Those Wonderful "G" Generals

[Battleline]

This should take care of the unassigned CSA "G" generals. I could have sat on this for a while, but figured I would post now.

Brig. Gen. Randall L. Gibson (b. 1832, d. 1892) Randall Lee Gibson had quite a body of work prior to the Civil War. Born while his parents were visiting his grandfather’s house near Versailles, Kentucky, Sept. 10, 1832, he was privately tutored at the family’s “Live Oaks” plantation in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. He went from there to Yale University. A member of Scroll and Key, he graduated in 1853. After studying law, he spent several years out of the country. For six months, he served as attaché of the American embassy in Madrid, Spain. At the start of the war, Gibson was an aide-de-camp to Louisiana Gov. Thomas O. Moore. Originally a lieutenant in the First Louisiana Artillery, in September of 1861 he was commissioned as colonel of the 13th Louisiana Infantry. He led this unit into combat at the Battle of Shiloh. There, he commanded a brigade under Big. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, which assaulted the Hornet’s Nest strongpoint in the Federal defenses. The regiment went into Kentucky and later fought at Chickamauga. Gibson was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Jan. 11, 1864. He led his new brigade through the Atlanta Campaign. The brigade went into Tennessee with Gen. John Hood’s Army of Tennessee, which was stunned at Franklin and stopped at Nashville. At the end of the war, Gibson commanded the defense of Spanish Fort near Mobile, Alabama. Holding to the last moment, he led this command in a night escape of the fort March 8, 1865. Following the war, he practiced law in New Orleans before being elected to Congress in 1872. At that time, he refused his seat. In 1874, Gibson again was elected to Congress from Louisiana’s first district. This time, he went to Washington, D.C. He served in the House of Representatives until 1882, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He won reelection in 1888, but died during his term in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Dec. 15, 1892. Besides his political career, Gibson served on many educational and scientific institution boards and was president of the board of administration at Tulane University from 1884 until his death. Gibson Hall on the Tulane campus was named for him. He was buried in Lexington, Kentucky.

