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Jeptha Vining Harris (Mississippi general)

November 15, 2023

Jeptha Vining Harris (December 1, 1816 – November 21, 1899) was a brigadier general (August 1862 – August 1863) and later, after a year in private life, a colonel (August 1864 – 1865) in the Mississippi militia, who fought in conjunction with the Confederate States Army in Mississippi during the American Civil War (Civil War). His militia brigade served at Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Siege of Vicksburg. Harris and the brigade were part of the Confederate army surrendered to Union Army forces under then Major General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863. After being exchanged in July and mustered out in August, 1863, Harris returned to civilian life. On August 26, 1864, Harris was commissioned as a colonel of militia and given command of forces at Macon, Mississippi.

Jeptha Vining Harris
Born(1816-12-01)December 1, 1816
Elbert County, Georgia
DiedNovember 21, 1899(1899-11-21) (aged 82)
Lowndes County, Mississippi
Buried
Columbus, Mississippi
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Service/branch Mississippi Militia
Years of service1861–1865
RankBrigadier General
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1836, Harris moved to Lowndes County, Mississippi in 1840 where he became a slaveholder and wealthy planter. He was a state militia officer before the Civil War. He was a Mississippi State Senator from Lowndes County in 1858–1861. After the war, he lived on his Lowndes County farm until his death in 1899.

Early life edit

Jeptha Vining Harris[1] was born in Elbert County, Georgia on December 1, 1816.[2][3] His parents were Jeptha Vining and Sarah (Hunt) Harris.[2][4] The elder Jeptha Vining Harris was a Georgia militia general during the War of 1812, prominent lawyer, planter and state representative.[2][4][5]

Jeptha Vining Harris graduated from the University of Georgia in 1836.[2][3] He moved to Lowndes County, Mississippi in 1840 where he became a slaveholder and wealthy planter.[2][3] He was a state militia officer before the Civil War.[2] He served in the Mississippi State Senate from Lowndes County in 1858–1861.[2]

Jeptha V. Harris married Mary Oliver Banks of Tuscaloosa, Alabama on June 30, 1840.[6] They had the following children who survived to adulthood: Mary O. Harris, Willis Banks Harris (who served on the staff of Confederate Brigadier General Jacob H. Sharp) and Lucy Harris Duncan.[7] Harris was the uncle of Jeptha Vining Harris, a doctor who served in the Confederate States Army and was later a doctor, customs collector and school superintendent at Key West, Florida.[8][9]

American Civil War service edit

At the outbreak of the Civil War, at his own expense, Jeptha Vining Harris equipped a company of soldiers for the Confederate Army.[2] In August 1861 or 1862, Harris joined the Mississippi militia and was elected captain of a company.[10] On September 2, 1862, he was commissioned a brigadier general of state troops posted at Columbus, Mississippi.[2][3] On May 7, 1863, Harris's brigade was ordered to defend the riverfront at the besieged Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi.[2] The unit was positioned on the far left of the Confederate line east of Fort Hill under the overall command of Brigadier General John C. Vaughn.[2][11] Harris was praised for his performance at Vicksburg.[2] Harris and his brigade were surrendered with the other Confederate forces at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863.[3]

After the Confederate surrender at Vicksburg, Harris and his men were paroled.[2] Many of the demoralized men went home.[2] Harris was exchanged on July 16, 1863, but his command had dissolved and both Harris and his brigade were formally mustered out on August 26, 1863.[2][3] On August 26, 1864, Harris was appointed a colonel and given command of the militia force at Macon, Mississippi, where he completed his war service.[2][3]

