William Preble Hall
Encyclopedia
William Preble Hall was a United States Army
Brigadier General
who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
for valor in action on October 20, 1879 near the White River, Colorado
. An 1868 graduate of West Point
, he served in the Army until his retirement in 1912. He was an excellent marksman, serving on the Army distinguished marksmanship teams, 1879–1892, winning medals while shooting both carbine and revolver.
. He was appointed to West Point from the state of Missouri, graduating with the class of 1868. His first assignment was with the 19th Infantry
. He then served in the 5th Cavalry, the unit in which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He served principally on Western Frontier duty until the Spanish-American War
. It was during a battle with hostile Indians while in command of a reconnoitering party near a camp on the White River, Colorado
, October 28, 1879, that he was cited for the MOH. Hall went to the rescue of a fellow officer who was surrounded by about 35 warriors. He received the medal on September 18, 1897.
He also served in Puerto Rico
during the War with Spain, 1899 – 1900. Another notable accomplishment was that he was a member of several Army distinguished marksmanship teams, from 1879 – 1892, and won medals on all teams while shooting carbine and revolver. He was appointed Adjutant General of the U.S. Army on February 17, 1912, and retired from active duty on June 11, 1912.
While a colonel and Assistant Adjutant General, Hall authored the book "How to Shoot a Revolver," Kansas City: Hudson-Kimberly, 1901 (Ray Riling
1522). The author's preface is dated December 24, 1895.
Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn
of Kentucky
. They had one daughter who died in childhood, Therese Preble Hall (1894 – 1899). Both his wife and daughter Therese are buried with him in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery
. They had two children live to adulthood, Blackburn Hall, former Major of the Regular Army, of Los Angeles, California
, and Mrs. Percy McCay Vernon, wife of Captain Vernon, Regular Army, of Newark, New Jersey
.
Hall was associated with the International Bible Students Association (IBSA) for several years before his death. In September 1911, the IBSA appointed a "Missions Investigation Committee", chaired by Charles Taze Russell
, to travel to Japan, China, the Philippines, and India in order to make recommendations for future missionary efforts and expenditures, and General Hall was among the seven appointed committeemen. In the April 15, 1912 issue of the Watch Tower
, the following was published above the signatures of "Adj.-Gen'l W. P. Hall" and the other committeemen:
Speaking of the entire committee, Jehovah's Witnesses
' official history says, "Wherever they went they spoke about God's purpose to bring blessings to mankind by means of the Messianic Kingdom. Sometimes their audience was small, but in the Philippines and in India, there were thousands." The Committee presented its report at a March 31, 1912 meeting at the New York Hippodrome
, attended by 5200 and chaired by then-future Watch Tower Society president Joseph F. Rutherford.
Citation:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for valor in action on October 20, 1879 near the White River, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. An 1868 graduate of West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, he served in the Army until his retirement in 1912. He was an excellent marksman, serving on the Army distinguished marksmanship teams, 1879–1892, winning medals while shooting both carbine and revolver.
Early life and career
William was born in Randolph County, MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He was appointed to West Point from the state of Missouri, graduating with the class of 1868. His first assignment was with the 19th Infantry
19th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 19th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment which is assigned to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command, with the assignment of conducting Basic and Advanced Infantry Training.-Civil War:...
. He then served in the 5th Cavalry, the unit in which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He served principally on Western Frontier duty until the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. It was during a battle with hostile Indians while in command of a reconnoitering party near a camp on the White River, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, October 28, 1879, that he was cited for the MOH. Hall went to the rescue of a fellow officer who was surrounded by about 35 warriors. He received the medal on September 18, 1897.
He also served in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
during the War with Spain, 1899 – 1900. Another notable accomplishment was that he was a member of several Army distinguished marksmanship teams, from 1879 – 1892, and won medals on all teams while shooting carbine and revolver. He was appointed Adjutant General of the U.S. Army on February 17, 1912, and retired from active duty on June 11, 1912.
While a colonel and Assistant Adjutant General, Hall authored the book "How to Shoot a Revolver," Kansas City: Hudson-Kimberly, 1901 (Ray Riling
Ray Riling
Raymond "Ray" Riling , a Philadelphia builder and arms collector, was an important arms book collector, dealer, author and publisher from the 1940s into the 1970s....
1522). The author's preface is dated December 24, 1895.
Personal life
He married Ms. Therese Blackburn (1868 – 1943), daughter of SenatorUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn
Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn
Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn was a Democratic Representative and Senator from Kentucky. He was the younger brother of Kentucky governor Luke P. Blackburn. Blackburn, a skilled and spirited orator, was also a prominent trial lawyer known for his skill at swaying juries.He was born near Spring...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. They had one daughter who died in childhood, Therese Preble Hall (1894 – 1899). Both his wife and daughter Therese are buried with him in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. They had two children live to adulthood, Blackburn Hall, former Major of the Regular Army, of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and Mrs. Percy McCay Vernon, wife of Captain Vernon, Regular Army, of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
Hall was associated with the International Bible Students Association (IBSA) for several years before his death. In September 1911, the IBSA appointed a "Missions Investigation Committee", chaired by Charles Taze Russell
Charles Taze Russell
Charles Taze Russell , or Pastor Russell, was a prominent early 20th century Christian restorationist minister from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and founder of what is now known as the Bible Student movement, from which Jehovah's Witnesses and numerous independent Bible Student groups emerged...
, to travel to Japan, China, the Philippines, and India in order to make recommendations for future missionary efforts and expenditures, and General Hall was among the seven appointed committeemen. In the April 15, 1912 issue of the Watch Tower
The Watchtower
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom is an illustrated religious magazine, published semi-monthly in 194 languages by Jehovah's Witnesses via the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and printed in various branch offices around the world...
, the following was published above the signatures of "Adj.-Gen'l W. P. Hall" and the other committeemen:
"The gentlemen who have served on this Committee are all earnest Bible StudentsBible StudentsBible Students refers to followers of the Bible Student movement and a number of related religious communities:* Dawn Bible Students Association* Free Bible Students* Jehovah's Witnesses* Laymen's Home Missionary Movement...
. Their zeal in the matter of this investigation may be judged from the fact that they not only paid their own expenses, but additionally defrayed Pastor Russell's and all secretarial expenses. These gentlemen have long been deeply interested in the propagation of the Gospel, both at home and abroad."
Speaking of the entire committee, Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
' official history says, "Wherever they went they spoke about God's purpose to bring blessings to mankind by means of the Messianic Kingdom. Sometimes their audience was small, but in the Philippines and in India, there were thousands." The Committee presented its report at a March 31, 1912 meeting at the New York Hippodrome
New York Hippodrome
The Hippodrome Theatre, also called the New York Hippodrome, was a theatre in New York City from 1905 to 1939, located on Sixth Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. It was called the world's largest theatre by its builders and had a seating capacity of...
, attended by 5200 and chaired by then-future Watch Tower Society president Joseph F. Rutherford.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Camp on White River, Colo., 20 October 1879. Entered service at: Huntsville, Mo. Birth: Randolph County, Mo. Date of issue: 18 September 1897.Citation:
With a reconnoitering party of 3 men, was attacked by 35 Indians and several times exposed himself to draw the fire of the enemy, giving his small party opportunity to reply with much effect."
See also
- List of Adjutant Generals of the U.S. Army
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
- List of United States Military Academy alumni (Medal of Honor)