81ST ILLINOIS ANDERSONVILLE P.O.W. SOLDIER'S ARCHIVE
A great archive of 59 letters by Jordan Carroll Harriss, who enlisted on Aug. 7, 1862 as a corporal into company "A", 81st Illinois Infantry. After nearly two years of fighting, Harriss was captured with a majority of his regiment at Guntown, Miss. on June 10, 1864 and sent to Andersonville prison. After his exchange, he was mustered out with his regiment at the end of the war A large archive of material including his letters from the front, photographs and Bible all carried by him in the war. The correspondence are all primarily to Harriss' wife and its content includes many of his war experiences. In very small part: "[9/1/1862, Camp Anna]...almost every man was aroused on account of a riot in Jonesboro...our army has gained a great victory in Virginia...[9/4/1862,Camp Anna] we are under marching orders...Our camping place I suppose will be Louisville, Kentucky in a few days. 15,000 troops are ordered out of this State to leave immediately...we may never see one another again in this world...[9/8/1862, Camp Cairo] I learned the army of the Potomac is in a critical condition and presents a cheerless aspect...[9/16/1862, Camp Cairo] we have taken a great many secesh prisoners. While I was on duty last night we took a prisoner near the guard house...[9/20/1862, Camp Cairo] The Colonel said we would go to Jackson very soon to join Logan's Brigade...[10/23/1862, Humboldt Tenn.] the news comes here that we are surrounded by about twelve hundred guerillas...They have a great many Darkies employed in fortifying this place...[9/2/1862, Humboldt Tenn.] We had a splendid regimental flag presented to us...the old adopted emblem of our Country shining like gold upon it & our name as a regt. 'The Egyptian Tigers'...[11/9/1862, Humboldt Tenn.] I am looking for important news from the east now as the immense armies of each side are about to come in to contact. The result I hope will bring about a reign of peace...[11/27/1862, Camp La Grange, Tenn.] we expect to shoulder our knapsack and equipment 7 start on a march to Memphis...[11/30/1862, Camp at Holly Springs] I have seen a good many graves at the roadside of soldiers killed in skirmishes since I've been on the march...[12/4/1862, South of Tallahatchie] we started on quick time...to get into an engagement with Price but as we approached he retreated. We had skirmishes with him...taken several prisoners...Gen Sherman had cut off Price's retreat...he'll be stopped in his mad career...[12/9/1862, Oxford] the rebels is coming in by hundreds & giving themselves up. There was about four hundred came in yesterday most from Prices army...[12/18/1862, written by E.M. Harris, In Camp] Carroll has the measles...I will continue to write to you until he gets well...[1/1/1863, State of Miss.] I arrived in camp last night...better than a week in the hospital...News on the one hand that Richmond has been taken by the Federal troops & on the other hand Burnsides has had a battle with the enemy & has been badly whipped...[1/10/1863, Moscow Tenn.] we started on the march from near the Tallahatchie Jan. 5th & have traveled the whole or a part of every day since except one & then our tents were pitched at Grand Junction...We have had some hard marches...We understand that fighting is going on at Vicksburg & we may be called upon to go & help to wrest that place from the rebels if necessary...[1/12/1863] we all would be glad to get home but I don't think we are anxious enough to basely surrender & disgrace ourselves as did a regmt. at Holly Springs...[1/17/1863] we expect to be on the march to Memphis tomorrow...[1/25/1863, Memphis] the hope we have of bright glory is my consolation. It chases away in a great degree the fear of death...[2/9/1863, Memphis, damaged] I was promoted to Co. Clerk yesterday...[2/28/1863, Lake Providence] the temptations of the army come thick and fast I earnestly ask your prayers that we may stand...[3/2/1863, Lake Providence] Millions of dollars are said to be offered by the South to prevent Gen Grant from having these canals cut to overflow the state...[3/31/1863, In the Field] As for me I can say that considering the painful fact that I am robbed so cruelly robbed of the society of the dearest object of my heart...[4/16/1863 Berry's Landing] There are a great many boats going down the river loaded with soldiers & I think from what I can see and hear, we'll go the same way...[7/27/1863, np.] there was a little disagreement among the troops...we are not agreed to free Sambos...