Lexington Park in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Sergeant James H. Harris
Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 38th U.S. Colored Troops. Place and date: At New Market Heights, VA., 29 September 1864. Birth: St. Mary's County, MD. Date of issue: 18 February 1874.
Citation: Gallantry in the assault.
James H. Harris entered the service at Great Mills, Maryland on February 14, 1864. He was born in St. Mary's County in 1828 and was listed as a farmer when he joined the U.S. Army. According to official records, Sgt. "Harris spent nine months in the hospital after being wounded at New Market Heights. He was mustered out of service on January 25, 1867 at Indianola, Texas. Although no reason is given in his records, he left the Army as a Private. He spent his later years as a carpenter in Washington, D.C., receiving an Army pension of $12.00 a month at the time of his death on January 28, 1898. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia (Section 27; Grave 985-H)." Harris was not presented the Medal of Honor until February 18, 1874. An order from General Benjamin Butler, dated 11 October 1864, had this to say: "Sergeant Harris, Company B, Thirty-Eighth U.S. Colored Troops, has a medal for gallant conduct in the assault of the 29th instant."
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Location. 38° 15.654′ N, 76° 26.951′ W. Marker is in Lexington Park, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Memorial is on Rennell Avenue West, 0.2 miles east of Willows Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21550 Willows Rd, Lexington Park MD 20653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. United States Colored Troops (here, next to this marker); United States Colored Troops (USCT) (here, next to this marker); Private William H. Barnes (here, next to this marker); Defining Freedom and Building Community (a few steps from this marker); A "War to end all Wars" (within shouting distance of this marker); Two Worlds / One County (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Depression and New Opportunities (within shouting distance of this marker); Lexington Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 12, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
