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My “G.A.H”  
Army
&
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Record
Page 1
War Record of Anderson
Zouaves U.S. Vols later 62d
N.Y. Vols later 62d Regt.
N. Y. Vet Vol
 
  1. 10.The Anderson Zouaves Regiment
  2. of U.S. Vols later known as the 62d
  3. N.Y. Vols. was recruited by J. Lafayette
  4. Riker in New York City, during the
  5. months of May and April 1861, and first
  6. went into barracks at Salterville N.J.
  7. opposite of N. Y. City. The only company
  8. from outside of the City of New York
  9. was Co “E” which was from Troy N. Y.
  10. under command of Captain Riggs,
  11. 20.1st Lieut James Magee, 2d Lieut Sim Clark,
  12. Orderly Sergeant Oscar Buffington.
  13. Was transferred to Rikers Island
  14. N.Y. Harbor, Long Island Sound, where
  15. we were clothed by Col Riker at his
  16. own expense in the Zouave uniform.
  17. Was mustered in to the U. S. Service
  18. and furnished Arms, Equipments
  19. etc. by the Government, but during
  20. the Peninsular Campaign was given
  21. 30.the No 62d N.Y. Vols when Lincoln
  22. made another call for more troops.
Home > Anderson Zouaves diaries > War record of George A. Harrisson
War record of George A. Harrisson
This “War Record” of George A. Harrisson, while strictly speaking, not a diary, does share many of the same attributes. It is possible that this document was prepared by Harrisson in order to prove his membership of the regiment in support of a claim for a pension after the war. This is all the more likely as Harrisson’s name does not appear in any of the existing records of the Anderson Zouaves. It is possible that he may be Harrison Abrahams of company “E” but this is purely speculation based on a similarity in name. However, the age of the two corresponds exactly and if one assumes, as a citizen of Troy, NY, that Harrison most likely enlisted in company “E” (the Troy Company), then it is not out of the question.
Harrison Abrahams (or Abrams) was 18 years old when he enlisted in company “E” as a private on July 6, 1861 and mustered out on December 21, 1864.
According to this document Harrisson was born on May 12, 1843 in Troy, NY and arrived in New York City where he tried to enlist sometime soon after May 12, 1861.
The original of this document is in the collection of the Tippecanoe Historical Association at 1001 South Street, Lafayette, Indiana with a copy sent by Alameda McCollough of the association to the New York State Historical Association in July 1964. This transcription is made from that copy.
Despite the fact that Harrisson has obviously referred to the Official Records in compiling this war record there also appears to be an intimate knowledge of the movements of the regiment which reassures us that this account is genuine. While this may not be a diary as such there is a strong impression that Harrisson had access to a diary of some description when he wrote this document.
The line and page count has been kept the same as in the original document and, where deemed necessary, there are notes appended to this transcription. In total there are about 40 pages in the document which will be added to this page as they are transcribed and annotated.
For a biography of George A. Harrisson click here
 
