Thomas Harrison (general)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Harrison was a Confederate States Army
brigadier general during the American Civil War
. He had a law practice in Waco, Texas
after moving to Texas
in 1843. He was a Mexican-American War veteran and Texas state legislator before the war. After the war, he was a district judge at Waco and was a Democratic Party
politician and Presidential elector.
. He was raised in Monroe County, Mississippi. He was a brother of Confederate Brigadier General James E. Harrison
. Thomas Harrison moved to Brazoria County, Texas
in 1843 and studied law, establishing a law practice at Waco. He returned to Mississippi in order to become a member of the 1st Mississippi Rifles, commanded by future Confederate President Jefferson Davis
during the Mexican-American War.
Harrison served a term in the Texas legislature from Harris County
. He then settled in Waco, Texas. He was the captain of a volunteer militia company and served for a time in West Texas.
," after a measles epidemic caused a large reduction in the number of men in the regiment. Harrison began his service as captain and was promoted to major in early 1862. He fought with the regiment at the Battle of Shiloh
, Siege of Corinth
and Battle of Perryville
. Harrison became colonel of the regiment on November 18, 1862, about six weeks before the Battle of Stones River
(Murfreesboro, Tennessee) and led the regiment at that battle. Harrison was wounded in the hip on January 1, 1863 at Stones River. He subsequently led the regiment during the Tullahoma Campaign
.
Between July 1863 and April 26, 1865, Harrison commanded cavalry brigades in the divisions of Brigadier General John A. Wharton
(including Major General William T. Martin's
detachment), Brigadier General Frank Crawford Armstrong
and Brigadier General William Y.C. Humes
in Major General Joseph Wheeler's
Cavalry Corps of the Army of Tennessee
and the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. His regiment and brigade often were used as scouts.
Harrison fought under the command of Cavalry Corps commander Major General Joseph Wheeler
at the Battle of Chickamauga
and in the Knoxville Campaign
, Atlanta campaign
, Savannah Campaign (Sherman's March to the Sea
) and the Carolinas Campaign
.
Despite being in brigade command for a considerable period of time, Harrison was not appointed as a brigadier general until near the end of the war, February 18, 1865, to rank from January 14, 1865. His brigade was placed in Brigadier General Robert H. Anderson's
division in Lieutenant General Wade Hampton's
cavalry corps during the Carolinas Campaign. Harrison was wounded at the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
in North Carolina on March 10, 1865. He was paroled at Macon, Georgia on May 31, 1865 and pardoned on March 29, 1866.
Thomas Harrison died July 14, 1891 at Waco, Texas and is buried at 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 had a law practice in Waco, Texas
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....
after moving 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...
in 1843. He was a Mexican-American War veteran and Texas state legislator before the war. After the war, he was a district judge at Waco and was a Democratic Party
Democratic Party
The following is a list of political parties whose names could be translated to Democratic Party or the Democrat.-Active parties:-Former parties:...
politician and Presidential elector.
Early life
Thomas Harrison was born on May 1, 1823 in Jefferson County, AlabamaJefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
. He was raised in Monroe County, Mississippi. He was a brother of Confederate Brigadier General James E. Harrison
James E. Harrison
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...
. Thomas Harrison moved to Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
in 1843 and studied law, establishing a law practice at Waco. He returned to Mississippi in order to become a member of the 1st Mississippi Rifles, commanded by future 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...
during the Mexican-American War.
Harrison served a term in the Texas legislature from Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. He then settled in Waco, Texas. He was the captain of a volunteer militia company and served for a time in West Texas.
American Civil War
After service in West Texas, Harrison's militia company joined the 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment of the Confederate States Army, which was known as "Terry's Texas RangersTerry's Texas Rangers
The 8th Texas Cavalry, , popularly known as Terry's Texas Rangers, was a group of Texas volunteers for the Confederate States Army assembled by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry in August 1861...
," after a measles epidemic caused a large reduction in the number of men in the regiment. Harrison began his service as captain and was promoted to major in early 1862. He fought with the regiment at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, Siege of Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
and Battle of Perryville
Battle of Perryville
The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi won a...
. Harrison became colonel of the regiment on November 18, 1862, about six weeks before the Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
(Murfreesboro, Tennessee) and led the regiment at that battle. Harrison was wounded in the hip on January 1, 1863 at Stones River. He subsequently led the regiment during the Tullahoma Campaign
Tullahoma Campaign
The Tullahoma Campaign or Middle Tennessee Campaign was fought between June 24 and July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War. The Union Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Maj. Gen. William S...
.
Between July 1863 and April 26, 1865, Harrison commanded cavalry brigades in the divisions of Brigadier General John A. Wharton
John A. Wharton
John Austin Wharton was a lawyer, plantation owner, and Confederate general during the American Civil War. He is considered one of the Confederacy's best tactical cavalry commanders.-Early life:...
(including Major General William T. Martin's
William T. Martin
William Thompson Martin was an American lawyer and politician who became a Confederate States Army general of cavalry during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
detachment), Brigadier General Frank Crawford Armstrong
Frank Crawford Armstrong
Frank Crawford Armstrong was a United States Army cavalry officer and later a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
and Brigadier General William Y.C. Humes
William Y.C. Humes
William Young Conn Humes was an American educator, lawyer, and soldier. He served as a Confederate cavalry general during the American Civil War, in which he was wounded twice, and fought mainly in the Western Theater of the conflict. Afterward Humes resumed practicing law until his death.-Early...
in Major General Joseph Wheeler's
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
Cavalry Corps of the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
and the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. His regiment and brigade often were used as scouts.
Harrison fought under the command of Cavalry Corps commander Major General Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
at the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
and in the Knoxville Campaign
Knoxville Campaign
The Knoxville Campaign was a series of American Civil War battles and maneuvers in East Tennessee during the fall of 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside occupied Knoxville, Tennessee, and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet were detached from Gen...
, Atlanta campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
, Savannah Campaign (Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
) and the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
.
Despite being in brigade command for a considerable period of time, Harrison was not appointed as a brigadier general until near the end of the war, February 18, 1865, to rank from January 14, 1865. His brigade was placed in Brigadier General Robert H. Anderson's
Robert Houston Anderson
Robert Houston Anderson was a cavalry and artillery officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
division in Lieutenant General Wade Hampton's
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
cavalry corps during the Carolinas Campaign. Harrison was wounded at the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
-References:* Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.* * *...
in North Carolina on March 10, 1865. He was paroled at Macon, Georgia on May 31, 1865 and pardoned on March 29, 1866.
Aftermath
Harrison returned to Waco after the end of the war. He was elected district judge. He became an anti-Reconstruction Democrat. He was a Democratic Party Presidential Elector in 1872.Thomas Harrison died July 14, 1891 at Waco, Texas and is buried at Waco.