Nathaniel Harris

August 22, 1834 (age 66)

Natchez, Mississippi, United States

After graduation Nathaniel Harris settled in Vicksburg for the practice of law. On the outbreak of the Civil War he organized a company of infantry, the Warren Rifles, which was mustered into the state service May 8, 1861. On June 1 the company was enlisted in the service of the Confederate states as Company C, 19th Mississippi Infantry. The regiment left Richmond July 4, joined the forces of General J. E. Johnston confronting Patterson’s army in the upper Shenandoah Valley, and reached Manassas the day after the battle. Harris was praised by Colonel L. Q. C. Lamar for gallantry at the battle of Williamsburg and was promoted major March 5, 1862. After the Maryland campaign he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and on April 2, 1863, he was made colonel of his regiment. At the battle of Chancellorsville he was with Stonewall Jackson in his famous flank attack. At Gettysburg the 19th Mississippi, under command of Harris as a part of Posey’s brigade, forced Meade’s line from Cemetery Ridge. He was appointed brigadier-general January 20, 1864. At Spotsylvania his brigade was ordered by Lee to meet the attack of Hancock’s corps which had carried the salient held by Johnston’s division and known to history as the “Bloody Angle, ” and was afterward engaged in all the sanguinary conflicts preceding the siege of Petersburg. The brigade occupied the Rives salient on the Petersburg line. In November 1864 it was relieved from duty in the trenches and put in reserve. In December and January it marched to thwart Grant’s persistent efforts to cut the Weldon railroad. In March Harris was placed in command of the inner line of defenses of Richmond to meet Sheridan’s raid. When at last the Confederate line was broken Harris was ordered to throw two regiments of his brigade into Battery Gregg and two into Battery Whitworth. These earthworks between the front line and the Appomattox River were held against terrific assaults for two hours until the arrival of Longstreet who formed an inner line of defense. At Appomattox Harris was in command of Mahone’s division. After the surrender of Lee’s army Harris returned to Vicksburg and resumed the practice of law. When the Mississippi Valley & Ship Island Railroad was reorganized he was made its president. In 1885 he was appointed register of the United States land office at Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1890 he visited California and later made San Francisco his home, engaging in business with John Hays Hammond. He died at Malvern, England, August 23, 1900. In accordance with his wish his body was cremated.

Nathaniel Harrison Harris

Edit Profile

lawyer military

Background

Nathaniel Harris was born on August 22, 1834, at Natchez, Mississippi, United States, the son of William Mercer and Caroline (Harrison) Harris.

Education

Harris was given a collegiate education, took up the study of law, and was graduated from the University of Louisiana.

Career

After graduation Nathaniel Harris settled in Vicksburg for the practice of law. On the outbreak of the Civil War he organized a company of infantry, the Warren Rifles, which was mustered into the state service May 8, 1861. On June 1 the company was enlisted in the service of the Confederate states as Company C, 19th Mississippi Infantry. The regiment left Richmond July 4, joined the forces of General J. E. Johnston confronting Patterson’s army in the upper Shenandoah Valley, and reached Manassas the day after the battle. Harris was praised by Colonel L. Q. C. Lamar for gallantry at the battle of Williamsburg and was promoted major March 5, 1862. After the Maryland campaign he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and on April 2, 1863, he was made colonel of his regiment. At the battle of Chancellorsville he was with Stonewall Jackson in his famous flank attack. At Gettysburg the 19th Mississippi, under command of Harris as a part of Posey’s brigade, forced Meade’s line from Cemetery Ridge. He was appointed brigadier-general January 20, 1864.

At Spotsylvania his brigade was ordered by Lee to meet the attack of Hancock’s corps which had carried the salient held by Johnston’s division and known to history as the “Bloody Angle, ” and was afterward engaged in all the sanguinary conflicts preceding the siege of Petersburg. The brigade occupied the Rives salient on the Petersburg line. In November 1864 it was relieved from duty in the trenches and put in reserve. In December and January it marched to thwart Grant’s persistent efforts to cut the Weldon railroad. In March Harris was placed in command of the inner line of defenses of Richmond to meet Sheridan’s raid. When at last the Confederate line was broken Harris was ordered to throw two regiments of his brigade into Battery Gregg and two into Battery Whitworth. These earthworks between the front line and the Appomattox River were held against terrific assaults for two hours until the arrival of Longstreet who formed an inner line of defense. At Appomattox Harris was in command of Mahone’s division.

After the surrender of Lee’s army Harris returned to Vicksburg and resumed the practice of law. When the Mississippi Valley & Ship Island Railroad was reorganized he was made its president. In 1885 he was appointed register of the United States land office at Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1890 he visited California and later made San Francisco his home, engaging in business with John Hays Hammond. He died at Malvern, England, August 23, 1900. In accordance with his wish his body was cremated.

Achievements

Nathaniel Harris was a brave Confederate States Army brigadier general. He was especially distinguished at the Siege of Petersburg and the Battles of Fort Gregg and Whitworth.

Connections

Harris never married.

Father:: William Mercer Harris
Mother:: Caroline (Harrison) Harris

Main Photo