Harper, a native of Falls Township, Bucks Co., P.A., enlisted in the 1st N.J. Cavalry on Feb. 10, 1862, in Trenton, Mercer Co. N.J., and was mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant, Co. C. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on May 4, 1862, to Captain, Co. E, on Oct. 3, 1863, and to Major on Apr. 14, 1865.
He was brevetted Major and Lieutenant Colonel on Mar. 13, 1865. Harper also served as aide-de-camp to Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg throughout the Spring and early Summer of 1864 and afterward as provost marshal of the 2nd Division. Harper was mustered out on Jul. 24, 1865, at Vienna, Fairfax Co., V.A., but reenlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant with Company D, 6th U.S. Cavalry on Oct. 18, 1866.
He received brevets to Captain and Major on Mar. 2, 1867, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in July 1868. During his time with the 6th U.S. Cav., Harper was posted at Austin, Texas in May 1867, Livingston, Polk Co., Texas in May 1869, Fort Griffin, Texas in Sep. 1870, Fort Riley, Kansas in Jan. 1872, Fort Supply, Oklahoma in Jul. 1872, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri in Sep. 1874, Camp Apache, Arizona Territory from Jul. 1875 to Dec. 1876, and Fort Lowell, Arizona Territory from Jul. 1876 to Sep. 1876. After three court-martials for various offenses, the first two of which were unsuccessful as Harper was described as a bit of a "jailhouse lawyer," William Harper Jr. was dismissed from the Army in Sep. 1876.
Harper was admitted to the New York State Soldiers and Sailors Home in Bath, Steuben Co., N.Y. on Jun. 15, 1909, residing there until his death in 1929 at the age of 86.
Harper, a native of Falls Township, Bucks Co., P.A., enlisted in the 1st N.J. Cavalry on Feb. 10, 1862, in Trenton, Mercer Co. N.J., and was mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant, Co. C. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on May 4, 1862, to Captain, Co. E, on Oct. 3, 1863, and to Major on Apr. 14, 1865.
He was brevetted Major and Lieutenant Colonel on Mar. 13, 1865. Harper also served as aide-de-camp to Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg throughout the Spring and early Summer of 1864 and afterward as provost marshal of the 2nd Division. Harper was mustered out on Jul. 24, 1865, at Vienna, Fairfax Co., V.A., but reenlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant with Company D, 6th U.S. Cavalry on Oct. 18, 1866.
He received brevets to Captain and Major on Mar. 2, 1867, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in July 1868. During his time with the 6th U.S. Cav., Harper was posted at Austin, Texas in May 1867, Livingston, Polk Co., Texas in May 1869, Fort Griffin, Texas in Sep. 1870, Fort Riley, Kansas in Jan. 1872, Fort Supply, Oklahoma in Jul. 1872, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri in Sep. 1874, Camp Apache, Arizona Territory from Jul. 1875 to Dec. 1876, and Fort Lowell, Arizona Territory from Jul. 1876 to Sep. 1876. After three court-martials for various offenses, the first two of which were unsuccessful as Harper was described as a bit of a "jailhouse lawyer," William Harper Jr. was dismissed from the Army in Sep. 1876.
Harper was admitted to the New York State Soldiers and Sailors Home in Bath, Steuben Co., N.Y. on Jun. 15, 1909, residing there until his death in 1929 at the age of 86.
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