Aftermath edit

After the Civil War, Jeptha V. Harris returned to his farm in Lowndes County, Mississippi, where he died on November 21, 1899.[2][3] He is buried in Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, Mississippi.[2][3]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ According to Allardice, 1995, p. 120, Harris is incorrectly identified in United States War Department. The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901, Volume XXIV, Part 2, p. 237, OCLC 427057, and by Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army; From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. Vol. 1 of 2 vols., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1903. OCLC 1200947, as John V. Harris.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Allardice, Bruce S. More Generals in Gray. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8071-3148-2 (pbk.). Retrieved September 16, 2012. p. 120.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3. p. 282.
  4. ^ a b Harris, Gideon Dowse. Harris Genealogy. Columbus, Miss., Keith Printing Co., 1914. OCLC 4707316. Retrieved September 23, 2012. pp. 74–75, 94.
  5. ^ No source found for this article refers to this Jeptha Vining Harris as "Jr." but the cited Harris Genealogy refers to him as "the second" Jeptha Vining Harris.
  6. ^ Harris, 1914, p. 94.
  7. ^ Harris, 1914, pp. 94–95.
  8. ^ Harris, 1914, pp. 75–76, 94.
  9. ^ Born, George Walter. Preserving Paradise: The Architectural Heritage And History of the Florida Keys. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-59629-152-2. p. 32.
  10. ^ Eicher, 2001, p. 282 gives the 1861 date. Allardice, 1995, p. 120 gives the 1862 date. The 1861 date would be consistent with Allardice's statement that Harris outfitted a company at the beginning of the war.
  11. ^ Winschel, Terrence J. Vicksburg: Fall of the Confederate Gibraltar 2016-03-09 at the Wayback Machine. Abilene, TX: McWhiney Foundation Press, 1999. ISBN 978-1-893114-01-2. Retrieved September 24, 2012. p. 133.

References edit

  • Allardice, Bruce S. Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8262-1809-4
  • Born, George Walter. Preserving Paradise: The Architectural Heritage And History of the Florida Keys. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-59629-152-2
  • Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3
  • Harris, Gideon Dowse. Harris Genealogy. Columbus, Miss., Keith Printing Co., 1914. OCLC 4707316
  • Winschel, Terrence J. Vicksburg: Fall of the Confederate Gibraltar. Abilene, TX: McWhiney Foundation Press, 1999. ISBN 978-1-893114-01-2

