James W. M. Harris Papers, 1857-1900
span 1857-1900, bulk 1863-1864, 1 linear foot, MS 2000-085
After evacuating their plantation, Avenel, in Vicksburg, Mississippi because of the war, Judge Harris's family and slaves moved to Eufaula, Alabama, and the Judge became an auditor in the Confederate Post Office Department and Treasury in Richmond, Virginia. While his brother, General Nathaniel H. Harris is far better known and well documented in the history texts, Judge Harris lived and worked in Richmond from May 1863 - January 1865. During this period he carried on extensive personal as well as business correspondence with his wife and government officials. Over 120 letters document activities and emotions both in Richmond and in Eufaula as well as on the battle fields where he visited his brothers (Nathaniel and William Harris) at their encampments. Judge Harris documented the camps in sketches in addition to letters to his family. The collection also has a few bound volumes, including some small pocket diaries of his wife's and her mother's documenting their slaves (names, shoe sizes, etc.). Additional correspondence from the 1880s by government notables documents the Judge's attempt to become governor of the Washington Territory.
This is a unique collection in that so many letters from one family are intact, and it provides the perspective of a country judge, lawyer, and slave owner who moved to the capitol of the Confederacy. Judge Harris is, indeed, as he refers to himself, a "goosequill warrior" and a "guardian of the very gates of the post office and treasury.". We would not have been able to purchase such an outstanding resource of social, political, and Civil War history without the generous support of the Wallace Foundation.
This is the first of several lists of this collection.
| Folder | Date | Place | To | From | About per CV | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859, Sept. 21 | Dobbs Ferry | [Harris, Judge] Dear Cousin Jim | J. M. Harris | brief trip by steamer on Great Lakes; family news | transcribed: HarrisJMHarris JWM18590921 |
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| 1862, Dec. 5 | Richmond | Genl | Campell, I. A. | Secretary of War releases (from military service?) to white males who own plantations of >20 slaves | transcribed | |
| 1863, Dec. 17 | Richmond | Singleton, O. R., Hon. | Burton N. Harrison | acknowledgement of letter from members of the House of Representatives recommending JWMHarris to be 3d auditor [GMc] | transcribed: BNHarrison 18631217 |
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| 1863, Dec. 4 | Richmond | Mrs Annie D. Harris, Eufaula, Ala | Harris, J W M; father | Discusses causes of the war, "war a revolution, not a rebellion;" description of Richmond, Jeff Advis, its anti-____ | transcribed: HarrisJWMAnnie D18631204 |
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| 1863, Jan. 10 | Richmond | Judge J. W. M. Harris, Vicksburg, Miss | Lee, G. W. C. [secy] | wrote for President to reciprocate kind sentiments | transcribed | |
| 1863, June 8, | Jackson | My dear Brother [Harris, Gen. N.H.; per CV] | Brother Jim [Harris] | glad to hear of Nat and Billy's escape. 2 weeks' siege of Vicksburg, 15,000 Yankee dead; 30,000 Yankee wounded, "every house a Yankee hospital, every lawn a Yankee graveyard" | transcribed: HarrisJWMNat 18640608 |
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| 1863, Nov. 21 | Camp HdQrs Posey's Brigade Near Orange Court House [Richmond?] | Mrs Carrie D Harris, Eufaula, ALA | Harris, J W M; father | writes of the war--"not a rebelion, but a revolution, brought upon us by political factions, combination of the age and corruption of politicians | transcribed: HarisJWMCarrieD 18631121 |
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| 1863, Nov. 28 | Richmond | Mrs Natilie Harris, Eufaula Ala | Harris, J W M; father | visits Nuts Brigade; marching out towards Fredericksurg to meet Yankee Army; climbs Clark's mountain and sees Culpepper Ctt, and Yankee fronts 18 miles off | transcribed: HarrisJWMNatilie 18631128 |
