Baptist layman and future editor of the Alabama Baptist (the state newspaper of Alabama’s Southern Baptists) from 1884 to 1902, John Gideon Harris, organizer of Company I of the Alabama 20th Infantry Regiment in Greene County, assembles with the full regiment. The regiment is comprised of recruits from Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Russell, Tuscaloosa, and Washington counties.
Harris’ company fights in the following battles:
18 June 1862 – Cumberland Gap
27-29 December 1862 – Chickasaw Bayou
2-25 April 1863 – Greenville Expedition (detachment)
May-July 1863 – Vicksburg Campaign
1 May 1863 – Port Gibson
16 May 1863 – Champion Hill
May-July 1863 – Vicksburg Siege
September – November 1863 – Chattanooga Siege
23-25 November 1863 – Chattanooga
May – September 1864 – Atlanta Campaign
5-11 May 1864 – Rocky Face Ridge
25 May – 4 June 1864 – New Hope Church
27 June 1864 – Kennesaw mountain
22 July 1864 – Atlanta
July – September 1864 – Atlanta Siege
31 August – 1 September 1864 – Jonesboro
February – April 1865 – Carolinas Campaign
7-10 March 1865 – Kinston
19-21 March 1865 – Bentonville
On April 9, 1865, near the war’s end, the 20th consolidates with the 30th Infantry Regiment at Smithfield. John Harris emerges as one of the fortunate few from the regiment who survives the war. When the regiment surrenders at Salisbury, only about 165 of the original 1100 men are yet enrolled.
In addition to editing the Alabama Baptist in his post-war career, Harris serves as a lawyer and civil servant.
Sources: John G. Harris biographical information (link); Alabama 20th Infantry Regiment (link)
