louis, issued proclamations warning the people of
Missouri of the dangers of secession.
In consequence of an unauthorized truce with
Price, the
Confederate leader.
Harney was relieved of his command.
He retired in August, 1863; was brevetted major-general, United States army, in March, 1865; and was a member of the Indian Commission in 1867.
He died in
Orlando, Fla.. May 9. 1889.