Gettysburg Daily

Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg Part 42 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey

Colonel Andrew Lintner Harris (1835-1915) commanded the 75th Ohio Infantry Regiment and later Ames’ Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was born in Butler County, Ohio, and graduated Miami University (of Ohio) in 1860. Stuart Dempsey feels that the Miami University Motto: “’To accomplish rather than to be conspicuous,’ nicely sums up Harris’ Civil War career, for he was an excellent officer but never attracted great attention.” Harris mustered into the 75th Ohio in the autumn of 1861 as captain of Company C. He was promoted from major to colonel after Chancellorsville. He became acting commander of the 2nd Brigade (Ames’ Brigade), 1st Division, 11th Corps beginning on the evening of July 1, 1863. Harris continued to lead the 75th Ohio until it was mustered out in 1865. In March 1865 he received a brevet to the rank of brigadier general. After the war Harris practiced law, served as a judge and a state senator from Ohio. He was twice Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, including as Governor William McKinley’s running mate from 1906-1909. Harris was governor of Ohio (some claim he was the last Civil War veteran to be Ohio’s governor). As governor he signed legislation that banned corporate political donations. Harris died in 1915. This image was taken circa the 1860s and is courtesy of Stuart Dempsey.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is our host for a series on the Eleventh Army Corps during the Battle of Gettysburg. Stuart had two relatives in the Eleventh Corps (73rd Ohio Infantry Regiment) and both were killed/mortally wounded at Gettysburg. They are both buried in the National Cemetery. Stuart has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 2004.

In addition to tours at Gettysburg National Military Park, Stuart also conducts tours at other historic sites in North America and Europe. He invites you to have a look at his website: www.battlegroundhistorytours.com.

Previous entries in the Eleventh Corps series can be found here.

In today’s Eleventh Corps post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey presents the role of Colonel Andrew Harris’ Brigade in the afternoon and evening of July 2, 1863.

To email Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey, please click here to reveal his address.

This map shows the location of where our Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#119 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts. Video #120 was taken near the left flank marker of the 107th Ohio Infantry Regiment on the northeast slope of East Cemetery Hill. Video #s 121-122 were taken near the monument to the 25th and 75th Ohio Infantry Regiments. This map was created facing north at approximately 1:50 PM on Friday, November 25, 2011.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is the host for our Eleventh Corps series. He is standing on East Cemetery Hill near the left flank marker of the 107th Ohio Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

In Video #120 (Videos #1-#119 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on East Cemetery Hill near the left flank marker of the 107th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He shows the position of Andrew Harris’ Brigade (formerly Ames’ Brigade) on July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing southeast to northeast to north to northeast at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

The left flank marker of the 107th Ohio sits in the shadows of the landmark water tanks on East Cemetery Hill. This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey has now stepped in front of (north of) the left flank marker of the 107th Ohio. In the background near the vehicles would have been an orchard occupied by the skirmish line for Harris’ Brigade. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

The view of the Borough of Gettysburg from the top of the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse a few days after the Battle of Gettysburg. The Baltimore Pike is in the foreground. The fence and wall visible on the edge of the buildings of town – beyond the tents – is that held by Harris’ left flank regiment, the 107th Ohio Infantry. The trees immediately beyond indicate the small orchard Harris’ men used as concealment while skirmishing. This view was taken facing northwest by Timothy O’Sullivan circa July 7, 1863.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing near the bottom of the slope of East Cemetery Hill near the monument to 25th and 75th Ohio Infantry Regiments. The monument was dedicated on September 14, 1887. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

In Video #121 Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing near the monument to the 25th and 75th Ohio Infantry Regiments. He explains how the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was repositioned before the Confederates attacked on the evening of July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing west to southeast at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Stuart Dempsey is standing on the slope of East Cemetery Hill. In the background is the football field for Gettysburg High School. Confederates attacked towards this position on the evening of July 2, 1863. They moved across the area where the field and buildings are now located. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.

In Video #122 Stuart Dempsey is standing near the monument to the 25th and 75th Ohio Infantry Regiments. He explains how the Confederates attacked Harris’ Brigade in this position on the evening of July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing northeast to west to southeast to south at approximately 5:30 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.
Confederate Brigadier General Harry Thompson Hays (1820-1876) commanded the Louisiana Brigade that attacked Harris’ Brigade on the evening of July 2, 1863. This image was taken circa the 1860s and is courtesy of Stuart Dempsey.
There are not yet any histories of the Eleventh Corps that are in print. Here is the autobiography of Oliver O. Howard, who commanded the Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg. For ordering information, click here.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides, click here.