Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Harrison Harris, (CSA)

http://mdah.state.ms.us/oldcap/hall-of-fame.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_H._Harris

Brig. Gen. Nathaniel H. Harris (b. 1834, d. 1900) The onetime captain of the Warren Rifles, Nathaniel Harrison Harris rose to command a brigade in the Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia by the end of the Civil War.

Born in Natchez, Mississippi, Aug. 22, 1834, Harris graduated in law from the University of Louisiana (now Tulane) and began his practice in Vicksburg. With war coming, he organized the Warren Rifles and that unit was taken into state service May 8, 1861. Less than a month later, the Warren Rifles became Co. C of the 19th Mississippi Infantry Regiment in Confederate service.

Harris started the war as the company’s captain and went with his regiment to Virginia. Early in the war, the unit was stationed in garrison duty on the Virginia peninsula. Harris was promoted to major March 5, 1862. At the unit’s first major action, the Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862, Harris earned praise for his conduct during the fight, a Federal victory. Harris continued to serve as a senior officer of the 19th Mississippi through the Seven Days Campaign (June 25-July 1, 1862), in which Gen. Lee pushed McClellan’s force away from Richmond. He fought at the Confederate victory at Second Manassas (Bull Run) Aug. 29-30, 1862, and the defeat at Sharpsburg (Antietam) Sept. 17, 1862. When the army returned from Maryland, Harris was promoted to lieutenant colonel. On April 2, 1863, Harris was promoted again and became colonel of the 19th Mississippi. He led the regiment in the victory at Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863, and the bitter defeat at Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863.

In reorganization of the army, Harris was promoted to brigadier general Jan. 20, 1864, and took charge of a brigade in Gen. William Mahone’s division of the Third Corps. At Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864, Harris delivered a key counterattack at the “Mule Shoe” which halted a Federal breakthrough. In action at Globe Tavern (Weldon Railroad), Aug. 21, 1864, part of the Petersburg Campaign, the brigade lost half of its men in a costly fight. The Federals held and cut the railroad line there. Later in the campaign, Harris was commended in defense of Batteries Gregg and Whitworth.

In March of 1865, Harris was in command of inner defenses of Richmond. He surrendered with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox April 12, 1865.

Following the war, Harris returned to Vicksburg and resumed his law practice. When the Mississippi Valley & Ship Island Railroad reorganized, he became that company’s president. But he didn’t stay in Mississippi. For a time, he was a registrar of the U.S. Land Office in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1890, he moved to California, where he became successful in business along with his partner, John Hays Hammond.

While on a business trip, Harris died in Malvern, England, Aug. 23, 1900. A lifelong bachelor, Harris’ remains were cremated with the ashes sent to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3305

Nathaniel Harrison Harris was born on August 22, 1834 at Natchez, Mississippi. Harris graduated from the University of Louisiana (now Tulane University) Law School and practiced law in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He never married.

In early 1861, Harris organized a Mississippi militia company called the "Warren Rifles" and was captain of the company on April 25, 1861. On June 1, 1861, the company became Company C of the 19th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. The regiment soon was sent to Virginia, but did not engage in the First Battle of Bull Run or other significant action until the Battle of Williamsburg in the Peninsula Campaign. Harris was promoted to major on March 5, 1862. His regiment went on to fight in the Battle of Seven Pines and the Seven Days Battles. Harris was wounded at Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Glendale (Frayser's Farm) on June 30, 1862 and the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862. After the Antietam Campaign, Harris was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Harris was promoted to colonel and assumed command of the regiment on April 2, 1863. He led the regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg. Harris assumed command of Brigadier General Carnot Posey's brigade after Posey was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bristoe Station. Harris was promoted to brigadier general on January 20, 1864. His brigade was assigned to Major General Richard H. Anderson's division, then Major General William Mahone's division in III Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Harris's brigade delivered a powerful counterattack in the "Mule Shoe" salient at the Battle of Spotsylvania. He performed distinguished service during the Siege of Petersburg. At the Battle of Globe Tavern, August 21, 1864, over half of Harris's brigade were casualties. In late 1864 and early 1865, Harris's brigade fought along the Weldon Railroad. Harris again was especially distinguished at the Battles of Fort Gregg and Whitworth at the end of the siege. In March 1865, Harris commanded the inner defenses of Richmond, Virginia.

Harris was paroled at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865, where he was in command of Mahone's division and was pardoned on October 19, 1865.

After the war, Harris resumed his law practice at Vicksburg, Mississippi. He became president of the reorganized Mississippi Valley and Ship Island Railroad. For a time, he was register of the U.S. Land Office in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1890, Harris moved to California, where he became a successful businessman in partnership with mining engineer, John Hays Hammond.

Nathaniel Harrison Harris died August 23, 1900 in Malvern, Worcestershire, England while on a business trip. As he requested, his remains were cremated. The remains were buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Harris, Nathaniel H. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 19th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry SIDE: Confederacy COMPANY: C
SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Captain SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Captain ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M232 ROLL 17 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: none