Terry B of Nashville, Tennessee, had several entries in the Civil War Talk Forum about a Civil War veteran he is doing some research on by the name of Ira Harris, Jr. I have never heard of him, but Terry's research is of interest. AND...he was at Fort Fisher.
He was wounded in the naval assault Jan. 15th, but Terry can't find much about his service during the battle and before it. However, there is quite a bit on his post war career.
He was the son of a senator from Albany, NY,. His sister Clara and step-brother Major Rathbone were sitting with the Lincolns that fateful night in April at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. Major Rathbone later married her and stabbed her to death in Germany. (Definitely a story here.)
Ira went to the Naval Academy in 1860, and, as a member of the Class of '64, sent into action in 1863.
he volunteered for the assault on Fort Fisher as an Acting Ensign from the USS Powhattan. Another man had been named to lead the attack, but Harris said he was single and from a large family. The other man was married and Harris was chosen.
He resigned his commission in 1871 and went into iron-working near Kansas City. He was US Inspector of Ports in New York City in the 20th century.
He is mentioned in the Naval Official Records, Series I, Vol. 11 which relates the family story and mentions that Robley D. Evans was also wounded in the attack.
Interesting Guy. --B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
