Today in Wheeling History: June 17—Thomas Maley Harris, Civil War general, Lincoln assassination trial commissioner, and U.S. pension agent in Wheeling, was born in Harrisville, Virginia (1817).
Thomas Maley Harris was born on June 17, 1817, in Harrisville, Virginia (now West Virginia). Initially pursuing a career in education, he later shifted to medicine, earning his degree from Louisville Medical College in 1843. He practiced medicine in Virginia until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, when he closed his practice and joined the Union Army. Harris commanded the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, later leading a brigade and division during Philip Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns of 1864. He played a crucial role in cutting off Robert E. Lee’s retreat at Appomattox Court House.
Following the war, Harris served on the military commission that tried the Lincoln conspirators. He authored two books on the trial: "Assassination of Lincoln: A History of the Great Conspiracy" (1892) and "Rome’s Responsibility for the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" (1897). He later became West Virginia’s adjutant general, a state legislator, and mayor of Harrisville. Harris also worked as a U.S. pension agent in Wheeling from 1871 to 1876. He resumed his medical practice until retiring in 1885. He passed away on September 30, 1906, and was buried in Harrisville I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/df6xwn6t), West Virginia Military Records (https://tinyurl.com/mrj9n52n), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/43ytd6bc), Internet Archive (https://tinyurl.com/kfdbrca8), Library of Congress (https://tinyurl.com/kyjtcsw8), The Historical Marker Database (https://tinyurl.com/47x4nbb5)
Photo credits: Find a Grave, Wikimedia Commons, Internet Archive, Library of Congress, The Historical Marker Database
Thomas Maley Harris was born on June 17, 1817, in Harrisville, Virginia (now West Virginia). Initially pursuing a career in education, he later shifted to medicine, earning his degree from Louisville Medical College in 1843. He practiced medicine in Virginia until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, when he closed his practice and joined the Union Army. Harris commanded the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, later leading a brigade and division during Philip Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns of 1864. He played a crucial role in cutting off Robert E. Lee’s retreat at Appomattox Court House.
Following the war, Harris served on the military commission that tried the Lincoln conspirators. He authored two books on the trial: "Assassination of Lincoln: A History of the Great Conspiracy" (1892) and "Rome’s Responsibility for the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" (1897). He later became West Virginia’s adjutant general, a state legislator, and mayor of Harrisville. Harris also worked as a U.S. pension agent in Wheeling from 1871 to 1876. He resumed his medical practice until retiring in 1885. He passed away on September 30, 1906, and was buried in Harrisville I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/df6xwn6t), West Virginia Military Records (https://tinyurl.com/mrj9n52n), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/43ytd6bc), Internet Archive (https://tinyurl.com/kfdbrca8), Library of Congress (https://tinyurl.com/kyjtcsw8), The Historical Marker Database (https://tinyurl.com/47x4nbb5)
Photo credits: Find a Grave, Wikimedia Commons, Internet Archive, Library of Congress, The Historical Marker Database
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