in that role, henry w. halleck was involved in one way or another with every major decision that was made in the american civil war, every major battlefield decision. he advised. he cajoled, he encouraged, he rejoiced, or he picked up the pieces. when grant assumed overall command in 1864, halleck stayed on. he became part of the military theme. he was then that was then called the chief of staff. it is not what we call it today, but he was the chief of staff. he was like a general to grant. he took the administrative burdens off grant's shoulders. he forged that military machine that finally overwhelmed the confederate forces. in short, i think it's fair to say that halleck played a major role both militarily and politically in the outcome of the civil war. he was a leading general, had an important influence on the nation's political leaders, no other military man was as central to the civil war as was henry w. "old brains" halleck. that's nice. who cares? that is the usual attitude. that's the usual response tha