Brig. Gen. Samuel J. Gholson (b. 1808, d. 1883) A commander of cavalry, Samuel Jameson Gholson saw action in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama during the Civil War. Gholson was born in Madison County, Kentucky, May 19, 1808. His family moved to Alabama when he was young. Growing up there, he studied law and was admitted to the bar (1829) prior to moving to Mississippi. In this state, he served parts of two terms in the U.S. Congress, first as a Jacksonian and later as a Democrat. While in the House of Representatives, he got into an argument with Henry Wise of Virginia, which nearly ended in a duel. Both men later became Confederate generals. From 1839 until 1861, he was a U.S. district judge. When Mississippi seceded, he enlisted as a private in the state forces with the Monroe Volunteers of Monroe County, Mississippi. He saw action at Fort Donelson as a brigadier general of state troops. Shot through a lung, he surrendered with the garrison. After his exchange, Gholson fought at Iuka, Mississippi, and then at Corinth, Mississippi. He also saw action in Alabama, Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. Holding the rank of major general of Mississippi State Troops, he was awarded the grade of brigadier general in the Provisional Army to rank from May 6, 1864. While commanding a cavalry brigade attached to the division of Brig. Gen. James Chalmers under Maj. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, Gholson suffered a major wound in an engagement at Egypt, Mississippi, during Dec. 28, 1864. Gholson lost his left arm as a result of the wound and was unable to resume command. After the war, Gholson was elected to the Mississippi legislature in 1865, serving as speaker of the house until being sacked by the Reconstruction Act of 1867. In 1878, Gholson again was elected to the state legislature. He died at home in Aberdeen, Mississippi, Oct. 16, 1883. He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Brig. Gen. Richard C. Gatlin (b. 1809, d. 1896) Longtime military veteran Richard Caswell Gatlin served North Carolina during the Civil War. Part of his service was as a Confederate brigadier general. Gatlin was born in Kinston in Lenoir County, North Carolina, Jan. 18, 1809. His maternal grandfather, Richard Caswell, was a Patriot in the American Revolution, commanding troops at the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge and rising to the rank of major general of North Carolina troops by the time of the Battle of Camden. Caswell became the first governor of North Carolina following the Revolutionary War. He attended the U.S. Military Academy, graduating 35th in the Class of 1832. He entered the 7th Infantry and was stationed in many different places. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he was a captain stationed at Fort Brown, Texas, and defended that post during the early part of the war. He was breveted to major for gallant and meritorious service at the Battle of Monterrey. He continued in the Army, seeing action against Indians and during the Utah Expedition of 1858. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Gatlin was a major in the 5th U.S. Infantry and was detained in Fort Smith, Arkansas. After his parole, he resigned his U.S. Army commission in May of 1861 and was appointed adjutant general for North Carolina. For this, he was made a major general of militia. He also received a commission as a colonel of infantry in the Regular Confederate Army. He was promoted to brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States to rank from July 8, 1861, and given command of the Department of North Carolina, headquarters at Wilmington. Part of this duty included defending the coast. Following the loss of Fort Hatteras and surrender of New Bern, Gatlin was relieved of duty March 19, 1862. Citing illness, but upset over the refusal to reinforce his command and the lack of naval forces prior to the losses, he resigned his Confederate commission in September of 1862. “These failures do not by right rest with me,” Gatlin was quoted. Gatlin continued to serve as the state’s adjutant general for the rest of the war. Following the war, he moved to Sebastian County, Arkansas, to farm. He died in Mount Nebo in Yell County, Arkansas, Sept. 8, 1896. He was buried in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Brig. Gen. Martin Witherspoon Gary (b. 1831, d. 1881) Martin Witherspoon Gary’s command was one of the last Confederate units to surrender east of the Mississippi. Gary’s brigade fought past Appomattox, escorting the Confederate cabinet. In fact, the cabinet’s final meeting took place at his mother’s residence in Cokesbury, South Carolina. Gary was born in Cokesbury March 25, 1831. He attended South Carolina College, until leaving the Great Biscuit Rebellion of 1852. Students were required to eat on campus at that time and 108 demanded to be allowed to eat off campus. Before the trustees could make a final decision, the students withdrew. It wasn’t all bad. Gary went to Harvard and graduated in 1854. After studying law, he became a successful criminal lawyer and was elected to the South Carolina legislature. At the start of the war, Gary was an active militia offers in the Watson guard, which joined the Hampton Legion. Gary entered service as a captain. When Hampton was wounded and Lt. Col. Johnson killed, he commanded the Legion at First Manassas. Gary was promoted to colonel and led the Legion, both dismounted and as cavalry, during most of the war. The unit fought in the Peninsular Campaign, Second Manassas (Bull Run), Sharpsburg (Antietam), Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Chickamauga and Knoxville as dismounted cavalry. In 1864-65, the Legion returned to action as a cavalry unit with the Army of Northern Virginia. Gary, by then nicknamed the “Bald Eagle,” was promoted to brigadier general to rank from May 19, 1864, and the brigade was given three extra regiments. His troops were the last to leave Richmond. Gary refused to surrender at Appomattox, Gary’s men fought out to escort Pres. Jefferson Davis and the cabinet from Greensboro, North Carolina. After they finally surrendered, Gary returned to the public forum. He served four years in the South Carolina state senate. Twice, he ran for the U.S. Senate, but was beaten both times. Gary died in Edgefield County, South Carolina, April 9, 1881. He was buried in Cokesbury, South Carolina.

