Kenner Garrard | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Garrard in an 1868 publication | |
| Born | (1827-09-21)September 21, 1827 |
| Died | May 15, 1879(1879-05-15) (aged 51) |
| Place of burial | Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1851–1866 |
| Rank | BrevetMajor-General |
| Commands |
|
| Battles | |
Kenner Garrard (September 21, 1827 – May 15, 1879) was a seniorofficer of theUnited States Army. A member of one ofOhio's most prominent military families, he performed well at theBattle of Gettysburg, and then led Second Division, Cavalry Corps,Military Division of the Mississippi during theAtlanta campaign. He developed a reputation for personal bravery and was cited for gallantry at theBattle of Nashville as aninfantry division commander.
Garrard was born at his paternal grandfather's home inBourbon County, Kentucky, while his mother was visiting there. His grandfather,James Garrard, was the secondGovernor of Kentucky. He was raised inCincinnati, Ohio, and received a private education. He was the brother of fellow future Civil Warbrevet generalsJeptha Garrard andIsrael Garrard. A first cousin,Theophilus T. Garrard, also became a Union general.
Kenner Garrard briefly attendedHarvard University inCambridge, Massachusetts, but withdrew in his sophomore year after accepting an appointment to theUnited States Military Academy. He graduated eighth in the Class of 1851 and was appointed abrevetsecond lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. He soon transferred to the1st U.S. Dragoons.
In 1855, Garrard was transferred to the2nd U.S. Cavalry as an adjutant toColonelAlbert Sidney Johnston andLieutenant ColonelRobert E. Lee, both future generals in theConfederate States Army. He was stationed in a variety of posts in the Southwestfrontier, including in theNew Mexico Territory.
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Garrard, by then acaptain, was on duty in an outpost inTexas. As a loyalUnionist, he was imprisoned byConfederate authorities following the surrender of U.S. troops by Maj. Gen.David E. Twiggs. He was allowed to travel back to theNorth. He made his way toWashington, D.C., bringing with him $20,000 of Federal funds he had secreted from Texas, returning the money to theU.S. Treasury. In December 1861, he was appointed as Commandant of the U.S. Military Academy inWest Point, New York.
After being formally exchanged on August 27, 1862, Garrard was appointedcolonel of the146th New York Infantry Regiment and took part in the battles ofFredericksburg,Chancellorsville, andGettysburg, where he succeeded Brig. Gen.Stephen H. Weed (who was killed onLittle Round Top) in the command of the 3rd Brigade of Maj. Gen.George Sykes's division. In December 1863, he was nominated for promotion to brigadier general with an effective date of July 23, 1863, commemorating the end of thepursuit of Lee'sArmy of Northern Virginia.[1]
He was appointed as themajor of the3rd U.S. Cavalry in theregular army in November 1863, while continuing to hold the rank of brigadier general in the volunteer army. In December 1863, he was made Chief of the Cavalry Bureau in Washington, but was the next month, at his own request, relieved from that duty to take command of the Second Division, Cavalry Corps,Military Division of the Mississippi, and transferred to theWestern Theater.
Garrard took part in Sherman'sAtlanta campaign as a cavalry division commander, but failed to impress his superiors. Returning to theinfantry, he participated in theBattle of Nashville, where he and his division performed well. Army commander Maj. Gen.George H. Thomas cited Garrard for gallant conduct at Nashville. As a result, he was appointed a brevetmajor general of volunteers and brevet brigadier general in the regular army for his battlefield performance. He also received the brevet rank of major general in the regular army as of March 13, 1865, as part of the mass brevet appointments at the end of the war.[2] He ended the war inAlabama and was instrumental in the capture ofMontgomery.
Garrard remained in the regular army after the war ended as commander of the District of Mobile, but resigned on November 9, 1866. He returned to Cincinnati, where he worked as a real estate broker.[2] He devoted the rest of his life to civic affairs and historical studies. He served as Director of the Cincinnati Music Festival for several years. He never married.
He died inCincinnati, Ohio, at the age of fifty-one, and was interred inSpring Grove Cemetery.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
