Henry Harnden
Encyclopedia
Henry Harnden was an officer in the United States Army
during the American Civil War
. He led the Wisconsin troops who assisted a Michigan
military company in the capture of Jefferson Davis
.
. He ventured to sea
early in his life, and moved to Wisconsin in 1852, taking up residence in the town of Sullivan
, in Jefferson County, Wisconsin
. He later moved to Ripon, Wisconsin
.
He also spent many years in California
. He fought in the Mexican-American War and was wounded on several occasions during the American Civil War.
Harnden enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment, Company D, as a private in July 1861, and rose through the ranks. He held the rank of captain from 1862 to 1864, major
from 1864 to 1865 and, for a short time, lieutenant colonel
. On March 13, 1865, he was brevet
ted to colonel
and to brigadier general
. On May 10, 1865, leading a detachment of three companies of the 1st Wisconsin, he assisted the 4th Michigan Cavalry
(after an unfortunate initial friendly-fire engagement with that unit) in the capture of Jefferson Davis at Irwinville, Georgia
.
Harnden mustered out of the service in July 1865 and returned to Wisconsin, settling in Madison
. He served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly
(1866), as well as U.S. Assesor (1867–1873), and U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue (1873–1883). In 1899, Harnden was Department Commander of the Wisconsin GAR
until his death.
Harnden died of pneumonia
at his home in Madison, Wisconsin
, and was buried there in the historic Forest Hill Cemetery
. He was survived by his widow
and four children.
Due to the controversies surrounding the capture of Jefferson Davis
, Harnden authored a short book, The Capture of Jefferson Davis, published in 1898.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He led the Wisconsin troops who assisted a Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
military company in the capture of Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
.
Biography
Harnden was born in Wilmington, MassachusettsWilmington, Massachusetts
Wilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm...
. He ventured to sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
early in his life, and moved to Wisconsin in 1852, taking up residence in the town of Sullivan
Sullivan (town), Wisconsin
Sullivan is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2000 census. The Village of Sullivan is located within the town...
, in Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. He later moved to Ripon, Wisconsin
Ripon, Wisconsin
Ripon is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,828. The City of Ripon's official website claims the city's current population to be 7,701. The city is surrounded by the Town of Ripon....
.
He also spent many years in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He fought in the Mexican-American War and was wounded on several occasions during the American Civil War.
Harnden enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment, Company D, as a private in July 1861, and rose through the ranks. He held the rank of captain from 1862 to 1864, major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
from 1864 to 1865 and, for a short time, lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. On March 13, 1865, he was brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
ted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
. On May 10, 1865, leading a detachment of three companies of the 1st Wisconsin, he assisted the 4th Michigan Cavalry
4th Michigan Cavalry
4th Michigan Cavalry was a regiment of cavalry in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was noted as being the regiment that captured the fleeing President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, as the Confederacy collapsed in the spring of 1865.-Service:The regiment was...
(after an unfortunate initial friendly-fire engagement with that unit) in the capture of Jefferson Davis at Irwinville, Georgia
Irwinville, Georgia
Irwinville is an unincorporated community in Irwin County, Georgia, United States. It is best known as the site of Jefferson Davis's capture at the end of the Civil War. On May 9, 1865, Jefferson Davis and a small group of officials camped in this pine forest, not knowing that Union cavalry...
.
Harnden mustered out of the service in July 1865 and returned to Wisconsin, settling in Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. He served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
(1866), as well as U.S. Assesor (1867–1873), and U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue (1873–1883). In 1899, Harnden was Department Commander of the Wisconsin GAR
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
until his death.
Harnden died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at his home in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, and was buried there in the historic Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery is located in Dane County, Madison, Wisconsin and was one of the first U.S. National Cemeteries established in Wisconsin.After the first permanent settlers arrived in Madison in the 1830s, the first non-native burials occurred on the current University of Wisconsin–Madison...
. He was survived by his widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
and four children.
Due to the controversies surrounding the capture of Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, Harnden authored a short book, The Capture of Jefferson Davis, published in 1898.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals