Brig Gen Richard Brooke Garnett, CSA

[mikeejay2]

Brig Gen Richard Brooke Garnett, CSA (b.1817, d.1863). was born on the "Rose Hill" estate in Essex County, Virginia and later graduated from West Point in 1841. Richard was commissioned as a 2ndLt in the 6th U S Inf and he served in a variety of posts in Florida, fighting the Seminoles, and then in the West, where he commanded at Fort Laramie, and was a noted Indian fighter. During the Mexican War, he served in staff positions in New Orleans. He learned of the outbreak of the Civil War while serving as a captain in California and, despite believing strongly that the Union should not be dissolved, he returned to Virginia to fight for his native state and the Confederacy. He was promoted to brigadier general in Nov 1861 and assumed commanded of the Stonewall Brigade. During Jackson’s Valley Campaign of 1862, Garnett's military career took a downward turn at the Battle of Kernstown. Jackson marched his army 40 miles to intercept a portion of the Union Army under Banks. On March 23, 1862, Jackson's cavalry commander, Ashby, brought faulty intelligence that the retreating Union force of Shields had four regiments Winchester, Va. Since that force was of comparable size to Jackson's, he ordered Garnett and the Stonewall Brigade to attack. Unfortunately, Shields had a full infantry division on hand, almost 9,000 men, and twice the size of Jackson's force. The attack went badly and Garnett, finding his brigade low on ammunition and surrounded by forces attacking from three sides, ordered a retreat. Jackson was infuriated and accused Garnett of disobeying orders, meaning that he should not have retreated without obtaining permission from Jackson first. Jackson, well-known as an overly strict
disciplinarian, arrested Garnett for "neglect of duty" and relieved him of command. Garnett's court-martial started in August 1862, with only Jackson and his aide giving testimony. However the trial was suspended due to the start of Lee’s Fall Campaign. Lee ordered Jackson to release Garnett from arrest and he was assigned to command the wounded Pickett’s brigade in Longstreet’s Corps. Garnett commanded the brigade credibly at Antietam, after which he assumed permanent command of the brigade when Pickett was promoted to division commander. During the Gettysburg Campaign, Garnett's brigade continued in Pickett’s division and due to the order of march, did not reach the battlefield, until late on the afternoon of July 2,1863, missing the first two days of the battle Pickett's division was assigned by General Lee to lead a great assault on the Union's center on Cemetery Ridge. Garnett's brigade was in the front rank, on the left, next to Kemper’s brigade. Garnett was in no shape to lead an infantry charge. He was suffering from fever and an injured leg when his horse kicked him; he could not walk. But Garnett yearned to settle the record of his military dishonor from Kernstown, which the aborted court-martial could not. Despite protestations from other officers, Garnett insisted on leading his soldiers into battle on horseback, becoming an obvious target for Union riflemen. Garnett personally got to within 20 yards of the "Angle" on Cemetery Ridge and was never seen again. He presumably was hit by canister fire and his body was so badly damaged that it could not be identified afterwards. His colleagues realized that he had been killed when his horse, "Red Eye", returned to the Confederate lines without him. In 1872, remains of Confederate dead were brought from Gettysburg and reburied at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va. Years after the war, Garnett's sword was located in a pawnshop and was purchased by former Confederate Brig. Gen George Stuart

[Gil R.]

Thanks!

[Gil R.]

Okay, it's ready to go, with just a few minor changes. Very nice job.


Brig. Gen. Richard Brooke Garnett (b. 1817, d. 1863). Born on the "Rose Hill" estate in Essex County, Virginia, Garnett graduated from West Point in 1841. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry and served in a variety of posts in Florida fighting the Seminoles, and then in the West, where he commanded Fort Laramie and was a noted Indian fighter. During the Mexican War, he served in staff positions in New Orleans. Garnett learned of the outbreak of the Civil War while serving as a captain in California and, despite believing strongly that the Union should not be dissolved, he returned to Virginia to fight for his native state and the Confederacy. He was promoted to brigadier general in November 1861 and assumed command of the 1st Brigade, better known as the “Stonewall Brigade.” During Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Valley Campaign of 1862, Garnett's military career took a downward turn at the Battle of Kernstown, on March 23, 1862. The battle occurred after Jackson marched his army forty miles to intercept a portion of the Union Army under Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, and Jackson's cavalry commander, Col. Turner Ashby, brought faulty intelligence that the retreating Union force of Gen. James Shields had four regiments in Winchester. Since that force was of comparable size to Jackson's, he ordered Garnett and the Stonewall Brigade to attack. Shields, however, had a full infantry division on hand, almost 9,000 men, and twice the size of Jackson's force. The attack went badly and Garnett, finding his brigade low on ammunition and surrounded by forces attacking from three sides, ordered a retreat. Jackson was infuriated and accused Garnett of disobeying orders, in that he should not have retreated without obtaining permission from Jackson first. Jackson, well-known as an overly strict disciplinarian, arrested Garnett for "neglect of duty" and relieved him of command. Garnett's court-martial began that August, with only Jackson and his aide giving testimony. The trial was suspended due to the start of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Fall Campaign. Lee ordered Jackson to release Garnett, and he was assigned to command the wounded Pickett’s “Gamecock Brigade” in Gen. James Longstreet’s corps. Garnett performed credibly at the Battle of Antietam, after which he assumed permanent command of the brigade when Pickett was promoted to division commander. During the Gettysburg Campaign, Garnett's brigade continued in Pickett’s division and due to the order of march, did not reach the battlefield until late on the afternoon of July 2, 1863. Missing the first two days of the battle, Pickett's division was assigned by Lee to lead a great assault on the Union's center on Cemetery Ridge. Garnett's brigade was in the front rank, on the left, next to Gen. James L. Kemper’s brigade. Garnett was in no shape to lead an infantry charge: he was suffering from fever and a leg injury received when his horse kicked him, rendering him unable to walk. But Garnett yearned to settle the record of his military dishonor from the Battle of Kernstown, which the aborted court-martial could not. Despite protestations from other officers, Garnett insisted on leading his soldiers into battle on horseback, becoming an obvious target for Union riflemen. Garnett personally got to within twenty yards of the "Angle" on Cemetery Ridge and was never seen again. He presumably was hit by canister fire and his body was so badly damaged that it could not be identified afterwards. His colleagues realized that he had been killed when his horse, "Red Eye," returned to the Confederate lines without him. In 1872, remains of Confederate dead were brought from Gettysburg and reburied at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. Years after the war, Garnett's sword was located in a pawnshop and was purchased by former Confederate Brig. Gen. George Stuart. (Bio by Scott Jennings)

Leadership: 6
Tactical: 5
Initiative: 4
Command: 6
Cavalry:

Teaches: Obedient (16), Brave (2), Sustained Volley (20)

Start date: 20