 He received his early education in the home of his father who was said to be a wonderful man who took great joy in teaching his own children.When a boy sixteen years of age, young Harrison enlisted in the Signal Corps of the Confederate Army, then joined a military company composed of Augusta County boys, all of whom were under eighteen years of age.He was later transferred to the Fredericksburg Artillery, sometimes known as Braxton's Battery, with whom he served until the surrender at Appomattox.