Presidents at War: Benjamin Harrison and the Civil War
In 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for more recruits for the Union Army Benjamin Harrison decided to enlist. He had been a lawyer and a member of the new Republican Party and had campaigned in 1856 for its first presidential nominee, John C. Fremont. In 1857, he entered politics himself and won election as Indianapolis city attorney. He served as secretary of the Republican State Central Committee and he campaigned for the 1860 presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln. While Harrison was visiting Governor Oliver Morton, the Governor told him that he was upset over the shortage of men answering the latest call for troops. Harrison reportedly told the governor, "If I can be of any service, I will go".
Morton asked Harrison if he could help recruit a regiment. He did not ask Harrison to serve in the regiment. Harrison recruited throughout northern Indiana to raise his regiment. Morton offered him the command of the regiment, but Harrison declined, because he had no military experience. Harrison was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In August 1862, when the regiment left Indiana to join the Union Army at Louisville, Kentucky, Harrison was promoted by Morton to the rank of colonel, and the regiment was commissioned as the 70th Indiana Infantry.
For much of its first two years, the 70th Indiana performed reconnaissance duty and guarded railroads in Kentucky and Tennessee. They didn't see any action until 1864, when Harrison and his regiment joined William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and moved to the front lines. On January 2, 1864, Harrison was promoted to command the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the XX Corps. He commanded the brigade at the Battles of Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. When Sherman's main force began its March to the Sea, Harrison's brigade was transferred to the District of Etowah and participated in the Battle of Nashville. According to Sherman, Harrison served with "foresight, discipline and a fighting spirit."
On March 22, 1865, Harrison earned his final promotion, to the rank of brigadier general. When the war ended following the surrender of Robert E. Lee, Harrison rode in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. before mustering out on June 8, 1865.
Harrison did not recall his Civil War years with much fondness. After the war, Harrison resumed his law practice and work as a court reporter. He continued his activity in state politics, running unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1872. Four years later, he won the Republican nomination only to lose the governor's race in a close election. By 1880, Harrison was deeply involved in national politics, chairing the Indiana delegation to the Republican National Convention. From 1881 to 1887, Harrison served as a U.S. senator from Indiana. In that capacity, he supported many of the issues that he later championed as President, including pensions for Civil War veterans.
Morton asked Harrison if he could help recruit a regiment. He did not ask Harrison to serve in the regiment. Harrison recruited throughout northern Indiana to raise his regiment. Morton offered him the command of the regiment, but Harrison declined, because he had no military experience. Harrison was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In August 1862, when the regiment left Indiana to join the Union Army at Louisville, Kentucky, Harrison was promoted by Morton to the rank of colonel, and the regiment was commissioned as the 70th Indiana Infantry.
For much of its first two years, the 70th Indiana performed reconnaissance duty and guarded railroads in Kentucky and Tennessee. They didn't see any action until 1864, when Harrison and his regiment joined William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and moved to the front lines. On January 2, 1864, Harrison was promoted to command the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the XX Corps. He commanded the brigade at the Battles of Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. When Sherman's main force began its March to the Sea, Harrison's brigade was transferred to the District of Etowah and participated in the Battle of Nashville. According to Sherman, Harrison served with "foresight, discipline and a fighting spirit."
On March 22, 1865, Harrison earned his final promotion, to the rank of brigadier general. When the war ended following the surrender of Robert E. Lee, Harrison rode in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. before mustering out on June 8, 1865.
Harrison did not recall his Civil War years with much fondness. After the war, Harrison resumed his law practice and work as a court reporter. He continued his activity in state politics, running unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1872. Four years later, he won the Republican nomination only to lose the governor's race in a close election. By 1880, Harrison was deeply involved in national politics, chairing the Indiana delegation to the Republican National Convention. From 1881 to 1887, Harrison served as a U.S. senator from Indiana. In that capacity, he supported many of the issues that he later championed as President, including pensions for Civil War veterans.