Stonewall Takes the Stand

[Highfly]

Did Jackson have a case against Brig-Gen Garnett when he was court martialed for his actions at the Battle of Kernstown?
Link to description of battle

The Charges:

1 - After having been directed by Maj-Gen Jackson to support Col. Fulkerson on the day of the Battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862, Brig-Gen Garnett did, after advancing with 4 regiments for some distance have 3 of them in the rear and continued to advance with only 1, and finally notified Col. Fulkerson, he would move back this regiment, thus leaving him without any support.

2 - In this that Brig-Gen Garnett did so separate himself from his command that he could not be found by Major FB Jones, who was directed to give him an order.

3 - Brig-Gen Garnett did neglect to be with his leading regiment when it went into battle near Kernstown, VA on March 23, 1862.

4 - Brig-Gen Garnett neglected to have a regiment in supporting distance of his leading 1, when it went into action near Kernstown, VA on March 23, 1862.

5 - Brig-Gen Garnett did so neglect to post his regiments properly in the Battle of Kernstown, VA on March 23, 1862 that they became mixed together when they should have been kept seperate.

6 - Brig-Gen Garnett did during the Battle of Kernstown, VA on March 23, 1862 give the order to fall back when he should have encouraged his command to hold his position.

7 - Brig-Gen Garnett did during the Battle of Kernstown, VA on March 23, 1862 send an order by Major FB Jones directing Col. WH Harman to retreat, notwithstanding his regiment had not yet been brought into action and should have continued to advance on the enemy as it was doing at the time in obedience to orders from Maj-Gen Jackson.

 

[Highfly]

I'm wondering what everyone thinks.

From what I can gather:

1 - Jackson never told anyone what his battle plans were (Chancellorsville for instance), where's the evidence that Garnett knew how much support he needed.

2 - Major Jones (the main witness to this charge) was killed during the Seven Days and can't testify to that.

3 - Jackson ordered them forward. Garnett was with his other regiments on another part of the field.

4 - How could he place them if a) he wasn't anywhere near them and b) the other regiments were already ordered up the hill to another point on the field.

5 - There's only so much room for that many soldiers behind a small piece of wall. Overlapping is going to happen.

6 - Jackson's orders never stated he had to "hold at all costs." He wasn't privy to Jackson's strategy and so didn't know reinforcements were coming until after the order was given.

7 - Again, Jones isn't alive to testify. Harman states he received no orders.

* Overall, I'd say Jackson was still irritated by AP Hill getting off and being placed in charge again. Not to mention he had just lost the battle, and how better to place the blame on someone else.

~ Highfly

 

[nbforrest]

I think some of the charges would have stuck, particularly Garnett's order to fall back. The charge of supporting Fulkerson might have been affirmed as well. Which is not to say that Garnett deserved a court martial, far from it. Jackson's poor handling of Kernstown was the reason for Garnett's confused situation as well as the reason for Confederate defeat that day. Garnett did not do particularly well that day, but saddled with confusing and even bizarre orders from Jackson, his performance certainly did not merit a court martial.

Respectfully

 

[dvrmte]

Bad that Garnett had to be made an example of. The lesson seemed to work as shown at Second Manassas. You don't abandon your position as long as you have the bayonet or rocks.