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James Edward Harrison (April 24, 1815 – February 23, 1875) 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.
James E. Harrison | |
---|---|
Born | Greenville District, South Carolina | April 24, 1815
Died | February 23, 1875 59) Waco, Texas | (aged
Buried | Waco, Texas |
Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
Service/ | Confederate States Army |
Years of service | 1861–1865 |
Rank | Brigadier General, CSA |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
James Edward Harrison was born on April 24, 1815, in Greenville District, South Carolina.[1][2] The Harrison family moved to Alabama and then to Mississippi when Harrison was a boy.[2]
James Harrison served two terms in the Mississippi Senate.[2][3][4][5]
Harrison moved to Texas, near Waco, in 1857.[2] He was a commissioner for the State of Texas in negotiations with Native Americans (Indians).[2][4] 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.[3] The negotiators tried to persuade the Five Civilized Tribes to join with the Confederacy in the event of war with the United States.[3] The negotiators returned with an optimistic report.[3][6] Upon his return from the negotiations, Harrison became a member of the Texas secession convention.[2][3]
James E. Harrison's Confederate States Army service was almost entirely west of the Mississippi River.[2] He began his service with the 15th Texas Infantry Regiment.[2] He was lieutenant colonel of the regiment in May 1862.[4] He participated in the Louisiana campaign of 1863 (First Bayou Teche Campaign) under Brigadier General Thomas Green.[2][4] He commanded a cavalry brigade in the District of West Louisiana at this time.[4] The 15th Texas Infantry made a successful charge on the Union force's rear in an operation along the Atchafalaya River in September 1863.[3] Harrison also fought in the Second Bayou Teche Campaign.[7][8]
In 1864, Harrison was promoted to colonel of the 15th Texas Infantry.[4] He participated in the 1864 (Red River Campaign) under Lieutenant General Richard Taylor.[2] He received favorable mention in the reports of the commanders in both Louisiana campaigns.[2]
On January 6, 1865, Harrison was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general to rank from December 22, 1864, by Confederate President Jefferson Davis.[2][9]
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.[3][4][10]
Harrison was a prominent member of the Waco, Texas community after the Civil War.[2] He was active in education and served as a trustee of Baylor University.[2][4]
James Edward Harrison was the son of Isham Harrison (November 4, 1788 Greenville County, South Carolina - September 30, 1863) and Harriet Kelly (February 11, 1789, Greenville County, South Carolina - July 1, 1856 Aberdeen, Mississippi). He was a brother of Confederate Brigadier General Thomas Harrison[2] and a second cousin of Wade Hampton III.
James Edward Harrison died February 23, 1875, in Waco, Texas, and is buried in First Street Cemetery in Waco.[2]
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