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Charles L. Harris (general)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles L. Harris
Member of the Nebraska Senate
from the Boone County district
In office
January 2, 1883 – January 6, 1885
Preceded byB. K. Smith
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the DoorKewaunee district
In office
January 3, 1870 – January 2, 1871
Preceded byJohn R. McDonald
Succeeded byJoseph McCormick
Personal details
Born(1834-08-24)August 24, 1834
Bridgeton, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedOctober 11, 1910(1910-10-11) (aged 76)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Cause of deathCar accident
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska
Political partyRepublican
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1861–1865
Rank
Unit1st Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Commands11th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Charles Loper Harris (August 24, 1834 – October 11, 1910) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and pioneer of Wisconsin and Nebraska. He served one term each in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Nebraska Senate. He served as a Union Army officer through the American Civil War and earned an honorary brevet to the rank of brigadier general.

Relief portrait by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson at Vicksburg National Military Park

Biography

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Charles Loper Harris was born on August 24, 1834, in Bridgeton, New Jersey.[1] Later, he moved to Madison, Wisconsin.[2] Harris later moved again, this time to Cedar County, Nebraska. On October 11, 1910, Harris died at his home in Omaha, Nebraska, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.[2][3] He was married with two children.

Military career

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Harris was an alumnus, although not a graduate, of the United States Military Academy. He was a member of the class of 1857, but he left after his first year when found deficient in mathematics. Instead of a career in the military, he chose to study law. After the breakout of the American Civil War, he joined the Union Army and was assigned to the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Soon after, he was promoted to colonel and given command of the 11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Harris and the regiment later took part in the Battle of Cotton Plant, where he sustained a severe wound and afterwards had to take a medical leave. After his return, Harris was given command of brigade operations in and around St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1863, he and the 11th were attached to XIX Corps under the command of future Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nathaniel P. Banks. Harris then took part in the Battle of Port Gibson and the Red River Campaign. The 11th was re-assigned to XVI Corps in 1864. Harris was mustered out of the volunteers on September 4, 1865.[4] On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Harris for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.[5]

Political career

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Harris was hired by the Wisconsin State Assembly as sergeant-at-arms for the 1868 session of the Legislature. He subsequently was elected to the Assembly from Door County, Wisconsin, in 1869. He was a member of the Nebraska State Senate in 1883.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Colonel Charles L. Harris". 11th Wisconsin Civil War Regiment. July 9, 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  2. ^ a b c "Colonel Harris Dies of Injuries". Omaha Daily Bee. October 13, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved June 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Col. Charles Harris Victim of Accident". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 18, 1910. p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press. p. 282. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
  5. ^ Eicher & Eicher 2001, p. 747.
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Military offices
Regiment established Command of the 11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
October 18, 1861 – September 5, 1865
Regiment abolished
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
John R. McDonald
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the DoorKewaunee district
January 3, 1870 – January 2, 1871
Succeeded by
Joseph McCormick