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| 1863, Oct. 12 | Eufaula, Ala | Dr. Dear Sir, Mobile | Bland, I. W. M. | [thanks for taking care of children when they were sick in Mobile] GMc | transcribed | |
| 1866, Nov. 5 | Richmond | My dear friends [Judge Jim Harris] | Myers, C.H. & G. | mentions fires in Richmond, bldgs destroyed | transcribed: Meyers 18661106 |
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| 1871, Aug. 6 | Eufaula, Ala. | Hon. J. W. M. Harris | C. J. Pope | condolences on wife's death | transcription: PopeCJHarrisJWM 18710806 | |
| 1871, Aug. 7 | Cousin Jim [J. W. M. Harris | J. M. Harris | condolences on wife's death | transcribed: HarrisJM 18710806 |
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| 1873, Nov. 29 | Vicksburg, Miss. | photograph (by B & G. Mossey, 1 Camp St. (corner Canal), New Orleans, LA labeled: Judge James. W. M. Harris, Nov. 29, 1873, For His sake [GMc] | photo | |||
| 1879, Feb. 3 | Washington [DC] | [certificate] | Hopkins, Archibald | certifying JWM Harris is an attorney of the Court of Claims [GMc] | transcribed: HopkinsA 18790203 |
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| 1884, July 4 | Jackson, Miss. | [certificate] | C. C. Campbell for Oliver Clifton | certfying JWM Harris is a practricing attorney of Mississippi Supreme Court [GMc] | transcribed: CliftonO 18840404 |
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| 1884, June 28 | Mississippi | [testament] | McKee, Jas. M. | certifying JWMHarris is practicing attorney of the Circuit Court of the US, Southern District of Miss. [GMc] | transcribed: McKeeJM 18840628 |
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| 1884, May 21 | Netchez | Natches Library Assoc. | J. W. M. Harris | Address of J. W. M. Harris, to the Natchez Library Association, may 21st, 1884. The Lesson Which Natchez Heaches Her Sons. Natchez Democrat Print [publication] [GMc] | publication; 2 copies | |
| 1884, May 31 | Harris, J W M | [his mother] | hardships; Negros gone to Texas | transcribed | ||
| 1884, Sept. 29 | Port Townsend | Lola and Natalie | Harris, J W M; father; Loving Papa | describes his activities in Washington Territory; Chinese cook; room/$15/month; bread/$.25 | transcribed: HarrisJWMNatalie Lola18840929 |
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| 1884, Sept. 5 | Richmond | To all whom it my conern | John H. ______, Postmaster General | travel pass | transcribed: JHReagan 18640905 |
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| 1885, April 4 | Washington Territory | President Clevelant | Kuhn, J. A.; Metcalfe, J. B. | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr [GMc] | transcribed: KuhnMetcalfe 18850404 |
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| 1885, April 4 | Washington Territory | President Clevelant | petition, 25 signatures | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr, petition, political parties often noted [GMc] | transcribed: Petition 18850404 |
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| 1885, Dec. 12 | Washington [DC] | [certificate] | William H. Seward | certifying copy | transcribed: WHSeward 18651217 |
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| 1885, June 10 | [New York? GMc] | Judge | M. M. Gibson | Gen'rl Gibson has been ill but will accept a visit from Judge and Gen'rl Harris [GMc] | transcribed: Gibson 18850610 |
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| 1885, June 13 | Washington, DC | [Lamar] Secretary of the Interior | Metcalfe, J. B. | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr a telegram [GMc] | transcribed: MetcalfeJB 1885o613 |
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| 1885, June 15 | Seattle, Washington Territory | [Lamar] Secretary of the Interior | Cochran, J. T. | Western Union telegram from Mexican Veteran and exUnion soldierre JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr [GMc] | transcribed: CochranJT 18850615 |
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| 1885, June 23 | Washington Territory | [Lamar] Secretary of the Interior | petition, 25 signatures | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr, petition, various occupations noted [GMc] | transcribed: Petition 18850623 |
