Biography: Brigadier-General David Bullock Harris
Brigadier-General David Bullock Harris, a distinguished
military engineer, was born at Fredericks hall, Louisa county,
Va., September 28, 1814. He was graduated at the United
States military academy in 1833, with promotion to brevet
second lieutenant of First artillery, and a year later was
called to the position of assistant professor of engineering
at West Point.
On August 31, 1835, he resigned from the army and entered the
profession of civil engineering, for some time being employed
on the James river and Kanawha canal. Subsequently he became
a planter and exporter of tobacco and flour.
Early in 1861 he was commissioned captain of engineers of the
Virginia forces, and was assigned to the staff of General
Beauregard, with whom he was associated from that time until
the end of the war.
He was the first to reconnoiter the line at Bull run, planned
and constructed the works for the defense of Manassas
Junction, and in the heat of the fight of July 21st, at the
critical moment when Elsey led his brigade upon the field, he
guided that officer into position.
He accompanied Beauregard to the Mississippi valley, and after
inspecting the defenses at Columbus, Ky., was intrusted with
the construction of works at Island No. 10 and vicinity, to
which the artillery was removed from the Columbus
fortifications.
After the fall of New Orleans he located and constructed
fortifications for heavy guns at Vicksburg, and thence he went
with Beauregard in 1863 to Charleston, S. C.
Of his work here, Beauregard wrote, "My best and almost only
assistant for planning the construction of batteries and
making the selection of sites on which they were to be erected
was Maj. D. B. Harris, the chief engineer of the department,
on whom I placed the utmost reliance, and who always
thoroughly understood and entered into my views."
Early in May, General Beauregard was at Petersburg, in command
of the department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, and
here Harris, now promoted colonel, found immediate field for
work at Drewry's bluff, where his services and advice
contributed greatly to the successful defense of the
Confederate lines.
He continued on duty in the defense of Petersburg, with
promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, until his death,
October 10, 1864.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 600
Brigadier General David Bullock Harris
Brigadier-General David Bullock Harris, a distinguished military engineer, was born at Fredericks hall, Louisa county, Va., September 28, 18l4. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1833, with promotion to brevet second lieutenant of First artillery, and a year later was called to the position of assistant professor of engineering at West Point. On August 31, 1835 , he resigned from the army and entered the profession of civil engineering, for some time being employed on the James river and Kanawha canal. Subsequently he became a planter and exporter of tobacco and flour. Early in 1861 he was commissioned captain of engineers of the Virginia forces, and was assigned to the staff of General Beauregard, with whom he was associated from that time until the end of the war. He was the first to reconnoiter the line at Bull run, planned and constructed the works for the defense of Manassas Junction, and in the heat of the fight of July 21st, at the critical moment when Elzey led his brigade upon the field, he guided that officer into position. He accompanied Beauregard to the Mississippi valley, and after inspecting the defenses at Columbus, Ky., was intrusted with the construction of works at Island No. 10 and vicinity, to which the artillery was removed from the Columbus fortifications. After the fall of New Orleans he located and constructed fortifications for heavy guns at Vicks- burg, and thence he went with Beauregard in 1863 to Charleston, S. C. Of his work here, Beauregard wrote, "My best and almost only assistant for planning the construction of batteries and making the selection of sites on which they were to be erected was Maj. D. B. Harris, the chief engineer of the department, on whom I placed the utmost reliance, and who always thoroughly understood and entered into my views. " Early in May, General Beauregard was at Petersburg, in command of the department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, and here Harris, now promoted colonel, found immediate field for work at Drewry's bluff, where his services and advice contributed greatly to the successful defense of the Confederate lines. He continued on, duty in the defense of Petersburg, with promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, until his death, October 10, 1864.
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Name: David B. Harris
State: VA
County: Goochland County
Township: No Twp Listed
Year: 1850
Record Type: Slave Schedule
Page: 459
Database: VA 1850 Slave Schedule
Name: David B. Harris
State: VA
County: Goochland County
Township: No Twp Listed
Year: 1860
Record Type: Slave Schedule
Page: 238
Database: VA 1860 Slave Schedule
Unvarified Genealogical listings on-line:
David Bullock Harris [son of Frederick Harris abt 1777 - 9 April 1842, Fredericks Hall, Louisa, Virginia and Catherine Snelson Smith 10 Nov 1786 Louisa, Virginia - 26 Dec 1848 Frederick Hall, Louisa, Virginia]
Born: 28 Sep 1814 Fredericks Hall, Louisa, Virginia
Died: 10 Oct 1864
Spouse: Eliza Knights
Born: London, England
Children Sex Birth
Alex B Harris M
Morton F
Leake F
Savid Bullock Harris M
Richard Harris M
Alexander B Harris M
Eva Harris F
JR