James E. Harrison
Encyclopedia
James E. Harrison was a Confederate States Army
brigadier general during the American Civil War
. He served in the Trans-Mississippi Department
and fought in campaigns in Louisiana
. Before the war, he was a two-term Mississippi
state senator before moving to Texas in 1857. After the war, he was a trustee of Baylor University
.
. The Harrison family moved to Alabama and then to Mississippi when Harrison was a boy. He was a brother of Confederate Brigadier General Thomas Harrison
.
James Harrison served two terms in the Mississippi Senate.
Harrison moved to Texas
, near Waco
, in 1857. He was a commissioner for the State of Texas in negotiations with Native Americans (Indians). These negotiations were undertaken upon the order of Texas Governor
Edward Clark
, who replaced the deposed Sam Houston
when Houston refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy. The negotiators tried to persuade the Five Civilized Tribes
to join with the Confederacy in the event of war with the United States. The negotiators returned with an optimistic report. Upon his return from the negotiations, Harrison became a member of the Texas secession convention.
service was almost entirely west of the Mississippi River
. He began his service with the 15th Texas Infantry Regiment. He was lieutenant colonel of the regiment in May 1862. He participated in the Louisiana campaign of 1863 (First Bayou Teche Campaign) under Brigadier General Thomas Green
. He commanded a cavalry brigade in the District of West Louisiana at this time. The 15th Texas Infantry made a successful charge on the Union force's rear in an operation along the Atchafalaya River
in September 1863. Harrison also fought in the Second Bayou Teche Campaign.
In 1864, Harrison was promoted to colonel
of the 15th Texas Infantry. He participated in the 1864 (Red River Campaign
) under Lieutenant General Richard Taylor
. He received favorable mention in the reports of the commanders in both Louisiana campaigns.
On January 6, 1865, Harrison was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general to rank from December 22, 1864 by Confederate President Jefferson Davis
.
James Harrison commanded a brigade in the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department from March to April 7, 1865 in Major General Camille A. J. M. de Polignac's
Division and the 1st Brigade, Brigadier General Samuel B Maxey's
Division in the same district from April 7, 1865 through May 26, 1865.
.
James Edward Harrison died February 23, 1875 in Waco, Texas and is buried in Waco.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
brigadier general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served in the Trans-Mississippi Department
Trans-Mississippi Department
The Trans-Mississippi Department was an administrative subdivision of the Confederate States of America west of the Mississippi, consisting of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Indian Territories recognized by the CSA, and parts of Western Louisiana...
and fought in campaigns in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Before the war, he was a two-term Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
state senator before moving to Texas in 1857. After the war, he was a trustee of Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
Early life
James Edward Harrison was born on April 24, 1815 in Greenville District, South CarolinaGreenville County, South Carolina
- External Links :*...
. The Harrison family moved to Alabama and then to Mississippi when Harrison was a boy. He was a brother of Confederate Brigadier General Thomas Harrison
Thomas Harrison
Major-General Thomas Harrison sided with Parliament in the English Civil War. During the Interregnum he was a leader of the Fifth Monarchists...
.
James Harrison served two terms in the Mississippi Senate.
Harrison moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, near Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, in 1857. He was a commissioner for the State of Texas in negotiations with Native Americans (Indians). These negotiations were undertaken upon the order of Texas Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Edward Clark
Edward Clark
Edward, Ed or Edmund Clark may refer to:* Ed Clark , American politician, Libertarian presidential candidate in 1980* Ed Clark , American baseball player...
, who replaced the deposed Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
when Houston refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy. The negotiators tried to persuade the Five Civilized Tribes
Five Civilized Tribes
The Five Civilized Tribes were the five Native American nations—the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole—that were considered civilized by Anglo-European settlers during the colonial and early federal period because they adopted many of the colonists' customs and had generally good...
to join with the Confederacy in the event of war with the United States. The negotiators returned with an optimistic report. Upon his return from the negotiations, Harrison became a member of the Texas secession convention.
American Civil War
James E. Harrison's Confederate States ArmyConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
service was almost entirely west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. He began his service with the 15th Texas Infantry Regiment. He was lieutenant colonel of the regiment in May 1862. He participated in the Louisiana campaign of 1863 (First Bayou Teche Campaign) under Brigadier General Thomas Green
Thomas Green (general)
Thomas Green was a lawyer, politician, soldier and officer of the Republic of Texas, and rose to the rank of Brigadier General of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Tom Green County, Texas was named after him....
. He commanded a cavalry brigade in the District of West Louisiana at this time. The 15th Texas Infantry made a successful charge on the Union force's rear in an operation along the Atchafalaya River
Atchafalaya River
The Atchafalaya River is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River....
in September 1863. Harrison also fought in the Second Bayou Teche Campaign.
In 1864, Harrison was promoted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 15th Texas Infantry. He participated in the 1864 (Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
) under Lieutenant General Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor (general)
Richard Taylor was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was the son of United States President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret Taylor.-Early life:...
. He received favorable mention in the reports of the commanders in both Louisiana campaigns.
On January 6, 1865, Harrison was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general to rank from December 22, 1864 by Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
.
James Harrison commanded a brigade in the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department from March to April 7, 1865 in Major General Camille A. J. M. de Polignac's
Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac
Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac was a French nobleman, scholar and soldier who joined the Confederate States Army at the outbreak of the American Civil War and became major general before the end of the war...
Division and the 1st Brigade, Brigadier General Samuel B Maxey's
Samuel B. Maxey
Samuel Bell Maxey was an American soldier, lawyer, and politician from Paris, Texas, United States. He was a Major General for the Confederacy in the Civil War and later represented Texas in the U.S. Senate.-Early life:...
Division in the same district from April 7, 1865 through May 26, 1865.
Aftermath
Harrison was a prominent member of the Waco, Texas community after the Civil War. He was active in education and served as a trustee of Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
.
James Edward Harrison died February 23, 1875 in Waco, Texas and is buried in Waco.