Biography of E. L. Hariot

 Edgar La Roche Heriot was a Captain in the Engineer Corps of the Confederate army, but there is no biography in the National Archives for him. Below is my biography.

   E. L. was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, November 25, 1825. He graduated from the Citadel in 1847 and immediately went to work as an engineer on the construction of the Greenville & Columbia RR. In December 1849, he became a Division Engineer on the South Western RR. He was Chief Engineer of the Mobile & Girard RR in 1852 and then Engineer in Charge of Construction of the Savannah & Augusta RR in 1853. Next came 8 months as Chief Engineer of Surveys & Location for the North & South Alabama RR. From April, 1854 to January, 1859, he was Chief Engineer of the Savannah, Albany & Gulf RR and the Atlantic & Gulf RR.
   In 1857, he married Clara G. Hayward, of Tallahassee. His wife's father, Richard Hayward, had large plantations in Madison Parish, Louisiana. Two years after Richard moved to Louisiana, E. L. followed and engaged in the cultivation of cotton on the Mississippi River, about 25 miles above Vicksburg.
   When Louisiana succeeded, E. L. raised a company of infantry (the Willow Bayou Rifles) and tendered its service to Governor Moore. It was accepted and he was commissioned a Captain and his company mustered into service. E. L., however, was immediately detached to report for engineer duty to Gen. Mansfield Lovell at New Orleans. 
   After the fall of New Orleans, E. L. was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department and placed in charge of the construction of most of the works for coast defense. He took part in at least two engagements along the coast. He was also made Military Superintendent/Inspecting Engineer of all the railroads in the Trans-Mississippi Department.
   Immediately after the war, he took a position with an express company, but, in June, 1866, he returned to the locating and building of railroads -- first with the Texas & New Orleans RR and lastly with the Texas Western RR, through 1884. Then became General Manager and Vice President of the Nevada & California RR.
   In July, 1887, his constant rheumatism had so impaired his health that he bought a fruit ranch in Vaca Valley, Solano County, California (about 20 miles northeast of present Vallejo). He died in California in 1903.
October 4, 1861 Elected Captain in the Louisiana Militia 
Early 1862 Resigned his Captain's commission at the request of the General Commanding Louisiana so that he could take charge of the Engineer Department of the New Orleans & Texas RR, a militarily necessary work
March 23, 1862 Quoted in a newspaper as saying that the New Orleans & Texas RR could be built in six months
March 29, 1862 Was listed as Chief Engineer of the New Orleans & Texas RR
March ?, 1862 Drew supplies necessary to do a survey for the construction of maps of eastern Texas
November 26, 1862 Submitted a report to the Texas Adjutant & Inspector General on a location for a camp for 500 men near Beaumont; on the 29th, forwarded it to Gen. Magruder. Signed as Chief Engineer, New Orleans & Texas RR
December 8, 1862 Upon the arrival of Gen. Magruder in Texas, Heriot was employed on the defenses of the coast, with entire charge of the Sabine District
January 1, 1863 Participated in the recapture of Galveston
January 19, 1863 Ordered to Houston and Galveston
NA, RRB 1-19-63
January 21, 1863 Participated in naval battle off Sabine Pass
May 1, 1863 Requested a commission in the Engineer Corps
June 21, 1863 Recommended as available to make a report on Alleyton to Columbus connection
NA, DT 6-21-63
July 7, 1863 Reported on condition of Galveston Bay bridge
NA, RRB 7-7A-63
July 16, 1863 Requested labor for the Texas & New Orleans RR
July 27, 1863 Requested militia men to run railroads
NA, RRB 7-27-63
July 30, 1863 At Gen. Magruder's order, had requested a status of the Texas & New Orleans RR from its Superintendent and had received the report. Heriot had been ordered to take charge of making the required repairs on that Road. Signed as Assistant Engineer, without rank.
August 1, 1863 Had information on the condition of the Texas & New Orleans RR
August 24, 1863 Requested a detail
NA, RRB 8-24C-63
September 2, 1863 Received a request from a railroad president for some hose. Was addressed as Captain
September 9, 1863 Superintendent of Galveston, Houston & Henderson RR reported a discussion about getting men detailed to that RR
NA, GH&H 9-7-63
September 8, 1863 Wagons ordered to assist him in the Houston connection construction
NA, DETX 9-8-63
September 11, 1863 Slaves were ordered to him for work on the eastern end of the Texas & New Orleans RR and the Eastern Texas RR
NA, DT 9-11-63
NA, DT 9-11A-63
September 19, 1863 Request to him for iron to repair locomotives was fulfilled
NA, DT 9-19-63
September 29, 1863 Recommended specific repairs to railroads. Signed as Captain and Inspector of Railroads
Intention noted to have him superintend repairs to Texas & New Orleans RR
NA, T&NO 9-20A-63
October 17, 1863 Reports on the condition of Texas RRs and proposes some solutions to their problems. Signed as Captain & Inspecting Engineer of Railroads
Urged to get the Brazos River bridge of the Washington County RR repaired
October 24, 1863 Reported on the inability of one RR to get any locomotive to run and his temporary solution
October 25, 1863 Given authority to call for bridge guards
NA, DT 10-25-63
October 27, 1863 Detailed men placed under his control
NA, DTNMA 10-27-63
NA, DTNMA 10-28-63
NA, DTNMA 11-5-63
November 8, 1863 His report regarding building the Columbus Tap RR mentioned
NA, CT 11-8-63
November 9, 1863 Requested detail of a master machinist
November 11, 1863 Given permission to buy government cloth
NA, DTNMA 11-10-63
November 12, 1863 Reported on the status of construction of the Galveston & Houston Junction RR
November 15, 1863 Detailed man to report to him
NA, DTNMA 11-15-63
November 21, 1863 Reported on the condition of the Houston Tap & Brazoria RR
November 25, 1863 Instructed to keep a locomotive on each side of the Washington County RR bridge
NA, DTNMA 11-25-63
November 26, 1863 W. W. Morris covered his duties while Heriot was on a 2-week furlough
December 21, 1863 His men called out separately in order trying to reduce the number of absentee soldiers in Texas: his assistant, W. W. Morris, is identified
January 8, 1864 Told to arrange rolling stock for Tap RR
NA, DTNMA 1-8-64
January 9, 1864 Certified Columbus Tap RR bill, received detailed men, ordered to finish Columbus Tap RR
NA, DTNMA 1-9-64
June 6, 1864 Requested order giving him more control over detailed men
Ordered to make report on detailed men
NA, DT 6-6-64
June 14, 1864 Reported taking action to protect a bridge in danger from drift wood
July 28, 1864 Asked for location of a detailed man
NA, DT 7-28-64
August 3, 1864 Asked to justify certain detailed men
NA, DT 8-3A-64
August 29, 1864 Reported the danger to bridges if the guards are not returned
February 1, 1865 Detailed men to report to him
NA, DT 2-1-65
NA, DT 2-3-65
NA, DT 3-2A-65
NA, DT 3-21-65
NA, DT 3-24-65
NA, DT 3-29-65
NA, DT 3-30-65
NA, DT 5-6-65
NA, DT 5-17-65
June 21, 1865 Paroled at Houston
December 6, 1903 Died in California

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