Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/265

 GARNETT

GARNETT

GARNETT, Muscoe Russell Hunter, lepie seutative, was boru at Elmwood, Essex county. Va., July 35, 1831 ; son of James Jlercei- and Maria (Hunter) Garnett; grandson of James Mereer Garnett ; and a descendant of Muscoe Garnett and of James Hunter. He was gradua- ted from the University of Virginia in academic studies in 1839 and in law in 1841, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1841, practising at Llo}-d"s, Va. He was a member of the convention that met in 1850 to revise the state constitution ; was a member of tlie state legislature, 1833-56; and was elected in 1856 a Democratic representative in the 34th congress to fill a vacancy. He was re-elected to the 85th and 36th congresses, serv- ing until the outbreak of the civil war. He was a member of the Virginia secession convention of 1861, and was also a representative in the 1st Confederate congress. He was married in 1860 to Mary Pictou, daughter of Edwin A. Stevens of Hoboken, N.J. Besides his speeches in con- gress and in the state legislature and conventions, he wrote in 1850 a pamphlet entitled The Union, Pant and Future ; how it -works and how to save it. By a Citizen of Virginia, which discussed the political issues of the day, and created great interest throughout the South. He died at Elm- wood, EssB.K county, Va., Feb. 14, 1864.

QARNETT, Richard Brooke, soldier, was born in Virginia in 1819; son of William and Anna Maria (Brooke) Garnett; and grandson of Muscoe Garnett and of Richard Brooke. He was graduated from the U.S. military academy. West Point, in 1841, was appointed 2d lieutenant, 6th U.S. infantry, and served in the Florida war, 1841-43. He served in garrison and on frontier duty in 1843-45, and was aide-de-camij to his uncle. Gen. George Mercer Brooke, at New Orleans, La., and San Antonio, Texas, 1845-51. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, Feb. 16, 1847; was on frontier duty at Fort Lai'amie, Dak., 1853-54; on I'ecruiting service, 1834-.55; and was ])romoteJ captain. May 9, 1855, being still at- tached to tlie 6th U.S. infantry. He was engaged in quelling Kansas disturbances, 1856-57; in es- corting the Kansas southern boundarj' commis- sion, 1857; at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.. 1857-58; in the Utali expedition in 1858, and in California, 1858-61. He resigned his commission. May 17, 1861, and joined the Confederate army in which he served as colonel in western Virginia and was soon promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. He commanded the " Stonewall " brigade in tiie winter of 1863, and Pickett's old brigade in the army of northern Virginia, C.S.A., from Septem- ber, 1863. He took part in the battles of the Slienandoah, South Mountain, Sharpsburg, and Gettysburg, where he led in the charge of Pick- ett's division and met his death Julv 3, 1863.

QARNETT, Robert Selden, representative, was born in Essex county, Va., April 26, 1789; son of Muscoe and Grace Fenton (Mercer) Gar- nett; and grandson of James Garnett of Essex county, Va., and of John Jlercer of Stafford county. Va., the first of his family who emigrated to Virginia from Dublin, Ireland. He attended the College of New Jersey, but left before gradu- ation to study law. He was admitted to the bar and practised at Lloyd's, Va. He was a Demo- cratic representative in the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th congresses, 1817-37. He was mar- ried in 1813 to Charlotte Olympia, daugliter of Gen. Pierre De Gouges of the French army. He died at his country-seat, Champlain, Essex county, Va.. Aug. 13. 1841.

QARNETT, Robert Selden, soldier, was born at Champlain, Essex county, Va., Dec. 16, 1819; son of Robert Selden and Charlotte Olympia (De Gouges) Garnett; and grandson of Muscoe and Grace Fenton (Mercer) Garnett. He was gradu- ated from the U.S. military academy in 1841 and served as brevet 3d lieutenant, 4th artil- ler3% on the northern fi'ontier during the Canada border dis- turbances, 1841-43. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant, Jan. 31, 1843 ; was in garrison at Fort Monroe, Va., 1843-13, and was as- sistant instructor in infantry tactics at the Military academy, July5. 1843, toOct.l7, 1844. In 1845 he was aide-de camp to Brigadier-General Wool and in 184,5-46 was in military occupation of Texas, being adjutant of the artillei-y battalion. He was en- gaged in the war with Slexico, 1846-48, serving in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena Vista. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, Aug. 18, 1846, and brevetted captain, Sept. -33, 1846, for gallantry at Monterey. He was aide-de-camp to General Taylor from June 39, 1846, to June 31, 1849. On Feb. 23, 1849, he was brevetted major for his services at Buena Vista and on Aug. 31, 1848, was transferred to the 7th infantry. He was engaged in the Indian war with the Seminoles in 1850 ; was a member of the board to revise the uniform dress of the army, 1850-51, and on March 9, 1851, was pro- moted captain. In 1851-53 he was on frontier duty in Texas and in 1853-.54 was stationed at the U.S. military academy as commandant of cadets and instructor in infantry tactics. He was in garrison at Fort Monroe, 1855, and on frontier