Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Harriman founded the village of Somerset, Wisconsin in 1856. He and his brother were in the lumber business, and the close proximity to the Apple River made it an ideal site for a lumber mill. With the onset of the Civil War, he joined the 30th Wisconsin infantry as a captain. The routine activities of a rear guard unit bored him and he sought more action and greater responsibility of command. The 30th Wisconsin spent 1862 and 1863 putting down resistance to the draft and engaging in other prevost duties in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kentucky. Harriman helped organize the 37th Wisconsin in early 1864 and was made its commanding officer as a colonel. Six companies were raised and the unit was sent to the Washington D. C. area to drill, guard prisoners, and provide security for railroads. Because of Grant's need for men, the 37th was quickly assigned to the 9th corps, then commanded by Ambrose Burnside. They participated in Grant's movement from Cold Harbor to Petersburg and were active in the skirmishes that began the Petersburg campaign. Colonel Harriman joined his unit on July 23rd. One week later, under severe fire, he led a charge at the Battle of the Crater. The 37th suffered a sixty-two percent casualty rate as a result of the charge. They continued to participate in all of the succeeding battles of Burnside's corps during the rest of the Petersburg campaign. Harriman and the 37th Wisconsin took a prominent part in the successful assault on April 2, 1865 that led to the capture of Petersburg. He received a brevet brigadier general commission "for gallant conduct in the assault upon Fort Sedgwick, Virginia." After the war, he returned to his lumber and business interests in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Harriman founded the village of Somerset, Wisconsin in 1856. He and his brother were in the lumber business, and the close proximity to the Apple River made it an ideal site for a lumber mill. With the onset of the Civil War, he joined the 30th Wisconsin infantry as a captain. The routine activities of a rear guard unit bored him and he sought more action and greater responsibility of command. The 30th Wisconsin spent 1862 and 1863 putting down resistance to the draft and engaging in other prevost duties in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kentucky. Harriman helped organize the 37th Wisconsin in early 1864 and was made its commanding officer as a colonel. Six companies were raised and the unit was sent to the Washington D. C. area to drill, guard prisoners, and provide security for railroads. Because of Grant's need for men, the 37th was quickly assigned to the 9th corps, then commanded by Ambrose Burnside. They participated in Grant's movement from Cold Harbor to Petersburg and were active in the skirmishes that began the Petersburg campaign. Colonel Harriman joined his unit on July 23rd. One week later, under severe fire, he led a charge at the Battle of the Crater. The 37th suffered a sixty-two percent casualty rate as a result of the charge. They continued to participate in all of the succeeding battles of Burnside's corps during the rest of the Petersburg campaign. Harriman and the 37th Wisconsin took a prominent part in the successful assault on April 2, 1865 that led to the capture of Petersburg. He received a brevet brigadier general commission "for gallant conduct in the assault upon Fort Sedgwick, Virginia." After the war, he returned to his lumber and business interests in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
Family Members
Advertisement
