Trivia 3-25-2020 How Did He Know It Was Him?

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When the first general officer to be killed during the Civil War died, his body was recovered by enemy soldiers. One of those soldiers was able to identify him by name. Who was the person who identified the fallen general and why was he so readily able to recognize him?

CREDIT: @lelliott19

Edit - Actually, I'm the one who submitted this question. I've checked with lelliott19, and she agrees. She will answer the question normally.

hoosier
 
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Robert Seldon Garnett was shot on July 13, 1861 at Corrick's Ford by soldiers from the 7th Indiana Infantry. When they arrived, they didn't recognize the general but sent someone back to report an officer with stars. An aide, Major John Love, came forward and was able to identify Garnett because the two had been roommates at the Military Academy of West Point.

Sources: https://www.civilwarprofiles.com/robert-s-garnett-first-general-killed-in-the-civil-war/, https://civilwarmonths.com/2016/07/13/more-confederate-disasters-after-rich-mountain/
 
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Edit - No answer visible.

hoosier
 
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When the first general officer to be killed during the Civil War died, his body was recovered by enemy soldiers. One of those soldiers was able to identify him by name. Who was the person who identified the fallen general and why was he so readily able to recognize him?

CREDIT: @lelliott19

The general officer who was killed was Brigadier-Gen Robert S Garnett CSA.

Body recognised by Maj. John Love, USA, who had been a colleague of Garnett at West Point

Edit - Well, he was a colleague. I was looking for "roommate," but the question wasn't worded specifically enough to rule out "colleague" as a correct answer.

hoosier
 
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When the first general officer to be killed during the Civil War died, his body was recovered by enemy soldiers. One of those soldiers was able to identify him by name. Who was the person who identified the fallen general and why was he so readily able to recognize him?

CREDIT: @lelliott19
Robert Selden Garnett (1819-1861), killed on July 13, 1861, at the Battle of Corrick’s Ford. Still breathing but mortally wounded, Garnett was identified by Sgt. Major Jonathan Gordon, Ninth Indians Infantry. Gordon recognized Garnett from his uniform, which had "Federal shoulder straps". "Why this is the rebel, Gen. Garnett!" he exclaimed to the others present. "Garnett wore a fine uniform with a brilliant star on his shoulder."
Gordon was:

detailed to take Gen Garnett through the lines to his friends in Richmond. On his return he stopped in Washington and related his story to President Lincoln who commissioned him to the vacancy as Major in the Eleventh Infantry, a position Garnett had resigned on May 14 1861 and from that date Gordon s new commission was dated.
<Frederick W. Fout, The Dark Days of the Civil War, 1861 to 1865. (St. Louis, MO: F. A. Wagenfeur, 1904), pp. 77-78.>

Edit - Your source supports your answer, so it is acceptable.

hoosier
 
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The body of Confederate BG Robert S. Garnett was identified by Federal Major John Love. Love recognized Garnett because Love was Garnett’s roommate at West Point.

 
Robert Selden Garnett (December 16, 1819 – July 13, 1861) Was the General Killed
Union Thomas A. Morris

Edit - Morris was the brigadier general in charge of the Union troops at the battle where Garnett met his demise, but I can find no source indicating that Morris was the one who identified Garnett by name.

hoosier
 
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