Brig. Gen. Lucius J. Gartrell (b. 1821, d. 1891) Lucius Jeremiah Gartrell appeared to be on the fast track to command early in the Civil War. But he had to wait until 1864 to finally get his brigadier general’s commission. Born in Wilkes County, Georgia, Jan. 7, 1821, Gartrell was educated at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and Franklin College in Georgia. Following graduation, he studied law and was admitted to be bar. He was solicitor general of the northern judicial district and served in the legislature, first as a Whig and then as a Democrat. In 1856, he was a presidential elector. From 1857 until 1861, Gartrell was a member of the U.S. Congress. A secession advocate, he resigned his seat in January of 1861, returning home to organize the Seventh Georgia Infantry. He took that unit to Virginia and fought at First Manassas (Bull Run) July 21, 1861, as part of the brigade of Col. Francis Bartow. He was elected to the Confederate Congress and this prompted him to resign his military commission. He was in the House of Representatives from 1862-64. There, he supported the Davis administration, and was chairman for the House Committee on the Judiciary. After leaving the Congress, Gartrell was appointed brigadier general to rank from Aug. 22, 1864. He recruited four Georgia regiments, which served in the reserve forces. Gartrell’s men opposed the advance of Gen. William T. Sherman into South Carolina. His brigade was credited with giving the Savannah, Georgia, garrison enough time to escape being surrounded. Gartrell was wounded at Coosawhatchie. Following the war, Gartrell resumed his law practice in Atlanta. In 1877, he was a member of the state’s constitutional convention. In 1882, he ran against Alexander Stephens for the Democratic nomination for governor. He died in Atlanta April 7, 1891, and was buried in Oakland Cemetery there.

