{⋆★⋆} BG Garnett, Robert S.

Robert Selden Garnett Jr.​

Born: December 16, 1819

Birthplace: Essex County, Virginia

Father: Robert Selden Garnett Sr. 1789 – 1840

(Buried: Champlain Estate Cemetery, Lloyds, Virginia)​

Mother: Charlotte Olympia De Gougea 1796 – 1856

(Buried: Champlain Estate Cemetery, Lloyds, Virginia)​

Wife: Marianna Nelson 1832 – 1858

(Buried: Green Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York)​

Children:

Arthur Nelson Garnett 1858 – 1858​

(Buried: Green Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York)​

Education:

1841: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (27th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1841 – 1842: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​

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1842 – 1846: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​

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1846 – 1848: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​

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1848 – 1851: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 7th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1850 – 1851: Member of Board to revise uniform dress for U.S. Army​

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1851 – 1855: Captain United States Army, 7th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1852 – 1854: Infantry Tactics Instructor at West Point​

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1852 – 1854: Commandant of Cadets at West Point​

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1855: Captain United States Army, 1st​ Cavalry Regiment​

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1855 – 1861: Major United States Army, 9th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Resigned from United States Army on April 30th​​

Civil War Service:

1861: Adjutant General of Virginia State Troops​

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1861: Brigadier General in the Provisional Army of Virginia​

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1861: Shot and killed during the crossing of Corrick's Ford​

Died: July 13, 1861

Place of Death: Corrick's Ford, Virginia

Age at time of Death: 41 years old

Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the back and fall from horse

Burial Place: Green Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

 

[White Flint Bill]

An 1841 graduate of West Point, Robert Garnett served as aid-de-camp to General Zachary Taylor during the Mexican War, earning commendations for distinguished service at the battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista. In 1849 he was assigned to duty in California and while there drew a sketch featuring the goddess Athena that would later be adopted at the Great Seal of California.

When the Civil War broke out, Garnett resigned his commission and volunteered for the Confederate army. In June 1861 he was commissioned a Brigadier General and placed in command of the Department of Northwest Virginia (what is now the state of West Virginia). A month later, at the Battle of Corrick's Ford, his men were forced to retreat. While rallying his rear guard, General Garnett was shot and killed.

General Garnett became the first of 124 generals who would be killed in the Civil War (78 Confederate, 46 Union).

Robert Selden Garnett was born in Essex County, Virginia on December 16, 1819, two hundred years ago today.

For any of y'all who do Facebook, I have a page called "A Daily Dose of History" where I post a daily historical tidbit. They are often, but not always, Civil War related.

 

[Pollaco]

The first General officer to die in action during the Civil War.

 

[Pollaco]

Before commanding in the field as a brigadier in June 1861 Garnett was briefly a chief of staff to a Robert E. Lee.

 

[Pollaco]

This bio spells his place of death as Corrick's Ford. Another book spells it with an "a" as in Carrick's Ford.

 

[KianGaf]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_S._Garnett

I have seen the photograph on this Wikipedia page identified as Richard B Garnett in a documentary.

 

[Pollaco]

He was on Robert E. Lee's staff before being promoted to brigadier on June 6, 1861.

 

[Pollaco]

He was a courier for a General Persifor F. Smith, military governor of California in 1849. It was during a trip to San Francisco carrying dispatches that he sketched a design that later became the Great Seal of California.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Robert S. Garnett! Salutes remembering General Garnett on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

He supposedly died thinking he was shot mistaking by his own men. Garnett expressed that belief to someone who came upon his wounded body near Corrick's Ford.

 

[Pollaco]

In addition to his Cousin, Richard Garnett,He also had another famous Civil War cousin.That being Confederate Sec.of State Robert M.T. Hunter.

 

[Pollaco]

7 classmates from his West Point class of 1841 would die in combat.