J.A.S. Harris

Confederate (CSV)

Colonel

James Alpheus Skidmore Harris

(1828 - 1863)

Home State: Georgia

Command Billet: none

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 2nd Georgia Infantry

Before Sharpsburg

Known as Skidmore, or "Skid", he was superintendent of a copper mine at Canton, GA before the war. He was elected Lieutenant and later Lt. Colonel of the 2nd Ga, and was made the first Colonel of the new 43rd Georgia in March 1862.

On the Campaign

He is shown in some Orders of Battle, including those of Carman and of the National Battlefield, as Major, and the next CO of the 2nd Regiment after the death of Lt Colonel Holmes on September 17th, 1862. This is in error: he was not with the 2nd Georgia at Sharpsburg. Skidmore had been the Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd since shortly after the Regiment was organized in May 1861, but had left the unit to be Colonel of the brand new 43rd Georgia in March 1862.

William Terrell Harris was the Harris who was Major of the 2nd at Sharpsburg, and was promoted Lt Colonel to date from 17 September. It is he who relieved LCol Holmes in command on that day.

The rest of the War

Colonel Skidmore Harris died of a leg wound received while leading the 43rd at Baker's Creek (Champion's Hill), Mississippi, 16 May 1863 - on the Vicksburg Campaign.

References & notes

His picture here from a tinted, full-length portrait kindly supplied by GGGranddaughter Megg Norberg.