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| 1885, June 5 | Washington City | President | Gwin, Wm. M. | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr [GMc] | ||
| 1885, May 19 | Jackson, Miss. | Lamar, L. Q. C. | George, J. Z. | stationery of George, Hemingway, and Shotwell re JWM Harris for Gov. of Washington Terr. [GMc] | ||
| 1885, May 25 | Utica NY | Lamar, L. Q. C. | Kernan, Francis | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr [GMc] | transcribed: Kernan 18850525 |
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| 1885, May 25 | Washington, DC | President | Manning, Van H | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr [GMc] | transcribed: ManningVH 18850525 |
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| 1885, May 26 | Washington, D.C. | President | Gibson, R. S.[?] | reference for Harris to be Gov. of Washington Territory [GMc] | transcribed: GibsonRS 18850526 |
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| 1885, May 26 | Huntington, PA | Lamar, L. Q. C., Sect of Interior | Speer, R. M. | recommendation for Hon. J. W. M. Harris to be Governor of Washington Territory [GMc] | transcribed: SpeerRM 18850526 |
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| 1885, May 26 | Washington DC | [Lamar] Secretary of the Interior | Day, M. H. | re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr [GMc] | transcribed: DayMH 18850526 |
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| 1885, May 6 | Huntington, PA | Randall, Hon. S. J. | Speer, R. M. | reference for Harris to be Gov. of Washington Territory; verso not to Lamar for favorable action [GMc] | transcribed: SpeerRM 18850606 |
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| April 4, 1885 | N.P. | [notes on envelope] | Singleton, O. R. | recommends JWM Harris with others to Governorship of Washington Territory [GMc] | transcribed: SingletonOR 18850404 |
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| July 1,1863 | Cahaba, Ala | Hon. Harris, Dear Sir | Griffin, Wade H. | seeks Harris' help in researching claims to lands in "Yazoo Purchase," purchased by uncles Joshua and Joseph Downs | transcribed | |
| June 15, 1885 | Seattle, Washington Territory | [Lamar] Secretary of the Interior | Metcalfe, J. B.; Dewolf, J. D.; Boarman, F. B | Western Union telegram re JWM Harris as gov. of Washington Terr; received Dept. of Interior Appt Div July 16, 1885 [GMc] | ||
| N.D. | N. P. | Judge Harris | Mrs. A. E. Johnson | I am as usual in trouble and look for your assistance' [GMc] | transcribed: AEJohnsonND |
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| N.D. | Washington, D. C. | Mr. President | Toole, Jos. K. | recommendation for Hon. J. W. M. Harris to be Governor of Washington Territory [GMc] | transcribed: TooleJK 18850526 |
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| N.D. | N.P. | Cleveland, president | Harris, James. W. M. | application for Governor of Washington Territory [GMc] | transcribed: HarrisJWM 18850404 |
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| 115 | 1863, Dec. 25 | Eufaula | my dear Husband | Your wife M.C. Harris | news; Mandy miscarried, Fannie's baby died; Mr. Lynch arrived with our negros, parlor ornaments badly broken…squandered by negros;Klines preparing to move out | transcribed: HarrisMChusband 18631225 |
| 116 | 1863, Dec. 30 | NP | Jim | I'm mad, Mary | 10 days since she received letters from VA; Mr. Lynch got 1/2 worth of our crop-best he could do | transcribed: HarrisMChusband 18631230 |
| 121e | 1863, July 11 | Eufaula | Mary C. Harris | Bank | Judge sent $7600 in Confed. Notes for you use | transcribed: BankHarrisMC 18630711 |
| 114 | 1863, Nov. 24 | Eufaula | My dear Husband | your affectionate wife | family homes to be torn down in Vicksburg; presently garrisoned by Negroes; houses in Eufaula being "fitted up Yankee style." | transcribed: LumMCjudge 18631124 |
