US Congressman, Civil War Union Army Officer. He was elected to represent New Jersey as At-Large in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1837 to 1839, and 1841 to 1843. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a regiment of cavalry that was initially rejected by the state of New Jersey, which was mistrustful of volunteer cavalry and artillery units raised without specific authorization. Designated "Halsted's Horse" by the Federal Government (which was persuaded to accept the regiment) William Halsted was commissioned its Colonel and commander, and contributed to severe lack of discipline and lack of military acumen of the regiment, due to his method of appointing cronies and incompetent officers to staff the unit. When the undisciplined regiment arrived in Washington, DC, Colonel Halsted intrigued in political circles, and virtually ignored his commanding officer duties - habits that got him court-martialed for misuse of funds. He also got into clashes with one of his Lieutenant Colonels - Joseph Karge, who was a tough ex-Prussian military officer that worked to instill proper discipline in the unit, and to weed out the incompetent officers. William Halsted saw this as a threat, and had Karge arrested on charges that were deemed frivolous by brigade commander General Samuel Heintzleman and Army commander General George B. McClellan. Halsted was eventually dismissed in February 1862, and his regiment was given to Colonel Percy Windham, a soldier of fortune with much military experience. Teamed with Lieutenant Colonel Karge, the two developed William Halsted's regiment, which was then accepted by the state of New Jersey and re-designated as the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry, into a stellar fighting force that would go on to participate in nearly every cavalry action of the Army of the Potomac, and would garner 14 Congressional Medals of Honor.
US Congressman, Civil War Union Army Officer. He was elected to represent New Jersey as At-Large in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1837 to 1839, and 1841 to 1843. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a regiment of cavalry that was initially rejected by the state of New Jersey, which was mistrustful of volunteer cavalry and artillery units raised without specific authorization. Designated "Halsted's Horse" by the Federal Government (which was persuaded to accept the regiment) William Halsted was commissioned its Colonel and commander, and contributed to severe lack of discipline and lack of military acumen of the regiment, due to his method of appointing cronies and incompetent officers to staff the unit. When the undisciplined regiment arrived in Washington, DC, Colonel Halsted intrigued in political circles, and virtually ignored his commanding officer duties - habits that got him court-martialed for misuse of funds. He also got into clashes with one of his Lieutenant Colonels - Joseph Karge, who was a tough ex-Prussian military officer that worked to instill proper discipline in the unit, and to weed out the incompetent officers. William Halsted saw this as a threat, and had Karge arrested on charges that were deemed frivolous by brigade commander General Samuel Heintzleman and Army commander General George B. McClellan. Halsted was eventually dismissed in February 1862, and his regiment was given to Colonel Percy Windham, a soldier of fortune with much military experience. Teamed with Lieutenant Colonel Karge, the two developed William Halsted's regiment, which was then accepted by the state of New Jersey and re-designated as the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry, into a stellar fighting force that would go on to participate in nearly every cavalry action of the Army of the Potomac, and would garner 14 Congressional Medals of Honor.
Bio by: RPD2
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