Nathaniel Harrison Harris

He was a graduate of the University of Louisiana (now Tulane) law school and in 1860 was a 26 year old lawyer living with his brother James William Monroe Harris, (1828-1885, also a lawyer) and his family in Vicksburg, MS. In 1861 he organized the Warren Rifles, which was mustered into Confederate service as Company C, 19th Mississippi Infantry. He was their original Captain, enrolled as such on 14 May 1861 in Vicksburg. He was wounded at Williamsburg, VA on 5 May 1862, again on 30 June 1862 at Fraziers' Farm (Glendale), VA, and for the third time at 2nd Manassas, VA in August.

Captain Harris was absent wounded from his regiment and not at Sharpsburg. It is not clear who actually led the Regiment there.

Harris returned to the regiment on 5 October, and was promoted Major on 4 November (to date from 5 May 1862). He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 24 November 1962, due to the continued absence of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel. He was appointed Colonel on 2 April 1863.

Harris was absent sick for most of September and October 1863, but when Brigadier General Carnot Posey was mortally wounded on 14 October 1863, Harris replaced him in command of the Brigade. He was appointed Brigadier General on 20 January 1864 in his own right. He led the Brigade through the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia until surrendered at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

He returned to Vicksburg and his law practice. He was later President of the Mississippi Valley & Ship Island Railroad, and was registrar of the U.S. Land Office in Aberdeen, South Dakota. After 1890 he lived in California. He died in England, on 23 August 1900, while on a business trip. His ashes were buried in Brooklyn, NY.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1860, and his service sketch in the CMH.2 His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph at the Library of Congress, online in the Historical Data Systems database.

Harris is here in the AotW database for reference because Carman3 has him in command at Sharpsburg and wounded there, although in error.

8/22/1834; Natchez, MS

08/23/1900; Great Malvern, Worcestershire, England; burial in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY