The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-04-25
DEATH OF MAJ. J. F. HART.
The Famous Commander of Harris
Battery of Flying Artillery Is
No More.

home in YorkvilIe on Thursday after
noon at $50 o'clock OF cancer OF the
stomach. aged about IS years. He
had been seriously sick for several
months and no hopes have been en-
te7tained by his family and numerous
friends since the diagnosis OF his
raalady We made about two months
ago.
In the death OF Major Hart York
county and the State suffer a distinct
loss. He was a loyal. patriotic and
public spirited citizen and during his
;orty years residence in Yorkville &C
complished as much OIL more for the
welfare of the community than any
other individual. He has been one OF
the leading and most successful mem
oers OF the bar and has been interest
cd in numerous important suits. He
was twice married and leaves a widow
and six children. four sons and two
daughters.
Major Harris Career.
Major Hart entered the. South
Carolina Military Academy in 1858,
from Union, and was graduated IN
1857. Not long after his graduation
he was selected as a messenger in the
Presidential election to carry the cleo
toral vote of President Buchanan.
"Afterwards he began to study law,
and was doing very we'll in that pro-
fession when the war broke out, three
years later
In December, 1860, Governor Pick
ems APPOINTED James F. Hart, a lieu
tenant of engineers Of State military
service. Just after bombardment OF
Sumter he was offered the command
of the Washington Artillery, but re-
fused. and the office was given to
Stephen D. Lee as second in ON
mand. with the rank OF senior first
lieutenant. In November, 1861, he
was given command of what after
wards became Harris famous battery.
In July. 1862, his battery was select
ed BY the secretary Of war OF the
C~onfederacy to be converted INTO
flying artillery to operate with cavalry
IN the army OF Northern Virginia.
This battery was in over n hun
bred engagements during the tour
wears struggle, and it won itself a
name. and for its officers and men, a
reputation chat has become a famous
part OF the history of the war.
In 1864 he was promoted to the
rank of major and given a battalion
of horse artillery. Before assuming
this command he was wounded at
Burgess Mill near Petersburg, Va,
in October 1864, and the amputation
of his right leg was necessary. This
compelled his retirement from the
field, and Major Hart remained at
home until February, 1865, when he
returned to the army, crippled as he
was, to aid Gen. Hampton. who was
then retiring before Sherman. Upon
his return to the service he was to re-
ceive a nigh rank in command OF ar
tillery, but at that time all was IN
confusion, and consequently he re-
tanned only the rank Of major OF ar
t~illerv, and the war soon after closed.
In 1881 Major Hart was appointed
one Of three commissioners, the other
TWO being Judge Simonton and VIM.
H. Parker, to digest and codify the
statute law Of South Carolina, and
This work was successfully accom-
plished.
In 1882 Major Hart was elected to
fill the unexpired term OF /. D. With
erspoon in the state senate, and IN
1888 he was a delegate at large from
his state to the National Democratic
convention at St. Louis.
Major Hart took a conspicuous part
in the passage Of the legislation look
ing to the development of the graded
school idea and especially at his home
at Yorkyille.