Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-12
HARRISON AS A SOLDIER.
What .Fighting Joe Hooker Thought of
Our Standard Bearer-His Sol
dierIy Qualities.

In July. 1862, Governor Morton. under
the call of the PresidentfOr 200, 900 three
years troops, requested Harrison to as
sist in recruiting the regiment from the
Sixth Indiana District, under that call
the quota from each district being one
regiment. His was the first recruiting
commission issued by the Governor for
the Seventeen Regiment, bearing date
of July "A, 1862, and making him a sec
ond lieutenant. He inspired enthusiasm
wherever he went, and soon raised Com
pany A, Of which he was elected cap
tain. Then he assisted in filing up the
other companies of the regiment, which
was complete and ready to go to the
front in less than one month, and was
made its colonel. Governor Morton sug-
geSted, when Harrison took out his re-
cruiting commission, that it would be
too much to ask him to surrender the
civil Office to which he had just been
elected, and that he would find some
one else to take the regim ent to the field.
Colonel Harrison preferred, however, to
go to the front, saying that he would
not ask man to go where he himself
would not go, showing a sOldierIy quail
ty that marked the whole of his military
career. After variety Of service in
y
eighteen months, up to January. 1864,
Colonel Harrison's regiment was formal
" assigned to the First Brigade wards,
of the Third Division of the Twentieth
Army Corps, and with this organization
he served until the close Of the war.
During the Atlanta campaign Colonel
Harrison won the highest honors of a
soldier. His regiment was assigned the
duty Of leading the assault at Resaca on
the 10Th of May, 1864, and most gallant
ly did he head it in that terrible work,
capturing the enemy's lines and four
guns. Again at Peach Tree Creek, while
in command Of the brigade, he gained
such a signal victory as to call forth the
highest praise from his superior officers
for his soldierly qualities. General
Hooker rode the lines the day after the
fight, and as he shook hands with the
young commander, said: Harrison, by
Cd, I'll make you Brigadier General
for this fight" and his word of mouth
on the battlefield was supplemented by
the following letter of commentator
written to the Secretary OF War q few
months later:
HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DEPARTMENT
CINCINNATI Ohio Oct. 81, 1864-rhe Hon.
u. NJ. Stanton, Secretary OF War: | de-
sire to call the attention Of the Department
to the claims Of Colonel Benjamin Harri-
son, of the SayeQUieth Indiana Volunteers
for promotion 20 the rank of brigadier
general OF volunteers.
Colonel Harrison first Joined me in COM
mand OF a brigade of Wards division in
Lookout Valley preparatory to entering
upon what is called the campaign of At
lanta. My attention was first attracted
to this young officer by the superior ex-
cellenca of his brigade in discipline and
instruction, the result OF his labor, skill
and devotion. With more fOCethOught
than l have witnessed in any officer Of his
experience, ne seemed to act upon the
principle that success depended upon the
thorough preparation in discipline and
esprit of his command for conflict more
than on any influence that could be exert
ed in the field Itself, and when collision
came his command vindicated his wisdom
as much as his valOr. III all the achieve
mentS Of the Twentieth Corps in that
campaign Colonel Harrison bore a con-
spicuouS part. At Reseca and Peach Tree
Greek the conduct of himself and com
mand were especially distinguished. Col
Onel Harrison is IN officer of superior abil
tiles. and great professional and personal
worth. 1t gives me great favor to COM
mend him fayorably to the honorable Sec
rotary with the assurance that his prefer
ment Will be a just recognition of his ser
vices and martial accomplishments. Very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH HOOKER,
Toip o1,olC lfN11