[7/31/1863, Vicksburg] Col. Campbell is now commanding our brigade, Brig. Gen. Stevenson is commanding the Div. while John A. is absent...Vicksburg was strongly fortified. We are making it much stronger...my wounds are well...[8/21/1863, Vicksburg]the last military honors paid to a soldier who sleeps the sleep that knows no mortal waking. These volleys are fired over the grave of the deceased, how solemn the thought for if it be melancholy for a man to die in youth surrounded by loving friends in the quiet of his home how much more is it to perish in the tented field especially the battle field surrounded by the faces of the enemies the din & horror of war. War at the best is a stern and terrible evil an evil which nothing perhaps can outweigh unless it be a doubtful & dishonorable peace but a noble cause a cause involving a great principle the triumph of which is more than life or death such a cause as we have espoused to secure the blessings of justice, truth, liberty, union...[9/14/1863, Vicksburg] desire to be among the Defenders of the Good Old Union...[9/30/1863, Vicksburg] reinforce Rosecrans as a mighty struggle is expected..the rebels will bring out all force they possibly can 7 if they are defeated there I think that the great final struggle will have been fought...[10/7/1863, Vicksburg] there is a report here that a fight occurred yesterday near Black River but I still have hopes that I will get a furlough...[10/10/64, Camp Humboldt] some prisoners of Union men tell me they are expecting an attack...we were drawn in a line of battle at 3 o'clock...[11/14/1863,Vicksburg] They who fight for freedom undertake the noblest cause mankind can have to stake...[11/26/1863, Vicksburg, damaged] The news I think looks favorable. We hear the noise of Cannon occasionally in the direction of Black River...[12/17/1863, Vicksburg] there is some talk of us having to leave...for Yazoo City & Chattanooga ...but I think it doubtful...[Christmas Day, 1863] Jeff Davis is despondent, Brighter grows the prospect of the Union...[1/1/1864] I don't have a very good opinion of the Rebs for raising the strife in our land & I don't believe they have a good opinion of themselves for it...if they have much wit they will certainly sue for peace soon as it is plain their cause is hopeless, but as they were fool enough to commence the war I sometimes think they will prolong it until they are nearly exterminated. I understand that the would-be-governor of this state Clarks says that if their armies are defeated if need be the old men, women & children will rise up join hand in hand & march into the Gulf of Mexico...[1/30/1864, Vicksburg] Eleven boat loads of troops landed here yesterday...I begin to think of the grand time...when this rebellion bubble bursts...[2/8/1864, Vicksburg] I was encouraged to see...Old Abe...[has an] order for a draft of so many thousands...that the Rebel armies were becoming less and less thousands by desertion...[2/19/1864,Vicksburg] a portion of the Co. went aboard a boat...to go down river a piece to forage...[3/7/1864, Vicksburg] You confirmed my suspicions in your answer to my inquiry in regard to your being an abolitionist. I think my feelings & yours on this subject coincide throughout. Never think that I'm in favor of elevating the Negro in such a way as to degrade the white man, I want if it is possible for all the different races to live in different portions of country...[3/7/1864, Vicksburg] the troops of our Corps have returned & it was a shocking spectacle to see the suffering appearance of the thousands of Negro women & children that were brought in...[4/18/1864, Vicksburg Pvt. Marion Harriss] I have not heard from Carroll since I left...hope he is alright...[6/9/64, near Ripley] Our force is small not exceeding 8,000...the cavalry had a few shots at a small band of Reb cavalry & dispersed them...The 81st & 95th are all that went from Memphis that were on the Red River expedition...rumors are that there is a considerable force of the enemy there [Corinth]...[6/26/1864, Columbus, from F. L.Strat 136th IL to Carroll's wife after his capture:...I suppose you are all in considerable trouble since you heard so bad news about the boys...". With a variety of personal items carried by Harriss during the war including two sixth-plate ambrotypes in their original thermoplastic case with contemporary identification of Harriss' wife Veleria and baby daughter Viola; a war-date pocket bible with contemporary identification, reading: "Testament carried by J.C. Harriss through the war and past"; and ten war-date letters written to Harriss from his wife with good war-related content. A great grouping from a Union soldier who was captured in battle.