Jeptha P. Harris is the proven Confederate ancestor of Martha Harris Poplin, a member of the Cleburne Memorial Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Jeptha P. Harris was in the 19th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, CSA.
(Lafayette Co.,MS) His residence was listed as Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., MS. Prior to that the family came from Clarke Co., GA to Marshall Co., MS, around Holly Springs.
He was in Co. E (McClung's Riflemen) entering as a Private and leaving
as a Sgt. This Regm't was mustered in May 1861 and went to Virginia.
They were at the battles at Appomattox, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg
and Williamsburg among others. On April 9, 1865, they surrendered with
8 officers and 129 men.
According to his Military records, he enlisted May 15, 1861 at Oxford,
MS and was mustered in June 30, 1861 as a private. He was "appointed
as Sergeant Sept.1, 1862 to fill the place of E.A. Meadors whose wounds
render him unfit for the duties." Feb.7, 1863, he was detached as recruiting officer. On his Nov.-Dec. 1863 muster roll, he was present but, "accoutrements lost, shoulder belt 2.57." he was on 30 days furlough Feb.1864.
Jeptha is wounded
One of his muster cards shows he was wounded at the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. Other cards however, say he was wounded May 6, 1864, a date which corresponds to other cards where he was listed as present. If wounded on May 6, 1864, he was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness with a gunshot
wound from back to breast and admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #3,
Richmond VA. Chimborazo was the best hospital of the Civil War, having
a bakery, brewery, kitchens, clean beds, which was very unusual for
the time and circumstances. He appeared on "an official copy of a report
of casualties of the 19th Reg't. Miss. Vols. at the battle of Williamsburg, VA. In a report dated near Long Bridge, VA May 15, 1864. Remarks: "wounded." Civil War Richmond Website Thereafter, he was sent to Receiving and Wayside Hospital or General Hospital #9 in Richmond.
Chimborazo Hospital 1865
He was listed on a Roll of Prisoners of War, surrendered at Citronelle, AL by Lt. Gen. R. Taylor, CSA, to Maj.Gen. E.R.S. Canby, USA, May 4, 1865 and paroled at Meridien MS, May 13, 1865.
According to the personal diary of A.L. Peel, Adjutant
of 19th MS Infantry: "June 3, 1861:
"We arrived here at Bristol today at 10 PM and took supper at the hotel and slept in the cars. We will leave tomorrow...
Dr. Hyer fooled J. Harris and made him stand guard until midnight."
October 1, 1861 -" Another month has passed & we have not fought anything. Some of the boys are tight. J. Harris went to guard the Brigade Commissary took a canteen of whiskey along & got very tight. Hired an old Irishman to take his place, so he left his gun &c came back to camp said that he had been guarding an old house all night"
The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864 in Spotsylvania County, VA, was also called "Combats at Parker’s Store, Craig’s Meeting House, Todd’s Tavern, Brock Road and the Furnaces". It was part of Grant’s Overland Campaign (May-June 1864). The principal Commanders were Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee was the Confederate general.
*Forces Engaged: 162,920 total (US 101,895; CS 61,025)
Estimated Casualties: 29,800 total (US 18,400; CS 11,400)
19th Mississippi Infantry Company E -- McClung Riflemen (raised in Lafayette County, MS)
From Dunbar Rowland’s "Military History of Mississippi, 1803-1898”
The following information details the battle in which Jeptha was wounded: "On the morning of May 5, (Gen.)Harris was notified to hold his brigade in readiness for orders, and at noon they marched with the division toward Chancellorsville, which was continued next day toward the scene of conflict in the Wilderness where they arrived on the Plank road at noon May 6. After several changes in position, about three o’clock they encountered the two Federal columns moving to the left and rear of the brigades of Davis, Perry and Law. Harris' brigade charged and forced the enemy back to an entrenched position, capturing 150 prisoners. The brigade lost a considerable number killed and wounded, among the mortally wounded Captain Burrage."
Regimental flag shown above located in the Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia.
"The Virtual CSA Purple Heart Award"
Issued to: Sgt. Jeptha P. Harris, of Company E
19th MS Infantry (McClung's Riflemen), who was wounded at the
Battle of Williamsburg in the service of the Confederate States of
America. To receive
this memorial or other Civil War memorials visit The
Virtual Civil War
Memorial Website hosted by The Missouri Civil War Museum.
Page created and maintained by Martha Harris Poplin. Please contact me with corrections, additions or comments. Site last updated September 5, 2008.
