Henry
Wallen attended the U.S. Military Academy from July 1, 1836,
to July 1, 1840, when he was graduated and promoted in the
Army to Bvt. Second Lieut., 3d Infantry, July 1, 1840.
Promoted to Second Lieut., 4th Artillery, on Oct. 4, 1840,
Wallen served: in the Florida War, 1840-42; in garrison
at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1842-44; on frontier duty at
Natchitoches, La. (Camp Salubrity), 1844-45; and in Military
Occupation of Texas, 1845-46. In the War with Mexico
he was engaged in the Battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846,
where he was wounded, and the Battle of Resaca-de-la-Palma,
May 9, 1846. He was promoted First Lieut., 4th Infantry,
on Sep. 9, 1846.
After recruiting service
during 1846-47; Wallen again was engaged in the War with
Mexico during 1848. After the war, he was posted on
Commissary duty at East Pascagoula, Mis., 1848, and on frontier
duty at Detroit, Mich, 1848-50. From Feb. 1, 1849,
to Jan. 31, 1850 he served as Adjutant, 4th Infantry, and
was promoted to Captain, 4th Infantry, on Jan. 31, 1850.
Wallen was in garrison
at Plattsburg, N. Y. during 1850-52, as well as a time at
Ft. Columbus, N.Y.. Heading west with his regiment,
Wallen was on frontier duty at Benicia, Cal., 1852; Ft.
Vancouver, Wash., 1852-53; Ft. Dalles, Or., 1853; Ft. Vancouver,
Wash., 1853-55; Yakima Expedition, 1855; and Ft. Vancouver,
Wash., 1856-57; on Recruiting service, 1858; on frontier
duty at Ft. Cascades, Wash., 1858-59, He was in command
of and exploring expedition to Salt Lake, Utah, 1859.
During 1859-60, he was back in Ft. Vancouver, Wash., and
Ft. Cascades, Wash., 1860.
For a part of 1850,
Wallen was in Washington, DC, on detached service 1860,
but returned to frontier duty at Ft. Cascades, Wash., 1860-61.
He would join the 4th US in its journey back East at the
start of the Civil War, moving through Camp Sumner, near
San Francisco, and on detached service to the Isthmus of
Panama. Wallen was promoted Major, 7th Infantry, on
Nov. 25, 1861. During the Civil War, he served in
operations in new Mexico from June 1862- June 1864, commanding
a battalion and serving as Acting Asst. Inspector-General
of the Department of New Mexico. From June 1864 - May 1865,
Wallen was in command of a regiment at Ft. Schuyler, N.Y.
Wallen was granted
a Brevet Lieut.-Colonel, and Bvt. Colonel on Feb. 23, 1865,
for Meritorious Services Rendered by Him in New Mexico During
the Rebellion and a Brevet Brig.-General, U. S. Army on
Mar. 13, 1865, for Faithful and Meritorious Services During
the Rebellion)
Wallen commanded the
1st Infantry at St. Augustine, Fla., May to Oct., 1865;
and was in garrison at San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 15, 1865,
to Jan., 1866; in command of the District of the Gila, Apr.
28 to June 10, 1866, and of the District of Arizona, June
10 to Aug. 11, 1866. He was promoted to Lieut.-Colonel,
14th Infantry, on July 30, 1865
Wallen served: on sick
leave of absence, Aug. 11 to Oct. 24, 1866; in waiting orders
and on leave of absence, Oct. 24, 1866, to Mar. 1, 1867.
He took command of the Ft. Columbus Recruiting depot, N.Y.,
from Mar. 6, 1867, to May 5, 1869. From May to Oct.,
1869; he was assigned on Special Duty at Headquarters
of the Department of the East, Oct. 16, 1869, to Aug. 18,
1870. Wallen was in command of 18th Infantry, headquarters
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 25 to Nov. 3, 1870; and served on duty
at headquarters, Department of the East, from Nov., 1870,
to Jan. 27, 1871, and with regiment, Feb. 3, 1871, to July
5, 1872; on Courts Martial, 1871-72; on Yellowstone Expedition,
July 26 to Oct. 18, 1872, -- and at Omaha Barracks, Nebraska,
to Nov. 20, 1872; on leave of absence to Dec. 23, 1872;
commanding battalion of regiment to Mar. 2, 1873, during
which time he was promoted to Colonel of the 2d Infantry
on Feb. 19, 1873. He commanded the 2nd US from Dec.
1, 1873, to Jan. 29, 1874.
He retired from active
service on Feb. 18, 1871, for disability contracted in the
Line of Duty. Henry Wallen died on Dec. 2, 1886, at
New York city, aged 68.