Page 6
  1. thrown back so as to face the south,
  2. our left facing the open field to the
  3. east. We discovered the enemy emerging
  4. 150.from the woods on the west of us,
  5. but were informed by an Aid, that
  6. they were Genl. Sumners men.
  7. They filed along the railroad to the open
  8. space when the enemy formed line
  9. of Battle, and advanced at double
  10. quick, when our late Colonel ordered
  11. the regiment to file out of the woods
  12. by the left flank. We were immediately
  13. formed in line of Battle by the Colonel
  14. 160.to the rear of Ricketts and Brady’s
  15. Batteries. Shortly after forming in line
  16. Col Riker was killed, while gallantly
  17. cheering on his men to save the Batteries
  18. which was threatened at the time
  19. by the enemy. In Col Rikers death
  20. we have sustained a heavy loss,
  21. as he was a gallant and brave
  22. officer. My officers, all of them
  23. behaved so nobly that it would
  24. 170.be impossible for me to make
  25. any distinction. My men behaved
  26. bravely and while they act so
  27. nobly I have no fears for the
  28. cause in which they are engaged.
Page 2
  1. Was ordered to Washington in July,
  2. by transports to Elizabeth N.J. then by
  3. cars to Washington. when we arrived
  4. was ordered to Tennalytown to Camp
  5. back of Georgetown D.C. to report
  6. to Genl. J. J. Peck. On Oct 15th. 1861, we
  7. were Brigaded with the 55th. Regt. N.Y. Vols,
  8. the old 13th. or 102d. Penn Vols and the 21st.
  9. 40.Penn Vols to be known as Peck’s Brigade,
  10. General Buel’s Division. March 7 to 11
  11. 1862 we were on the advance of the Union
  12. forces to Manassas, by way of Chain
  13. Bridge. It having rained very hard
  14. before, we were marching through heavy
  15. mud, returned to old camp at Tennallytown
  16. on the 12th. About April 1st 1862 we
  17. were ordered to the Peninsular and Brigade
  18. with the 98th Penn – 102d Penn – 93d Penn – 55th
  19. 50.N.Y. and Anderson Zouaves as Genl. J J
  20. Peck’s Brigade – Genl. Couch’s Division,
  21.  Genl. Keyes, 4th. Corps. On arrival at
  22. Fortress Monroe by steamer we were
  23. ordered to Newport News to go into Camp.
  24. We received orders from Genl. Couch
  25. to move at 6am on the morning of
  26. April 4th. Marched to Warwick River on
  27. the left of line in Yorktown siege.
  28. Threw up fortifications and built
  29. 60.corduroy roads, done picket duty etc.
Page 3
  1. untill May 4th. On finding that the Rebels
  2. had retreated we were moved out towards
  3. Lee’s Mill Road. May 5th marched at day
  4. light through rain and mud and as
  5. the Battle of Williamsburg had commenced
  6. we were urged forward as fast as was
  7. possible, where we arrived about noon and
  8. was pushed to the front line of battle
  9. and into our first Battle. Genl. Sumner
  10. 70.in his report says that “Pecks Brigade
  11. walked into the fight in the most gallant
  12. manner and great credit is due them.
  13. Genl. Keyes in his report says “During an hour
  14. and a half Peck’s Brigade continued to
  15. stand its ground alone, against the
  16. furious onslaughter of the enemy, inflicting
  17. great loss upon the rebels, being relieved
  18. when out of ammunition.
  19. Genl Couch in his report says “Peck’s Brigade
  20. 80.was opposed by nearly the whole of the
  21. enemy’s disposable force in front and
  22. that the 62d N. Y. coming up furiously,
  23. recovered the space lost. Genl. Pecks
  24. in his report says that the 62d N.Y.
  25. held on until its ammunition was
  26. expended and that the four Gun
  27. battery which was captured, was retaken
  28. with their assistance. May 6th. We buried
  29. the dead and took care of the wounded.
Page 4
  1. 90.May 7th Marched towards the Chikahominy
  2. Swamps and river
  3. May 19th Reconnaissance in the vicinity of
  4. Bottoms Bridge and skirmished
  5. May 23d crossed the Chickahominy at
  6. Bottoms Bridge and camped two
  7. miles beyond – Skirmished
  8. May 23d Marched to Seven Pines
  9.    "    31st Fought the Battle of Seven Pines.
  10. our Col J. Layfayette Riker was
  11. 100.killed while leading the Rgt.
  12. Genl Peck in his report says Col
  13. Riker fell while repelling a charge
  14. upon one of our Batteries. His bearing
  15. was marked by great coolness and
  16. determination – Genl Couch says, Col
  17. Riker was killed while setting an
  18. example of courage to his brave
  19. regiment.
  20. June 1st Fought the Battle of Fair Oaks'
  21. 110.under command of Leut Col D. J
  22. Nevin’s – Genl. Hientzelman say that
  23. Peck’s Brigade – Couch’s Division
  24. saved him from a most disastrous
  25. defeat – Lieut-Col Nevin in his
  26. report says – On the 31st ultimo
  27. our Regt. was formed in line
  28. of Battle at 12.30 for the purpose
  29. of changing our position.
Page 5
  1. Before leaving the ground, we heard
  2. 120.heavy firing on our front, where Genl
  3. Casey’s troops was camped. We were
  4. ordered by an aid to move off to
  5. the left of our camp, where the 55d
  6. N.Y., 102d Pa & 93d Pa Regts. were drawn
  7. up in line of Battle. The 55th N. Y
  8. were ordered to advance by Genl Keyes
  9. The 62d were ordered off to the right,
  10. to Fair Oaks Station under Genl Couch.
  11. We marched to Fair Oaks Station, when
  12. 130.we discovered the enemy crossing the
  13. railroad. Genl Couch ordered Col
  14. J. Lafayette Riker to march his regiment
  15. down the road at double quick and
  16. charge the enemy. Our men went
  17. down with a cheer, that broke the
  18. rebel line, when they went back
  19. in the woods from which they came.
  20. After remaining in this position for
  21. some time, we were ordered back
  22. 140.to the Station. We were drawn up
  23. in line of Battle, our right resting
  24. on the railroad, our left on the road
  25. running north. We were then moved
  26. up the road leading north from
  27. the Station, to a clump of woods
  28. where we halted, our right wing
Lines 1 –  5. It has been suggested that G. A. H. is an error and was intended to have been written as G. A. R. However, G. A. H. could just as easily be Harrison’s initals so that these lines could possibly be read as My, George Abraham Harrison, Army and Navy Record.
 
Lines 16 –  21. While not stated explicitly, these lines strongly imply that Harrison was a member of company. Later in the document Harrison actually confirms that he is a citizen of Troy, NY, which would seem to put the question beyond doubt.
 
