[587]
remarkable for independence of character and uprightness of conduct.
I was particularly happy to renew my acquaintance with him after I came West.
I was surprised and pleased to find that so young a man had won the complete confidence of the commanding general of the department.
On taking command of this corps Harker was still a colonel, and as I was a comparative stranger in the corps, I was anxious to get him to serve as my chief of staff.
He assured me he would do everything in his power to aid me in my duties, but if I would excuse him he greatly preferred command in the field.
His choice I soon learned to appreciate.
Strict and exact in the performance of his own duty, he obtained the most willing and hearty cooperation from all his officers without apparent effort.
The only complaint I ever heard was that if Harker got started against the enemy he could not be kept back.
Yet I never found him other than cool and self-possessed.
Whenever anything difficult was to be done-anything that required pluck and energy-we called on Harker.
At Rocky Face, where his division wrested one-half of that wonderful wall of strength; at Resaca, where he tenaciously held a line of works close under fire; at Dallas, where he held on for several days with thin lines in connection with his brother officers and hammered their works at a distance of less than 100 yards; at Muddy Creek, where he reinforced the skirmishers and directed their movements with so much skill and vigor as to take and hold a strong line of the enemy's earthworks; in fact, at every place where the corps had been engaged, this noble young man earnestly and heartily performed his part.
On June 27th (upon his horse) he led in that terrible assault on the enemy's breastworks.
We did not carry them, but part of his command reached the works.
A sergeant bearing the colors was bayoneted as he was climbing over.
Our beloved and trusted young general was close by, pressing forward his column, when the fatal wound was received.
I never saw him after the fight began.
I do not yet realize that he is goneone so full of rich promise, so noble, so true a friend, so patriotic a soldier.
God grant that we may live like him, and, if
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Baker and Taylor. 1908.
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