Augusta's Own - The Grand Army of the Republic Post 39

Along the steep incline in Augusta’s Hillside Cemetery rests James H. Hafer, who had served during the Civil War in the 12th Ohio Infantry, and then later in the 172nd Ohio Infantry. Part of the 12th had been formed in southern Ohio, which helps to explain why Hafer is buried in Augusta as there are several Ohio men in Bracken County cemeteries. Hafer’s gravestone is interesting in design, having an stone anvil as the top piece. What is also interesting is the mention of G. A. R. Post 39. The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization of soldiers and sailors who had served the Union during the war. Each state had dozens upon dozens of posts (Kentucky had over 200 posts in 1909), including Augusta’s own Major Harris Post 39. Finding information on the post itself has not been productive, but at least we do know who the post was named after - Joseph B. Harris, lieutenant colonel of the 16th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment, an organization that came from Bracken, Mason, Fleming, Lewis, and Whitley Counties. Two companies, D & E, were from Bracken County.

Harris, who was commissioned as major of the 16th at Camp Kenton (near Old Washington in Mason County) on September 8, 1861, would be promoted March 15, 1862 to his lieutenant colonelcy. He would resign his commission on July 20th of that same year. I believe his is the Harris who is mentioned as assisting Joshua Taylor Bradford during the battle at Augusta. Not much is known of Harris’s life, but on January 8, 1864 he swore an oath to support the United States Constitution while having been elected as a board of trustee for the Germantown Common School District. Later in 1864 Harris swore another oath to support the constitution, this time on August 24th. Seemingly this process of swearing an oath was used for any elected official. Harris is buried in Savage-Currens Cemetery in Germantown, a stone’s throw from the Bracken County line.

As for Post 39, most of the members were probably from the 16th Kentucky Infantry and the 10th Kentucky Cavalry as these were the primary units raised in the county, but as mentioned there were several Ohioans living in the county after the war, along with numerous Bracken Countians who served in other Kentucky units. The post was still active in 1909, with Pennsylvania born and 59th Ohio Infantry member Benjamin S. Craig as post commander (Craig is also buried in Hillside Cemetery). Past post commanders included William J. Nash (buried in Highland Cemetery), A. A. Mannon, and Nathaniel Yates (a sergeant in the 59th Ohio and buried in Payne Cemetery). Post 39 representatives in 1909 were Samuel P. Conley (12th and 59th Ohio Infantry Regiments and buried in Clermont County) and Henry C. Yates (16th Kentucky Infantry and also buried in Highland). We also know that the post met on the first Saturday of the month at 7:30 p. m (location however unknown). If anyone has more information on the post, please contact us as we would enjoy knowing more about Harris Post 39! We would also be curious to know if there were any Confederate veteran organizations based in Augusta.