Lewis Harden

The Civil War was fought between North (Union) and South (Confederates). Each of the millions of soldiers who served in the Civil War has a unique story. Not many will have the same experience in battle or emotional response to their involvement. For those who had to leave home, it was an experience none of them will forget. Being enlisted or
joining the service meant many months away from home, long hours, inadequate food or shelter, and disease. Often spent many days marching on hot days carrying everything
they needed for battle.
A soldier who is 5 ft. 10 in., dark complexion, and dark hair, with grey eyes is known as Lewis Harden. His birthdate is about 1823 and born at Loudoun County, Virginia. G. S. Yancy enlisted Harden on Sept. 8, 1861, at Camp Longstreet. This Camp was named after, Confederate General, James Longstreet in order to train the enlisted. Harden fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg. The Union, led by Major General
Ambrose Burnside, was defeated and lost thousands of men. General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, was the Confederate general who led in the defeat. The Battle of Fredericksburg fought in December 1862, was one of the largest
and deadliest of the Civil War. It featured the first major opposed river crossing in American military history. Burnside’s plan at Fredericksburg was to use thousands of men in General William B. Franklin’s Left Grand Division to crush Lee’s southern flank on Prospect Hill while the rest of his army held Longstreet and the Confederate First Corps. This was the Civil War’s first urban combat because the Union and Confederate
troops fought in the streets of Fredericksburg.
Harden was enlisted in Company Virginia 6th Cavalry Regiment as a Private. On Sept. 22, 1862 he deserted and rejoined on Apr. 28, 1863. He took an extra duty as a Teamster. They drove horses to haul supplies to troops and during battle supplied troops and conveyed equipment like cannon. He left the rebel army at Frederiksberg on Apr. 24,
1863 and headed to Edwards Ferry. Then deserted on May 5, 1863 for tired of service. He made signal to a soldier, Picket, who crossed over and had brought to the union side. Harden was captured on May 23, 1863, at Edwards Ferry. Harden was a prisoner of war
at Old Capital prison in Washington D.C. He was committed on May 25, 1863 and arrested by Poolville, after turning himself in. Harden was charged for being a rebel deserter. A rebel deserter is a person who refuses allegiance and leaves military service for good. Deserters usually leave or runaways from service due to seeing a friend die, or can’t be able to handle the war.

A soldier’s life was kept interesting, not always in a good way, throughout their service. They spent most of their time in camp and dealing emotionally for the war. Lewis Harden was understood as a person who wasn’t ready to fight in war for the many times of deserting. A Civil War Soldier’s daily life was an important part of the war. There is more to a soldier than just being in general a hero or an individual who fought in war.

Bibliography

Civil War Soldiers. N.p.: n.p., n.d. fold3. Web. 7 June 2016. .

"Civil War Timeline / Chronology for October 1861." America's Civil War. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 June 2016. .

"Federicksburg." Civil War Trust. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 June 2016. .

"Lewis Harden in the U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865." ancestry. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 June 2016. .