A Biography of Union county Soldiers. Veterans' Photographic Souvenir. (G.A.R)

WILLIAM HARRIS

William Harris is one of the older soldiers who now tills the soil of Union County. At the age of twenty-two, August 11, 1862 he enlisted in Company C. 33d Iowa infantry at Oskaloosa, Iowa and with the regiment left his home, relatives and friends with such a parting as comes but once in a life-time. Late in the afternoon of October 4th his regiment was mustered into the United States service by Lieutenant Chas . J . Ball of the regular army. It was an impressive scene- the day was clear and beautiful and as the mello rays of the sun approached more nearly the horizon, the men were drawn up in long double lines in camp and the necessary examinations followed, and the clear and ringing voice of Lieutenant Ball pronounced the oath of enlistment. The upraised hands fell to the position of attention and the 33d Iowa infantry was part of the great United States army. November 20th they left Camp Tuttle, Oskaloosa, Iowa under orders for active service in the field. A large concourse of relatives and friends gather to say good bye, but cheerfully, bouyantly the regiment marched away strong in the consciousness of a great and noble cause. The march to Eddysville, ten miles over a muddy road under knapsacks which bore down heavily on unaccustomed shoulders, was one of the hardest they ever had. Taking the cars at Eddysville, the regiment reached Keokuk that evening and at about 10:00 P.M. to the music of the brass band playing on the deck of the steamer." Northerner" they bade adieu to Iowa, passing down the river with out any very remarkable incidents. They reached St. Louis in the night of the 21st. the regiment was never on a march nor in the battle that the presence of William Harris failed to be there. He was in eleven hard fought battles. From the time of his enlistment until the close of the war his one great desire was to meet his comrades with a kind word. He was discharged August 1865, returned to his home in Makaska county , where he lived intill the spring of 1880, from there he came to Union county where he now resides, having formed a large circle of friends and comrades.