William Henry Harman

William Henry Harman (February 17, 1828 – March 2, 1865) was a brigadier general in the Virginia militia and colonel in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, who was killed in action during the Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia (the town where he was born), on March 2, 1865.

A lawyer, Harman had served as a second lieutenant in the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment during the Mexican–American War, and became the commonwealth's attorney for Augusta County, Virginia (from 1851 until Virginia's secession). A brigadier general in the Virginia militia, Harman became one of the commanders whose forces seized the Harper's Ferry Armory and Arsenal on April 18, 1861, the day after the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 voted for secession. Later lieutenant colonel of the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment of the Stonewall Brigade (from May 7, 1861 to April 1862), Harman suffered health problems and was not appointed colonel in the April 1862 reorganization of the Confederate Army. Harman served briefly as an aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Edward Johnson during Jackson's Valley Campaign, after which he was appointed an assistant adjutant general on February 19, 1864. He also led a noble regiment of reservists at the Battle of Piedmont on June 5, 1864.

Early and family life William Henry Harman was born in Waynesboro, Virginia on February 17, 1828. His parents were Lewis and Sally (Garber) Harman. William received a private education suitable to his class. He had elder brothers Michael Garber Harman (1823–1877) and John A. Harman (1824–1874), as well as younger brothers Asher Waterman Harman (1830–1895) and Thomas Lewis Harman (1831–1861). Michael Garber Harman ran a stage line with the help of their brother Asher Waterman Harmon, as well as a hotel in Staunton with William H. Garber. His brothers would likewise fight in the Confederate States Army, and the youngest, T.L. Harman, a Lieutenant in the Staunton Artillery, died in September 1861 of typhoid fever in Prince William County, Virginia.

William H. Harman served as a second lieutenant in the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment during the Mexican–American War. They had eight children: Kenton, Fannie, Arthur C., Albert Garver, Ellen, Augusta, Louis and Edward Valentine. When the Virginia convention passed the secession ordinance, Governor Letcher gave his blessing to the action, and Harpers Ferry was taken on April 18.

Harman's troops were under the overall command of Virginia militia Major General Kenton Harper. VMI professor Stonewall Jackson arrived on April 28, 1861 to organized and train the raw Virginia forces. Harman was appointed an assistant adjutant general on February 19, 1864.

Death and legacy William Henry Harman was killed in action while attempting to rally his troops during the Confederate rout at the Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia, the town where he was born, on March 2, 1865. He is buried in Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia. At the time of his death, Harman was serving his second term as Grand Master Mason of Virginia. His brothers would rebuild and expand the railroads connecting at Staunton and son Arthur C. Harman would follow his father's political career and serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly.