JAMES
HARRIS
15th & 32nd New York Independent Battery
Private, Artillery
Yaphank
James Harris
15th and 32nd Independent Battery
Artillery
Yaphank
Born in Ireland in 1834, James Harris
later immigrated with his family to the Yaphank area. He
left his work as a waiter to enlist in the Union Army on
May 16, 1863. Harris was twenty-nine years old at the
time, and stood only five feet four inches tall. Despite
his small stature, he was fired up to be a soldier in Mr.
Lincoln's army, to join the cause and right the wrongs
that so many were rallying around.
He was mustered into service in New York
City, and was assigned to the 15th Independent Battery.
He was one of several "Middle Island boys" to
join this unit. In February of 1863 Captain McMahon had
been replaced by Captain Patrick Hart, the unit would now
be called Hart's Battery. The unit distinguished itself
on the battlefield at Gettysburg, Following Gettysburg
the battery was engaged at Rappahannock Station and Mine
Run. The unit was then sent to Culpeper, Virginia where
it stayed for the winter months.
In early May the battery, which was
equipped with four brass guns, twelve pounder smooth
bores, called Napoleons was assigned to General Grant's
Army of the Potomac. Grant was now in constant pursuit of
Confederate forces led by Robert E. Lee. They
participated in the Wilderness campaign, and saw action
at the North Anna River where they sustained several
casualties. From here they moved on to Cold Harbor, where
they suffered two men killed in some of the most brutal
fighting of the war. The Battery The battery was active
during the siege of Petersburg, which began in June of
1864. The 15th was close to the front, exposing the men
to Confederate artillery. During the long siege, the
battery suffered six casualties.
By this time, Grant was closing in on
Lee, capturing key railroad junctions. Lee depended on
the rail lines and ordered a counter attack in order to
try and take back the Weldon Railroad. On August 18,
1864, the 15th battery left camp and moved to reinforce
the Weldon Railroad. The next day, Confederate forces
attacked but were repulsed by the Union artillery. On
August 20, the battery began to throw up earthworks in
front of the guns preparing for the next Confederate
assault. Sure enough, the Confederates attacked on August
21, coming almost right up to the gun emplacements before
being repulsed.
The Union line held, but paid a high
price. The 15th Battery alone suffered 11 casualties in
this engagement. Harris was struck in the left hip by a
minie ball during this attack. The ball lodged against
the right side of his spine. Pieces of bone broke off his
spine completely. He was rendered disabled and was
evacuated to Slough Barracks Hospital in Alexandria,
Virginia.
In his report of the incident, Brigadier
General Ayres detailed the fighting of the Fifth Army
Corps at Weldon Railroad:
I have the honor to submit the
following statement of the operations of this division on
the 18th, 19th, and 21st of August, 1864, along the
Weldon railroad:
The division took the advance along the road after
reaching it, the First and Second Brigades forming the
line of battle near the Blick house, the Fifteenth New
York Artillery in support. It was then advanced about
1,100 yards, when the skirmishers began to engage those
of the enemy. The enemy also opened with artillery. Soon
after reaching the front edge of the woods the enemy's
line of battle struck mine, outflanking it. I threw
forward the Fifteenth New York into the line and two
brigades formed around it. The enemy after persistent
efforts was repulsed, leaving his dead in our hands…
The Fifteenth New York Artillery was steady and cool.
In the afternoon of the 19th the
enemy attacked in two divisions-one on my front, one to
my right. The division which attacked my front was
repulsed and a color captured. The enemy broke through
several hundred yards to the right and swept down our
rifle pits; carrying away General Hayes and about 250 of
his men. I drew back a portion of my command, forming in
line on the rising ground to the rear of the
batteries…
During the night of the 20th the
division was occupied in throwing down the works,
slashing in front, and building a new line on the crest
of the rising ground in the rear. Early in the morning
the enemy commenced pushing the pickets, and about 8:30
a.m. opened with a heavy artillery fire on the front
along the railroad and also from a position on the Vaughn
road, crossing the fire at right angles over our
position. Shortly after a heavy force of infantry
attacked from the Vaughn road at right angles to the
railroad. This attack, well to my left, was easily and
splendidly repulsed, several hundred prisoners and a
number of colors captured… Captain Hart, Fifteenth
New York Independent Battery, served with distinction on
the 21st
Weldon Railroad, the scene of
fierce fighting as Lee tried to recapture the rail line.
After this incident, a wounded Harris was
sent to New York to recuperate. On March 26, 1865, Harris
was put in the 4th Company 2nd battalion of the Veteran
Reserve Corp, also known as the Invalid Corp. Harris
stayed here until he was discharged on July 14, 1865.
James Harris returned home to his wife.
As time went on, however, his condition grew worse and
medical attention became necessary. In November of 1869,
at the age of 35, James Harris was admitted to the Asylum
in Augusta, Maine. He returned to Yaphank for a while,
but was later sent to the Central Branch Veterans
Hospital where he passed away on August 16, 1892 at the
age of 58.
Union gun emplacements at the Weldon
Railroad.