Charles L. Harris (general)

Charles L. Harris
Charles L. Harris
Member of the Nebraska Senate; from the Boone County district
	In office; January 2, 1883 – January 6, 1885
Preceded by	B. K. Smith
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly; from the Door–Kewaunee district
	In office; January 3, 1870 – January 2, 1871
Preceded by	John R. McDonald
Succeeded by	Joseph McCormick
Personal details
Born	August 24, 1834; Bridgeton, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	October 11, 1910 (aged 76); Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Cause of death	Car accident
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska
Political party	Republican
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers; Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel, USV; Brevet Brig. General, USV;
Unit	1st Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Commands	11th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American 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

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

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

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

^ "Colonel Charles L. Harris". 11th Wisconsin Civil War Regiment. July 9, 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Colonel Harris Dies of Injuries". Omaha Daily Bee. October 13, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved June 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Col. Charles Harris Victim of Accident". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 18, 1910. p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press. p. 282. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
^ Eicher & Eicher 2001, p. 747.

External links

Charles Loper Harris at Find a Grave

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 Door–Kewaunee district January 3, 1870 – January 2, 1871	Succeeded by Joseph McCormick

[1] "Colonel Charles L. Harris". 11th Wisconsin Civil War Regiment. July 9, 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-20.

[Obit-2] "Colonel Harris Dies of Injuries". Omaha Daily Bee. October 13, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved June 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Col. Charles Harris Victim of Accident". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 18, 1910. p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press. p. 282. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

[FOOTNOTEEicherEicher2001747-5] Eicher & Eicher 2001, p. 747.

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