Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/645

Rh second lieutenant of artillery. He served at the West Point academy from July, 1843, to October, 1844, as assistant instructor of infantry tactics. In 1845 he was assigned to duty as aide-de-camp to General Wool, and in this capacity rendered conspicuous service in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, winning promotion to the rank of first lieutenant of the Fourth artillery. He subsequently served as aide-de-camp to General Taylor, and participated in the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista, where he won the brevets of captain and major. After peace was declared he was transferred to the infantry and promoted captain. In 1852-54 he was commandant corps of cadets and instructor in infantry tactics at West Point. Receiving promotion to major in March, 1855, he commanded the troops sent against the Indians on Puget sound in the far northwest, and remaining there was in charge of the Yakima expedition in 1858. Subsequently he traveled in Europe on leave of absence until the year 1861, when he returned, resigned his commission, and entered the Confederate army. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, C. S. A., to date from March 16th, and served as adjutant-general under Gen. R. E. Lee, in command of the Virginia forces. Early in June he was commissioned brigadier-general and ordered to proceed to Staunton and assume command of the troops to operate in northwestern Virginia. In a few days he was engaged in the unfortunate campaign in West Virginia, where his life was sacrificed. It was very early in the war; he found difficulty in obtaining supplies, clothing and shelter for his men; the sentiment in that vicinity was against the Confederacy, and he was confronted by overwhelming odds. Without a trace of faintheartedness, he established his headquarters at Laurel hill, and there and at Rich mountain intrenched his troops. On June 10th, Pegram was dislodged from Rich mountain, and a superior force compelled Garnett to abandon Laurel hill and fall back. He was pursued by the Federals, and a brisk action occurred on the Cheat river, at Carrick's ford, July 13th. At the next ford on the same day, while with his rear guard, he was instantly killed by a volley of the enemy, falling, as President