Black History Month - Military

Each week during February 2021, the Surry County Historical Society Facebook page and website will have a “Then and Now” post that features Surry residents from the past and present who shared in similar occupations or roles in life. There are many more examples that could be written about for all of these areas, but we have just chosen a few to feature!

Week 1 - Military

THEN!   Adam Boykin was born a slave in Isle of Wight County in 1842, but lived in Surry County for much of his life. In 1864, Boykin dared to join the Union Army, perhaps escaping at night, and joined up at Wilson’s Wharf in Charles City. He fought with Company H, which was formed that day, but had its roots in the African Brigade organized in 1863. He likely was there during the siege of Petersburg, and the battles at Deep Bottom and New Market Heights. Later, on he was aboard a ship near Fort Fisher, south of Wilmington, NC.  When Boykin mustered out of the Union Army, he returned to Surry County, around February, 1867. He spent the rest of his life in Surry, joining Gravel Hill Baptist Church in Cabin Point in 1868 and marrying in 1878.  He died on March 28, 1927, and was the first grave in the family graveyard on his farm!   In addition to Mr. Boykin, during the 1864-65 time period, over 40 identified slaves and free Blacks from Surry County joined the Union Army, and perhaps a few went in the Navy. Statistics show that probably sixty Black men joined the Confederate Army.

Now!  Michael T. Harrison, Sr., who graduated from Surry County High School in 1976 and Howard University in 1980, followed his father’s footsteps and joined the U.S. Army, entering as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from Howard University. His father, Sgt. Michael G. Harrison had served during the Korean War. Lt. Harrison served for 34 years and reached the rank of Major General in 2009, one of the first Major Generals to serve from Surry County, VA. Like his father, Michael was stationed in the 25th Infantry Division (ID) (Tropic Lightning) in Hawaii but had not realized their shared Army Division ancestry until he glanced at a photo of his father on his desk one day and recognized the distinctive unit insignia as well as the distinctive Tropic Lighting shoulder patch on his father’s uniform. General Harrison would later serve in Haiti, Afghanistan, and Japan. He is the recipient of many awards to include the Bronze Star, the Order of the Rising Sun (3rd Class) bestowed by the Government of Japan, and the Order of Bahrain Award (3rd Class) presented by the Government of Bahrain. Today, Mr. Harrison lives in Williamsburg and is the President & CEO of Harrison Enterprise Solutions LLC.

Sources for this information include:
Adam Boykin by James E. Atkins (Available at the Surry Hist. Soc. for $10, plus $2 postage if mailed)
Surry County Historical Timeline with Addendums, Assembled by James Atkins
Surry County by Deborah Harrison Dawson (also available at Surry Co. Hist. Soc. For $22, plus $2.50 postage)