| 105 | 1864, Aug. 11 | Richmond | My Dear Wife | your affectionate husband | hasn't heard from wife; repeats selling river bottom land | transcribed: HarrisJWM 18640811 |
| 106 | 1864, Aug. 13 | Richmond | My Darlingful wife | your affectionate husband | hasn't heard from wife; repeats selling river bottom land | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18640813 |
| 98 | 1864, Aug. 16 | Richmond | My Darling | Jim: Harris, JWM | Danville road is now completed [GMc] | transcribed: HarrisJWM 188640716 |
| 107 | 1864, Aug. 17 | Richmond | Darling | your affectionate husband | Nat and Billie's brigade marched through Richmond; "clerks are again all in the field;" calls wife Mollie; is Rose Billie's wife? [GMc] | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18640817 |
| 121g | 1864, Aug. 26 | Vicksburg | Mother | Mary | heard about Uncle Dan's death; her little Willie died | transcribed: LumAnnHarrisMC 18640826 |
| 103 | 1864, Aug. 4 | NP [Richmond?] | NN [to wife?] | yours, Jim | proposes selling land on Mississippi River before war is over; buy tobacco, sell for gold [GMc] | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18640804 |
| 104 | 1864, Aug. 6 | Richmond | My Dear Wife | your affectionate husband | Jim Whitaker; red tape; selling river bottom land; value of dollar vs. gold | transcribed: HarrisJWM 18640806 |
| 111 | 1864, Dec. 12 | Richmond | My dear dear wife | your dearest husband | fearful Savanah is gone by now; regiments and brigades to be consolidated into one with Nat to be ordered to Miss. | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18641212 |
| 112 | 1864, Dec. 16 | Richmond | My dear dear Mary | your affectionate husband | Catherine, Harriet, Julia Myers, Jewesses; LQCLamar also rooms at Myers'; sister Mandy; Capt. Stern | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18641216 |
| 113 | 1864, Dec. 20 | Richmond | Dear darling wife | your husband | Lamar also lives at Myers' sisters; travel story; Mrs. Copland's story; mentions Henry Ritchie capture (Mrs. W C Smedes nephew) | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18641220 |
| 110 | 1864, Dec. 5 | Richmond | My dear dear wife | your affectionate husband, Jim | boarding with Myers, 3 maiden sisters, Jewesses | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18641205 |
| 118 | 1864, Jan. 21 | Eufaula | My dear Husband | Your wife, M. C. Harris | met Capt. Brown of Arkansas; Rose got 2 barrels: tea cups/saucers, dry goods; meal $500/bushel; getting $500 each for 3 to work in salt works | |
| 117 | 1864, Jan. 3 | NP | My dear Husband | Your affectionate wife, M. C. Harris | Old Amos died; Dr. Pope; many [slaves?] ill with same disease; paid Jim Cowan $1083 for Mr. Hicks; Bob Whitake lost 5 negro men [from disease] | transcribed: HarrisMChusband 18640103 |
| 99 | 1864, July 20 | Richmond | My dear Wife | Jim: Harris, JWM | mentions Jim Whitaker, John Howard, Tim Manall [GMc] | partial transcription: HarrisJWMwife 18640720 |
| 100 | 1864, July 21 | Richmond | My Dear Wife | Your affectionate Husband: Harris, JWM | war news: proximity of Federals to West Point, stopped railroad near Opelika. "A great battle will be fought near Atlanta…" "Gen'l Johnston did not fight!" Tom Manlove; Mr. Moody expecting to be exchanged, Fortress Monroe on the bay at Baltimore; Negro pe | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18640721 |
| 101 | 1864, July 25 | Richmond | Darling | Your devoted Husband: Harris, JWM | Harris went to college in Massachusetts | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18640725 |
| 102 | 1864, July 27 | Richmond | My dear darling | Your most devoted Husband: Harris, JWM | Judge Crump, Asst Sec Treasurey, Judge Baker, first auditor; Capt Tyler…Nany Brooke and her son Jimmy Lum [Sum?] | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18640727 |
| 119 | 1864, March 23 | Vicksburg | My dear sister | Mary | "goosequill warriors of the Confederacy;" constant fires; | transcribed: HarrisMC 18640323 |
| 121i | 1864, May 21 | Newman | Mary [not Mary Lum Harris?] | Lissie | Nailor and Emma Kline in prison; busy making bandages; Johnston coming ot Atlanta; mentions Annie Martin, Rose; Anne should go to school in Eufaula | transcribed: LissisMary 18640521 |
