Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/784

732 aide-de-camp on the General’s staff. After Johnston’s death Governor Harris continued to serve at the general headquarters of the army in the west throughout the war, and took part in all important battles except Perryville. At the close of the struggle he went to Mexico, in August, 1861, and eighteen months later, to England, where he remained a year. In 1867 he returned and resumed his law practice at Memphis. He was elected to the United States Senate, taking his seat March 5, 1877, and promptly became a leading member of that distinguished body. Notwithstanding his arduous part in great and exciting events, he retained his remarkable force to the end of his lengthened life. His sixth term in the Senate would have expired in 1901, but death came in 1897 to close his career.

Robert Looney Carruthers, elected as the successor of Governor Harris of Tennessee, was born in Smith county, that State, July 31, 1800. He began the practice of law at Carthage, and subsequently removed to Lebanon, and in 1827 was commissioned state s attorney by Governor Sam Houston. Elected to the legislature five years later, he served on the judiciary committee. In 1841 he succeeded John Bell in Congress, but declined re-election. In 1844 he was elector at large on the Whig ticket, and in 1852 was appointed to the Supreme court to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Nathan Green. He was re-elected by the legislature and by the people, and remained upon the supreme bench until his functions were suspended by the war. In 1861 he was a member of the Peace congress, and was a delegate to the provisional Congress of the Confederate States at Richmond. In 1863 he was elected governor of Tennessee, but the fortunes of war did not permit his inauguration. In addition to these civil positions he held in 1864 the rank of brigadier-general of Tennessee militia. After the war he devoted himself to the Cumberland university