Sergeant James H. Harris was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at New Market Heights, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 38th U.S. Colored Infantry. Harris was about 36 years old.
37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 18, 1874, 9 years after the action.
Harris was born in 1828 in St. Mary's County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Great Mills, St. Mary's County, Maryland. Harris died on January 28, 1898, at the age of about 70. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Harris is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in the assault.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →
Timeline
- 1828Born in St. Mary's County, Maryland
- September 29, 1864Act of valor — New Market Heights, VirginiaAge about 36. Company B, 38th U.S. Colored Infantry
- February 18, 1874Medal of Honor presented
- January 28, 1898DiedAge about 70.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
James H. Harris (1828 – January 28, 1898) was an African American soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He earned the highest military decoration in the United States—the Medal of Honor—for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.
From the Wikipedia article “James H. Harris”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
