James Brooke Harper

Widowed by time of 1880 census (remarried 3/16/1881). Occupation listed as second hand furniture seller (1880), furniture dealer (1881 marriage record) and "expressman" (1900). Another census (1860) listed his occupation as cabinet maker. Lived in Reading, PA (725 Chestnut Street). Address of furniture store was 812 Penn Street, Reading.

First lieutenant in 128th Pennsylvania Regiment Company I during Civil War: http://www.pacivilwar.com/cwpa128i.html

http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/128th/128thcoi.html

Mustered into service August 17, 1862. Mustered out with company on May 19, 1863.

128th PA Regiment Organization, Service & Battles:

Organization •Organized at Harrisburg August, 1862. Service & Battles - 1862

•Left State for Washington, D.C., August 16, and duty there till September 6. •Moved to Frederick, Md., September 6-14. •Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. •Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. •At Sandy Hook and Maryland Heights September 22 to December 10. •Moved to Fairfax Station, Va., December 10-14. Service & Battles - 1863

•Duty there till January 19, 1863. •Moved to Stafford Court House January 19-23, •And duty there till April 27. •Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. •Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. •Mustered out May 19, 1863. •Lost 2 Officers and 31 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 26 Enlisted men by disease. Total 59.

Author of at least one play: Our flag; or, The boys of '61, a new and origi- nal military drama, in 6 acts and 6 tableaux. by J. B. Harper. Reading, Pa.. The author [1SS6] 60 p. 16°.

© James Brooke Harper, Reading, Pa.; 1886:20732, Sept. 14; 2c. Nov. 10. 34624

Obituary in The Billboard, October 24, 1908: "J. BROOKE HARPER a retired theatrical manager and the author of the war dramas The Drummer Boy of Shlloh and Pride or the Fortunes and the Misfortunes of War died at his home In Reading Pa October 8 aged 75 years."