The Forgotten Hero: Major Granville Haller’s Fight Against Military Perjury
After decades of distinguished service in the Mexican-American and Indian Wars, a decorated officer was summarily stripped of his rank based on a peer’s 'dreamed' accusation of disloyalty.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Granville O. Haller entered the army as a second lieutenant in 1839. He saw active service in the Florida war and the occupation of Texas. During the Mexican-American War, he participated in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, and the valley of Mexico. At El Molino del Rey, he was part of the storming party and received a brevet commission for gallant conduct. At the battle of Chapultepec, he was commissioned major by brevet. In 1853, he was stationed at Fort Dalles in Oregon Territory and participated in the Oregon Indian War of 1855-56, where he fought a three-day battle near the Yakima River against a superior force. By 1861, he was serving as a major and assistant inspector general on the staff of Gen. Andrew Porter. On July 25, 1863, without trial or notice, he was dismissed from the service by the Secretary of War. The dismissal was based on a deposition by Commander Clark H. Wells, who charged Haller with 'disloyal sentiments.' Major Charles J. Whiting, present at the alleged conversation, denied under oath that such language was used. Later, Gen. James Tilton testified that Commander Wells admitted to him it was possible he had merely 'dreamed' the disloyal utterances. After years of requesting a court of inquiry to vindicate his honor, the House Committee on Military Affairs has finally recommended that a resolution pass to grant him the trial he was denied.
“Law be hanged! Don’t you know, Estabrook, that this is not a question of law, but of politics. We have the power and intend to use it.”
Haller’s fight against a career-ending smear echoes modern concerns about due process and the vulnerability of public servants to opaque, retaliatory administrative decisions. The struggle to clear one's name against 'fake news' or false reports remains as relevant in our political climate as it was during the Civil War era.
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