With his scattered troops threatened with piecemeal destruction from a concentrated Union army, Lee consolidated his forces, and the two sides soon collided in early July in the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Though the three-day battle resulted in a major defeat for the Confederacy, Harrison’s warning forestalled an early disaster, with Longstreet writing that the spy provided him “with information more accurate than a force of cavalry could have secured.”
Despite his achievement at Gettysburg, Harrison was later dismissed by Longstreet for his drinking and gambling habits. Longstreet came to regret the removal and tried to reemploy Harrison, but the former scout could not be found. After the war, Harrison abandoned his family and disappeared for 25 years, eventually emerging in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a detective for a decade. He later moved to Kentucky and died there in poverty in 1923.
Despite his achievement at Gettysburg, Harrison was later dismissed by Longstreet for his drinking and gambling habits. Longstreet came to regret the removal and tried to reemploy Harrison, but the former scout could not be found. After the war, Harrison abandoned his family and disappeared for 25 years, eventually emerging in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a detective for a decade. He later moved to Kentucky and died there in poverty in 1923.