First (Wheat’s) Special Battalion, Louisiana Infantry
The battalion was so reduced in strength by the end of the Seven Days' Campaign, and the men were so hard to control following Wheat's death, that it was recommended that the battalion be disbanded. This occurred on August 15
Captain Robert A. Harris listed as Captain of company April 18, 1861. Commissioned Lieutenant on 22 April 1861. Appointed Captain by Governor Moore April 22, 1861. Present to June 30, 1861. His horse was shot from under him at 1st Manassas July 21, 1861. On Wheat's death he was promoted Major of the Battalion. After it's disbanding there is no definite mention of his activities although he may have commanded a Battalion of Alabama Infantry, or served with the Provost Marshal around the Mobile, AL area towards the end of the War. He may also been appointed a Captain in the Quartermaster's Department. Surrendered at Citronelle, AL in 1865. Paroled Meridian, MS May 5, 1865.** He was a veteran of Walker's 1856 Nicaragua Campaign where he served in the Artillery. A Robert A. Harris, along with a ______ Key and an Alex D. Finley, were charged with running a gambling establishment and cheating a man out of $2,200 in early February 1861.
http://www.oocities.org/ddhillman2002/tiger.html
** His end of war records show he still indicated his command as
Maj. 1st Spec. Batt. La. Vols.
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2nd Infantry Battalion [also called 1st Special Battalion or Wheat's Tigers] was formed at Camp Walker, near New Orleans, Louisiana, in May, 1861, with five companies. Most of the men were military adventurers who were experienced fighters. It moved to Virginia and saw action at First Manassas, then was assigned to R. Taylor's Brigade and fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign and later the Seven Days' Battles. During the summer of 1862 the battalion disbanded. Its commanders were Majors Robert A. Harris and Chatham R. Wheat.
http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CLA0001BI02
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Dept. of Genl Polk
Office Provost Marshal General
Mobile Feby. 3oth 1864
Col. Geo G. Garner, Chief of Staff
Col.
I respectfully request that Major R. A. Harris of the Special Battalion now unattached be ordered to report to me for assignment to duty. Major Harris is one of the officers on whom I will rely to carry out the system of organizing the prisoners into “working parties” which was submitted/ordered [sp?] to and approved by Maj Genl Commanding
Very Respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.
I. C. Denis
Major & Provost Marshal Genl
M320: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Louisiana [Card # 16]
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MOBILE, ALA.,
April 13, 1864.
General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General:
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders from the Adjutant and Inspector General, bearing date March 17, 1864, I have inspected the District of Mobile, Major General Dabney H. Maury commanding,and lay before the Department the following remakes, as the result of my observations: . . .
. . . The general commanding has efficiently organized a laboring force, composed of persons sentenced by courts-martial to hard labor, and in so doing has not only provided a valuable available laboring force, but by organizing them into companies has given employment to a number of meritorious officers whose original commands had been expended in service. The system works well and is highly creditable in its details to Major Harris, the senior officer in charge. I append a report of the force. . . +
GEORGE B. HODGE,
Colonel and Assistant Inspector-General.
OR V 32, PT. 3, pp. 778 - 780
+Omitted.