Lines 19. Captain Miles L. Riggs, a daguerrian (photographer) from Troy, NY, deserted on June 1, 1862, the day after the battle of Fair Oaks. He was replaced as captain by James Magee.
 
Lines 20. Clark’s real name was Luman S. Clark but he was generally known as “Sim”.
 
Lines 21. Sergeant Oscar Buffington, killed at the battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862.
Line 32. Left Riker’s Island for washington on August 21, 1861, not July.
 
Lines 34 – 36. First encamped at Meridian Hill from August 23 to September 26, then Camp Holt at Kalorama from September 26 to October 9, 1861.
Line 90. Starting from this point Harrison appears to be referring to some sort of diary which concisely and regularly summarises the movements of the regiment. In the pages prior to this he appears to be working from memory or from broad generalised descriptions of the regiments activities.
Page 7
  1. 1862
  2. June 23d - Genl. A. P. Howe assigned to command Brigade
  3.    "   25th - Ordered to move Seven Pines to
  4. support Genl Hooker who was fighting
  5.   "   26th - Marched to White Oak Swamp
  6. 180.  "   27th - rested at White Oak Swamp
  7.   "   28th - Crossed White Oak Swamp
  8.   "   29th - Attacked by Cavalry. At night marched
  9. through woods and encamped below
  10. Turkeys Bridge on banks of James
  11. River early in the morning of
  12.   "   30th
  13. July 1st - Battle of Melvern Hill – stationed
  14. in a peach orchard, back of a
  15. large house, with oat field sloping
  16. 190.in front. We drove the enemy back
  17. from three charges and captured
  18. a rebel flag. I was wounded in
  19. right upper arm and right
  20. breast. We were pushed severely
  21. but held our ground. Commenced
  22. fighting at 9.30am and held our
  23. ground, made a charge against a
  24. charge and repulsed the Rebs.
  25. At night retreated to Harrison’s
  26. 200.Landing on the James River.
  27. July 2d to Aug 27th - Built fortifications & ordered to
  28. Washington, marched by way of
  29. Williamsburg, Warwick C.H. to Newport
  30. News and took transports for Alexandra
  31. where we arrived Aug 30th.
(transcription of other pages in preparation)
Page 8
  1. 1862
  2. Aug 31st - Ordered to Genl Pope’s front
  3. Sept 1 - Marched to camp between Alexandra
  4. and Centreville
  5. 210.  "   2d - Covered Pope’s retreat to Fort
  6. Cocoran
  7.   "   4th - Marched to Chain Bridge, Virginia side.
  8.   "   5th - Cossed Chain Bridge. Potomac River
  9. moved up river three miles beyond
  10. Tennallytown
  11.   "   6th - Marched to Offuts Cross Roads
  12.   "   9th - Marched to Seneca Creek
  13.   "   10th - Marched to Poolesville. 55th N.Y. taken
  14. out of Brigade to be consolidated
  15. 220.with another Regt.
  16.   "   11th - Marched by way of river to watch
  17. the Fords
  18.   "   12th - Marched to Barnesville
  19.   "   13th - Marched to Licksville
  20.   "   14th - Marched to Jefferson at 8pm near
  21. Burkittsville and was ordered
  22. to move at 6 A. M. the 15th. The 139th
  23. Pa was assigned and joined our
  24. Brigade here in place of the
  25. 230.55th N.Y. Our Division was assigned
  26. to the 6th Corps
  27.   "   15th - Marched to vicinity of Bohresville where
  28. we arrived at 10PM.
Page 9
  1. Sept 17th - Marched to Sandy Hook and ordered back by forced march to Sharpsburg
  2. or Antietam
  3.  "   18th - In line at Battle at Antietam.
  4. Major Hubbell in command of Regt.
  5.  "   19 - Marched to Williamsport and attacked
  6. 240.the enemy
  7.  "   20th - Moved to cross-roads near Williamsport  
  8. Skirmished
  9.  "   21st - Enemy retreated across the river
  10.  "   23d - Marched to Downsville to guard the ford
  11.  "   30th - At Downsville
  12. Oct 7th - We lost Genl Couch, he being
  13. assigned to command 2d Corps
  14.  "   18th - Arrived at Maryland Heights
  15. Genl. Newton assigned to command
  16. 250.our Division
  17.  "   19th - Marched to Hancock
  18.  "   20th - At Hancock
  19.  "   21st - Ordered to attack enemy at
  20. Hedgeville – Which we did and
  21. then marched to Cherry Creek arriving
  22. at 10PM
  23.  "   30th - Ordered to march to Berlin
  24.  "   31st - Camped near Boonsborough
  25. Nov 1st - Crost Potomac at Berlin in the rain
  26. 260. "   2d - Moved and occupied Snicker’s Gap
  27.  "   3d - Marched to Purcellville
  28.  "   4th - Marched to Union
  29.  
  30.  
Line 259. Should read “Sept 1st”