John M. Harrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Mortimer Harrell
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John M Harrell
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| Born | December 14, 1828 Gatesville, North Carolina |
| Died | July 4, 1907 (aged 78) San Antonio, Texas |
| Buried |
Hollywood Cemetery,
Hot Springs, Arkansas |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held | Harrell's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Author of The Brooks and Baxter War and the Arkansas section of the 12 volume book: Confederate Military History. |
John Mortimer Harrell (December 14, 1828 - July 4, 1907) was an important lawyer in Little Rock, Arkansas, from the 1850s to the 1870s. He sent the very first telegram from Little Rock to Memphis. During the American Civil War, he was a brave cavalry officer. After the war, he became a leader in the United Confederate Veterans group for Southern Arkansas.
Contents
Early Life and Career
John Mortimer Harrell was born on December 14, 1828, in Gatesville, North Carolina. He grew up to become a lawyer. He was known for his legal work in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He also had a role in early communication history. Harrell was the person who sent the first telegram ever from Little Rock to Memphis. This was a big step for connecting cities by telegraph.
A Career in Newspapers
Besides being a lawyer, John Harrell was also a newspaper editor. In 1861, he worked as the political editor for a paper called the Old Line Democrat. He later edited another weekly paper called the Southern States.
In 1876, he was one of the editors for the Arkansas Gazette. This was a well-known newspaper. Later, he moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and edited the Hot Springs Telegraph around 1880.
Service During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, John Harrell joined the Confederate Army. He became a cavalry officer. Cavalry units rode horses and were important for scouting and quick attacks.
Harrell led a group called Harrell's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion. He was known for his actions in battles in the western parts of the war. He served until the war ended in 1865.
After the War: Writing and Politics
After the Civil War, the United States went through a period called Reconstruction. This was a time when the country tried to rebuild and bring the Southern states back into the Union. John Harrell was active in politics during this time. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
He wrote a lot about the political events happening in Little Rock. He kept many newspaper clippings and wrote his own thoughts about them. His writings were later published in a book called The Brooks and Baxter War in 1893. This book is a very important source for understanding the Brooks–Baxter War, which was a conflict in Arkansas.
Harrell also wrote a section about Arkansas for a large book series called Confederate Military History. This showed his knowledge of the war and his home state. He passed away on July 4, 1907, in San Antonio, Texas.
