George W. Harris

George W. Harris
Born (1835-03-06)March 6, 1835
Schuylkill, Pennsylvania[1]
Died January 30, 1920(1920-01-30) or 1921[2]
Place of burial Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Army
Union Army
Years of service 1862 - 1865
Rank Private
Unit Company B, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War
 • Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Awards Medal of Honor

George W. Harris (March 6, 1835 – January 30, 1920 or 1921[2]) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.[3]

Harris joined the army in August 1862, and was discharged after being wounded at the Battle of Five Forks. [4] He died at age 84 or 85 and was buried at Union Cemetery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.[5]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864. Entered service at: Bellefonte, Pa. Birth: Schuylkill, Pa. Date of issue: 1 December 1864.[3]

Citation:

Capture of flag, wresting it from the color bearer and shooting an officer who attempted to regain it.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Schuylkill County Medal of Honor recipients". rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  2. 1 2 Sources are inconsistent on Harris' year of death. His government issued headstone George W. Harris at Find a Grave gives January 30, 1921, while his personal headstone George W. Harris at Find a Grave gives 1920.
  3. 1 2 3 "Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (A–L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. January 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  4. ↑ 148th Pennsylvania Infantry Muster Roll
  5. ↑ "George W. Harris (1835–1920)". Find A Grave. October 19, 2001. Retrieved 2009-07-28.


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