Civil War Service of Samuel Sterling Harris

In chatting with Fran and Damon, Fran asked if I might like to have her submit a short piece about Samuel Sterling Harris' service in the Civil War for a book that a group that she works with that is being written about Buckingham County.  At first I was thinking that Samuel W. Harris was too old to serve.  And that Samuel Sterling Harris was too young to serve.  However, much to my surprise, Samuel Sterling was too young at the beginning of the Civil War.  But the minute he turned 16, he enlisted.  Here is what Fran and I submitted:

SAMUEL STERLING HARRIS

Also referred to as STERLING SAMUEL HARRIS

 

Samuel Sterling Harris was born February 18, 1848 in the portion of Buckingham that was annexed to Appomattox County, Virginia.  He first married Elizabeth M. Jennings in 1872 and they had four children.  His second wife was Louise Frances Woodson, whom he married in 1882 and they had nine children.  Samuel’s parents were Samuel W. Harris and Nancy W Apperson.  I believe his father is the man who signed the petition in 1832 AGAINST the formation of Appomatix County from Buckingham County.

 

Samuel enlisted October 20, 1864, in the Army at the age of 16 and served in Co. A, Virginia 19th Heavy Artillery Battalion.   Lieutenant Colonel John W. Atkinson and Major N. R. Cary were in command.  He was at Appomattox Court House at the surrender and proclamation.  He died on February 11, 1934 in Davy, McDowell County, West Virginia where he had moved to work in the coal fields. 

 

Submitted by Marsha Moses and Fran Harris-Hill

 I sent the following photos.  I don't know if they will include either of them.  In the below photo, Samuel Sterling is the only man in the photo with a dark jacket on and sitting down.  Louise Woodson Harris is sitting next to him.  They are in the middle row. 

In the above photo, Samuel Sterling is sitting in a chair on the porch.  Grandma Lou is standing and holding the porch column.

Ernest Hogan said in his publication that Granny let me borrow:
 “Grandfather served many years as a Sunday Achool Superintendent and lived by the Good Book.

     He also says: “Grandfather had been a soldier in the Civil War and served for a time under Stonewall Jackson.  A master storyteller, Grandfather, loved to recount his experiences as a Confederate soldier.  He often told us about a time at Appomattox, Virginia,when he stood just outside the courthouse as General Lee surrendered to General Grant, ending the war between the states.  He would cause us to laugh each time we repeatedly asked, “Grandpa, did you ever kill a Yankee soldier?

   “Well, he would say, “I really don’t know for sure, but I think I ran one to death....and I was out in front the whole time!”