| 108 | 1864, Nov. 19 | Richmond | My dear darling wife | your friend and lover and husband | Sherman is rapidly advancing from Macon; depend on Col. Lleuellen--yankees won't disturb him; Let Capt. Stern hire out Jim Whie and faily for meat and land [GMc] | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18641106 |
| 109 | 1864, Nov. 30 | Richmond | My darling darling wife and children | JWMH | "we are now cut off from each other by Sherman;" $5gold piece=$175; [CV says William is Harris' slave, waiting on Nat and Billie] [GMc] | transcribed: HarrisJWMwife 18641130 |
| 121j | 1864, Oct. 3 | NP | Mary [not Mary Lum Harris?] | Lissie | sister Mary wrote that "little Sonny" died Aug. 13; going to Vicksburg; will write with invisible ink (described process); "darkes" are leaving the county wholesale | transcribed: LissieMary 18641003 |
| 121a | 186Q, ND | Rectory [Vicksburg?] | Mrs. M. C. Harris at home | Mrs. M. L. Lord | thanks for the fruit; M. C. Harris' mothing going to Alabama | transcribed: LordHarrisMC 186Q |
| 121b | 186Q, ND | NP | Mrs. Harris | W. W. Lord | your and your sister can be confirmed tonight | transcribed: WWLordHarris MCND |
| 121d | 186Q3, ND | Vicskburg {?] | Mrs. M. C. Harris | W. W. Lord | confirmation following cermon | transcribed: LordMCHarris 186Q3 |
| 121c | 1871 [?], July 26 | Vicksburg | My dear friend | W. W. Lord | condolences; death of his friend--Mary's mother? Anne's? | transcribed: LordHarris MC1871 |
| 121f | 18Q, ND | Eufaula | NN | refugee friend | children and tea; Powel? | transcribed: RefugeeHarris MC18Q |
| 121k | 18Q, ND | NP | Mary Lum | Julia Payne, mother | asks Mary to get Dee's speech; says Dee despises her; she's a fool to love Dee | transcribed: PayneLum M18Q |
| 121h | April 14, 1864 | Newman | Mary [not Mary Lum Harris?] | Lissie | sister mary said she'd send money; Hindman seduced a lady in Madison--will be a "natural mother" in 3 mos; Ian Atwood | transcribed: LissieMary 18640414 |
| 120 | May 11, 1864 | Vicksburg | Dear Lizzie | Mary | ||
| NN1 | ND | NP | NK | NK | good paper to write on | transcribed: Unknown 1864Q |
| NN2 | ND | Jamaica Plains | JWM Harris | Sunshine [Annie L. Harris Broidrick] | "Doctor" [husband?] has few patients; her children and Natties' children; Sister Carrie | transcribed: HarrisALHarris JWMJamaicaP |
| NN3 | 188Q, April 13 | Jamaica Plain | JWM Harris | Lolla [Annie L. Harris Broidrick] | we only have a cook, Mary and I do the home-work for all parts of the house except Natties three rooms and besides mind the children | transcribed: HarrisALHarris JWM188Q041113 |
| NN4 | 188Q | Jamaica Plain | JWM Harris | Lolla [Annie L. Harris Broidrick] | directions by train and street car to their house | transcribed: HarrisALHarris JWM188Q |
| NN5 | ND | Liberty-town | Mollie [Broidrick] Broaddrick, Frederick City | Carrie | [Mollie is one of Annie Harris Broidick's children] she has "Virginia manners" according to Carrie's Pa; "Southern" words to Star Spangled Banner | transcribed: CarrieBMollie BroidrickND |
| NN6 | ND Sept. 12 | Minneapolis | Mother | Callie | condolences | transcribed: Callie MinneapolisND |
| NN7 | ND | NP | Callie | Sister | "Dr. Davis … said I had relieved her of neuralgia;" Old Lelah want Mr. Watkins to preach her funeral…" | transcribed: SisterCallieND |
| NN8 | 1871, Aug. 29 | Natchez | Rose | Sister | mentions Bobbie, Frazer, Orlie, Steph, Callie, Dr. Davis… | transcribed: SisterRose 18710829 |
| NN9 | 1868, Feb. 5 | Bolton, Miss. | Ann Lum | Thomas Bolton | lottery tickets, mentions Mrs. Keep, Mrs. Humphries, Mollie | transcribed: BoltonLLum A18680205 |
| NN10 | 1864, Aug. 17 | Vicksburg | Anne | K | cabbages were stolen last night; "Mrs. Lum has lost her baby, little Ga___ie." "I have almost lost hope of seeing you..." "Aunt Easter had left us. We have none of our negroes with us now. " | transcribed: KtoAnn 18640817 |
Return to Introduction
Go to A Recollection of Thirty Years Ago, by Annie Laura Broidrick,
1893, Avenel
Go to Box and Folder Inventory
