My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT METCALF HARPER was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 22, 1843. He was the second son of John and Lydia Electa (Metcalf) Harper. On his father’s side, the subject of this sketch was of Irish descent, and on that of his mother he was an American of ten generations of New England ancestry, inheriting from both parents a strong, vigorous constitution. During his childhood he developed those manly qualities which in after years rendered him distinguished among his comrades at school, college, and in the army. His preparatory studies were pursued at Kenwood school, near New Brighton, Pa.; and at the age of eighteen years he passed the examination and entered into the regular course of study at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y. During his summer vacation, in 1862, the second battle of Bull Run was fought and lost, which was followed by President Lincoln’s call for more troops. Active, strong and healthy as he was, the appeal went straight to his heart and determined his action, which was to abandon his collegiate course and enter the army. He secured the consent of his parents, immediately enlisted, and was mustered into service Aug. 25, 1862, joining the 139th P.V., just organized in Pittsburgh, and was chosen its adjutant. The regiment was ordered to the front, and arriving at Washington was assigned to the sad and trying duty of burying the bodies of the slain that still lay exposed on the disastrous battlefield of second Bull Run. Thus began his initiation with the severest ordeal that could be imposed upon a young soldier fresh from home and a loving mother’s arms. At the battle of Antietam he received his “baptism of fire,” and subsequently passed unscathed through all the campaigns and battles his regiment was engaged in, until stricken down in the dreadful carnage at the battle of the Wilderness. So severely was he wounded in this engagement that at first his life was despaired of, the surgeons considering his case beyond their power to relieve; but comprehending his condition, he demanded their assistance at the appearance of a favorable symptom, and by sheer force of will, aided by the surgeon’s skill, his life was saved. Still no hopes were entertained of his ever being able to render further active service to his country. He was removed to Fredericksburg, and from there to Washington to the residence of a friend, where, with careful nursing and skillful treatment, his wounds began to heal, and he was enabled to proceed to his home. Having recovered sufficiently, by the fall of 1864, to resume fresh duties, he was promoted, Aug. 17, 1864, to the rank of Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General of U. S. volunteers by the President, and assigned to the Department of the Monongahela; was detailed by Gen. Couch to take charge of a force of infantry, cavalry and artillery, in the mountains near Uniontown, during a threatened invasion of Pennsylvania. Still unfit for field duty, in January, 1865, he was assigned to the staff of Gen. Cadwalader, Department of Pennsylvania, headquarters in Philadelphia, and was one of the guard of honor to President Lincoln, while his remains were in that city. May 21, 1865, he was breveted Major and Assistant Adjutant-General of U.S. volunteers “for faithful and meritorious services and gallantry during the war.” He was afterward transferred to the staff of Maj.-Gen. Weitzel, when about to proceed to Texas with his command; but was recalled by Secretary of War Stanton upon receiving a petition from his parents to allow their son to retire from the army, the war being practically over, if, in the secretary’s opinion, his services were no longer actually required. When he reported to the War Department he was tendered a commission in the regular army of the United States, but he declined, and was honorably discharged at his own request, and mustered out June 27, 1865, by special orders.

Upon leaving the army, Maj. Harper returned to his home, and, after a brief visit, re-entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, N. Y., and resumed his studies where he had left them off three years before, and graduated with honor in the class of 1867, a Civil Engineer. Subsequently, mercantile pursuits claiming his attention, he assisted in establishing the firm of Dilworth, Harper & Co., continuing a member of the house till his death from typhoid fever, Dec. 10, 1871. His loss was an irreparable one to his family, who will continue to miss till the end of life’s journey the beloved, affectionate son and brother; to his country, who lost a true, ardent, zealous patriot; to his comrades, who bear testimony to his brave soldierly qualities in camp and field; and to society, who recognize in him a perfect gentleman and citizen, exemplifying always those traits of morality and rectitude which mark the perfect man. On the ground where Gen. Braddock met his defeat in 1751, and where Gen. Washington engaged in his first battle, there was erected, in 1886, a noble granite shaft, overlooking that memorable field of bloody massacre, by the G. A. R. Post, No. 181, in memory of comrades who have died; this column bears in letters of bold relief the name of their patron hero, Major A. M. Harper. But to those who knew and admired him no granite monolith is needed to impress upon their minds and hearts the memory of the one they loved. Yearly, on Decoration Day, his comrades of the post gather at his grave, and with solemn ceremony strew upon it rare and fragrant flowers emblematic of his character.