From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)
Harris, Joseph
Harris was born a slave in Anderson County about 1836.He remained a slave into adulthood; President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in states openly hostile toward the Union. Late in the war, however, the government called for the enlistment of colored regiments, and all who answered the call were granted immediate freedom.
Harris therefore made his way to Camp Nelson to enlist, and on September 9, 1864 was enrolled as a private in Company E of the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry. At that time he testified he was born in Anderson County about 1836.Although not at the full complement of men, those enrolled in the regiment at the end of September were assigned to take part in Burbridge's Campaign into southwest Virginia and were active at the 1st Battle of Saltville on Oct. 2, 1864. In December, another attempt was made to destroy the salt works, and the 5th were again part of Stoneman's Raid. On Dec. 17-18, 1864 the Battle of Marion was fought and the Confederate lead mines were captured, and on the 20th-21st the Federals captured and destroyed the salt works after the 2nd Battle of Saltville.
In Januar 1865, Company E of the 5th regiment was detailed to escort a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson to Louisville. As this column passed through Mercer and Anderson Counties, its progress was closely monitored by Confederate partisans operating in the area. On Jan. 25, 1865, just outside Simpsonville in Shelby County, a band of Confederate Guerrillas under Captain Isaiah "Zay" Coalter caught the colored troopers completely off guard, and after a fifteen minute action all thirty-five men of the rear guard were down, either dead or left for dead, resulting in a complete massacre.
Local citizens gathered up the dead troopers and buried them in a mass grave while the wounded were taken to Louisville. Although Joseph was certainly assigned to this detail, he was not listed among the casualties, and most likely among those further along the trail.
Throughout the spring and early summer of 1865 the regiment saw duty at various posts in central Kentucky until August 1865, when it was transferred to Department of Arkansas. The regiment was engaged in that state against renegade groups until March 1866. It was mustered out of the service at Helena, Arkansas March 20, 1866.