November 15, 2023
jeptha, vining, harris, mississippi, general, jeptha, vining, harris, december, 1816, november, 1899, brigadier, general, august, 1862, august, 1863, later, after, year, private, life, colonel, august, 1864, 1865, mississippi, militia, fought, conjunction, wit. Jeptha Vining Harris December 1 1816 November 21 1899 was a brigadier general August 1862 August 1863 and later after a year in private life a colonel August 1864 1865 in the Mississippi militia who fought in conjunction with the Confederate States Army in Mississippi during the American Civil War Civil War His militia brigade served at Vicksburg Mississippi during the Siege of Vicksburg Harris and the brigade were part of the Confederate army surrendered to Union Army forces under then Major General Ulysses S Grant on July 4 1863 After being exchanged in July and mustered out in August 1863 Harris returned to civilian life On August 26 1864 Harris was commissioned as a colonel of militia and given command of forces at Macon Mississippi Jeptha Vining HarrisBorn 1816 12 01 December 1 1816Elbert County GeorgiaDiedNovember 21 1899 1899 11 21 aged 82 Lowndes County MississippiBuriedColumbus MississippiAllegianceConfederate States of AmericaService wbr branchMississippi MilitiaYears of service1861 1865RankBrigadier GeneralBattles warsAmerican Civil WarAfter graduating from the University of Georgia in 1836 Harris moved to Lowndes County Mississippi in 1840 where he became a slaveholder and wealthy planter He was a state militia officer before the Civil War He was a Mississippi State Senator from Lowndes County in 1858 1861 After the war he lived on his Lowndes County farm until his death in 1899 Contents 1 Early life 2 American Civil War service 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life editJeptha Vining Harris 1 was born in Elbert County Georgia on December 1 1816 2 3 His parents were Jeptha Vining and Sarah Hunt Harris 2 4 The elder Jeptha Vining Harris was a Georgia militia general during the War of 1812 prominent lawyer planter and state representative 2 4 5 Jeptha Vining Harris graduated from the University of Georgia in 1836 2 3 He moved to Lowndes County Mississippi in 1840 where he became a slaveholder and wealthy planter 2 3 He was a state militia officer before the Civil War 2 He served in the Mississippi State Senate from Lowndes County in 1858 1861 2 Jeptha V Harris married Mary Oliver Banks of Tuscaloosa Alabama on June 30 1840 6 They had the following children who survived to adulthood Mary O Harris Willis Banks Harris who served on the staff of Confederate Brigadier General Jacob H Sharp and Lucy Harris Duncan 7 Harris was the uncle of Jeptha Vining Harris a doctor who served in the Confederate States Army and was later a doctor customs collector and school superintendent at Key West Florida 8 9 American Civil War service editAt the outbreak of the Civil War at his own expense Jeptha Vining Harris equipped a company of soldiers for the Confederate Army 2 In August 1861 or 1862 Harris joined the Mississippi militia and was elected captain of a company 10 On September 2 1862 he was commissioned a brigadier general of state troops posted at Columbus Mississippi 2 3 On May 7 1863 Harris s brigade was ordered to defend the riverfront at the besieged Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg Mississippi 2 The unit was positioned on the far left of the Confederate line east of Fort Hill under the overall command of Brigadier General John C Vaughn 2 11 Harris was praised for his performance at Vicksburg 2 Harris and his brigade were surrendered with the other Confederate forces at Vicksburg on July 4 1863 3 After the Confederate surrender at Vicksburg Harris and his men were paroled 2 Many of the demoralized men went home 2 Harris was exchanged on July 16 1863 but his command had dissolved and both Harris and his brigade were formally mustered out on August 26 1863 2 3 On August 26 1864 Harris was appointed a colonel and given command of the militia force at Macon Mississippi where he completed his war service 2 3 Aftermath editAfter the Civil War Jeptha V Harris returned to his farm in Lowndes County Mississippi where he died on November 21 1899 2 3 He is buried in Friendship Cemetery Columbus Mississippi 2 3 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portal nbsp Mississippi portal nbsp Georgia U S state portalList of American Civil War generals Acting Confederate Notes edit According to Allardice 1995 p 120 Harris is incorrectly identified in United States War Department The War of the Rebellion a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Washington DC U S Government Printing Office 1880 1901 Volume XXIV Part 2 p 237 OCLC 427057 and by Heitman Francis B Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army From Its Organization September 29 1789 to March 2 1903 Vol 1 of 2 vols U S Government Printing Office 1903 OCLC 1200947 as John V Harris a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Allardice Bruce S More Generals in Gray Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1995 ISBN 0 8071 3148 2 pbk Retrieved September 16 2012 p 120 a b c d e f g h i Eicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford CA Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 p 282 a b Harris Gideon Dowse Harris Genealogy Columbus Miss Keith Printing Co 1914 OCLC 4707316 Retrieved September 23 2012 pp 74 75 94 No source found for this article refers to this Jeptha Vining Harris as Jr but the cited Harris Genealogy refers to him as the second Jeptha Vining Harris Harris 1914 p 94 Harris 1914 pp 94 95 Harris 1914 pp 75 76 94 Born George Walter Preserving Paradise The Architectural Heritage And History of the Florida Keys Charleston SC History Press 2006 ISBN 978 1 59629 152 2 p 32 Eicher 2001 p 282 gives the 1861 date Allardice 1995 p 120 gives the 1862 date The 1861 date would be consistent with Allardice s statement that Harris outfitted a company at the beginning of the war Winschel Terrence J Vicksburg Fall of the Confederate Gibraltar Archived 2016 03 09 at the Wayback Machine Abilene TX McWhiney Foundation Press 1999 ISBN 978 1 893114 01 2 Retrieved September 24 2012 p 133 References editAllardice Bruce S Confederate Colonels A Biographical Register Columbia University of Missouri Press 2008 ISBN 978 0 8262 1809 4 Born George Walter Preserving Paradise The Architectural Heritage And History of the Florida Keys Charleston SC History Press 2006 ISBN 978 1 59629 152 2 Eicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford CA Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 Harris Gideon Dowse Harris Genealogy Columbus Miss Keith Printing Co 1914 OCLC 4707316 Winschel Terrence J Vicksburg Fall of the Confederate Gibraltar Abilene TX McWhiney Foundation Press 1999 ISBN 978 1 893114 01 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jeptha Vining Harris Mississippi general amp oldid 1144975118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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