Brig. Gen. Isham W. Garrott (b. 1816, d. 1863) Few generals died the way Isham Warren Garrott did. Trying to oppose the fire of Federal sharpshooters outside of Vicksburg, Garrott borrowed a rifle to return fire, He was hit and instantly killed at Fort Garrott, June 17, 1863. However, Garrott likely didn’t know he was a general at the time. Garrott’s commission, ranking from May 28, 1863, wasn’t received at the army’s headquarters until after his death. “The officers who attracted my attention were Col. Isham W. Garrott of Twentieth Alabama, the pure patriot and gallant shoulder who was killed on June 17th while in the fearless discharge of his duties, respected and loved by all who knew him. . .” wrote S.D. Lee, then a brigadier general. Garrott was born in North Carolina in 1816 (no date given) in either Wake or Anson County. He graduated from North Carolina State, studied law and then moved to Alabama in 1840. Making his home in Marion, Alabama, he became a prominent citizen and was elected to the state legislature in 1845. He returned in 1847. While there, he espoused the cause of secession. In 1860, he was a Breckinridge elector. He was sent by Gov. Andrew Moore to North Carolina to help sway that state to secede. After helping to recruit the 20th Alabama Infantry, he was made colonel of that regiment. It was stationed in Mobile in 1861 and 1862 before being sent to Mississippi as part of Brig. Gen. Edward Tracy’s brigade. Garrott’s men saw first action at Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1, 1863 (where Tracy was killed), and then at Champion’s Hill (Baker’s Creek), Mississippi, May 16, 1863. After those two fights, the troops of Lt. Gen. John Pemberton retreated into the Vicksburg defenses. As the noose tightened around the Mississippi city, Garrott’s troops were trying to hold the line. It was in this action that he was killed. Garrott was buried in Vicksburg. Today, a statue of Garrott, donated by his son, John F. Garrott, stands in the Vicksburg Military Park across from Fort Garrott.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Garland Jr. (b. 1830, d. 1862) Samuel Garland Jr. was the “most fearless man I had ever knew,” stated his division commander, Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill. The commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee, called Garland “that brave and accomplished young officer.” At the age of 31, Garland was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. As was the case with many high-ranking officers, he did not live long enough to celebrate his next birthday. Garland was killed while trying to defend Fox’s Gap during the Battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862, the prelude to the bloodbath in the town of Sharpsburg (Battle of Antietam), Maryland, Sept. 17, 1862. Garland, a grand-nephew of Pres. James Madison (and later brother-in-law to Lt. Gen. James Longstreet), was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Dec. 16, 1830. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1849 and from the University of Virginia Law School in 1851. Returning to Lynchburg, he was a lawyer there until the start of the war. Organizing the Lynchburg Home Guard militia company after John Brown’s Raid in 1859, he was the unit’s captain. This unit became Co. C of the 11th Virginia Infantry. Garland was elected colonel of this regiment. Garland received word his wife had died (June 12, 1861). His son died three months later. Garland’s unit fought at First Manassas (Bull Run) July 21, 1861. Garland’s men then fought at a small battle at Dranesville, Virginia (Dec. 20, 1861) and at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862. Garland was wounded at Williamsburg, but not badly enough for him to leave command. He received a promotion to brigadier general to rank from May 23, 1862, and given a brigade in the division of Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill. Garland’s brigade distinguished itself at Seven Pines May 31, 1862. Garland personally exposed himself to fire and had two horses shot out from under him. The brigade participated in the Seven Days and Second Manassas campaigns as well. By the time the Army of Northern Virginia crossed into Maryland, Garland’s brigade fielded about 1,000 men. When. Gen. Robert E. Lee learned the Federals had a copy of Special Order No. 191, Garland’s brigade was one of the units sent to block the passes of South Mountain. Holding against the Federal IX Corps at Fox’s Gap, Sept. 14, 1862, Garland was checking defenses when he was mortally wounded in the field of farmer Daniel Wise. His brigade was wrecked trying to buy time for the rest of the army to concentrate. His body fell into the hands of the Federal Army. Gen. George McClellan, leader of the Army of the Potomac, gave Garland’s body an honor guard until it could be turned over. Today, a marker stands near where Garland fell. He was buried in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. William M. Gardner (b. 1824, d. 1901) For the most part, William Montgomery Gardner’s Civil War combat service consisted of one battle, First Manassas (Bull Run) July 21, 1861. Severely wounded there, Gardner lost a leg and spent most of the rest of the war commanding rear area units. Gardner was born in Augusta, Georgia, June 8, 1824. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with the Class of 1846 (55th of 59) and fought in the Mexican War in the First U.S. Infantry at Vera Cruz, Contreras and Churubusco. At Churubusco, he was wounded and later breveted to first lieutenant for gallantry. He stayed in the U.S. Army until January of 1861, when he resigned his commission as a captain. He went to Virginia as lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Georgia, one of the first units from that state to go to Virginia. He was the lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Georgia at First Manassas, where he was struck in the leg (his commanding officer, Col. Francis Bartow was killed) during the Confederate victory. Gardner was wounded while supporting the brigade of Gen. Barnard Bee. His action was mentioned in reports of both commanding generals, Joseph Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard. During the advance, Gardner’s leg was so shattered that amputation was the only course of treatment. For a time, it seemed the wound might be fatal. It took a year for him to recover and prevented him from returning to active field service. He received a promotion to brigadier general Nov. 14, 1861, and was sent to command the District of Middle Florida after he recovered. He participated in one more battle, the Confederate victory at Olustee, Florida, Feb. 20, 1864. Later in that year, he was assigned to command all military prisons east of the Mississippi River. As the war came to a close, he was commandant of the Richmond, Virginia, post. After the war, Gardner returned to Georgia, first in Augusta and later in Rome. At the time of his death, June 16, 1801, he lived with a son in Memphis, Tennessee. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery there.

Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner (b. 1823, d. 1873) Born in New York City and appointed to the U.S. Military Academy, Franklin Gardner fought the Civil War with the Confederacy. Both Gardner’s father and brother stayed with the Federals during the war. His father, Col. Charles K. Gardner, had been adjutant general of the army during the War of 1812, and worked in the Treasury Department in Washington, D.C., until his 1867 retirement. But Gardner had married into the Mouton family of Louisiana and went with his wife’s state when the war came. Gardner was born Jan. 29, 1823, in New York City. His appointment to West Point came from Iowa and he graduated four spots above U.S. Grant in the Class of 1843. In the Mexican War, Gardner won two brevets for gallantry. Gardner was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Regular Confederate Army, March 16, 1861, without resigning from the U.S. Army (leaving his post at Fort Bridger). He finally was dropped from the Federal roles May 7, 1861. Originally assigned infantry duty in Tennessee and Mississippi, Gardner commanded a brigade of cavalry at the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862. Following that battle, he was promoted to brigadier general to rank from April 11, 1862 and given command of all cavalry in the Army of Mississippi by Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. During the Invasion of Kentucky in 1862, he commanded a brigade under the army of Gen. Braxton Bragg under the division of Maj. Gen. Jones Withers and the division of Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk. After the Confederates left Kentucky, Gardner was promoted to major general to rank from Dec. 13, 1862, (confirmed while he was a prisoner June 10, 1864) and placed in command of Port Hudson, Mississippi. This command held out against two frontal assaults by Federal Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks, who had 30,000 men to Gardner’s 7,500, and siege until July 8, 1863. At the time of surrender, Gardner’s Confederates had inflicted over 10,000 casualties while suffering over 1,000 of their own. Gardner was exchanged in August of 1864, and assigned to duty in the Trans-Mississippi Department under Lt. Gen. Richard Taylor. He commanded the District of the Gulf in Mobile and later led the District of Mississippi and East Louisiana from Jackson, Mississippi. There, he countered raids led by Brig. Gen. Benjamin Grierson in 1864 and 1865. After the war, he became a planter near Vermillionville (now Lafayette), Louisiana. He died there April 29, 1873.

Brig. Gen. Richard M. Gano (b. 1830, d. 1913) Veteran cavalryman Richard Montgomery Gano received his promotion to brigadier general as the Confederacy was falling apart. Gano, serving in the Trans-Mississippi Department, was assigned to duty as a brigadier general by Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith. He received an official appointment to the rank from Pres. Jefferson Davis March 17, 1865. Born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, June 17, 1830, Gano was the grandson of Gen. Richard M. Gano who commanded during the War of 1812, and great grandson of Rev. John Gano, the “Fighting Chaplain” of the American Revolution (also credited with baptizing George Washington). Gano was educated at Kentucky’s Bacon College, Virginia’s Bethany College and the Louisville University Medical School. He returned to Bourbon County to practice medicine and later moved to Louisiana, where he was physician of the Louisiana State Prison for two years. In 1859, he moved to Grapevine Prairie, Tarrant County, Texas. That home recently has been moved to the Old City Park in Dallas. Gano saw action against Indians. At the start of the war, he joined Confederate forces as captain of the Grapevine Volunteers, a unit which later was assigned to John Hunt Morgan’s Second Kentucky Cavalry command. He served in that unit’s rides through Kentucky as part of the Invasion of 1862, earning a promotion to major. During the Tullahoma Campaign, he was colonel of the Seventh Kentucky Cavalry. For a time, while Morgan was imprisoned, he commanded what was left of Morgan’s division under Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. That service included the Battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19-20, 1863 He was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi theater with the rank of colonel, commanding Texas cavalry units. Gano reorganized his command, the Gano Guards, in Texas and then was sent to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) as commander of a mixed brigade of cavalry and artillery. During Federal Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele’s Camden, Arkansas, Expedition, (March 23-May 3, 1864) Gano was wounded, but won praise for his actions opposing Steele. Later, he operated between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Fort Gibson. Working with Brig. Gen. Stand Watie, the Confederates captured a 300-wagon train at Cabin Creek Sept. 19, 1864. After the war, Gano returned to Texas. He entered the ministry of the Christian Church and served for 45 years. He also was active in the United Confederate Veterans. Gano died in Dallas, Texas, March 27, 1913, and was buried there.

[Gil R.]

Copied, finally. Pretty amazing that nearly 500 people have looked at this thread.

[jkBluesman]

Well, there must be something about "G". The only bad thing is that I already did Franklin Gardner. So we have to merge both bios.

[Gil R.]

Oops. Well, we can handle that.

[Battleline]

jkBluesman,
Sorry! He had been on the list I had.
It's a good thing to have too much copy rather than not enough. Always easier to cut than to add under deadline pressure.
Thanks,
Battleline

[jkBluesman]

Battleline, no problem. We will both have to handle Gil's questions then.