Snyder Family 2016 - Person Sheet
NameGeneral Richard Brooke Garnett 
Birth21 Nov 1817, Essex Co., Virginia
Death3 Jul 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Death Memod. Cemetery Ridge– Gettysburg, PA.
FatherWilliam Garnett (1786-1866)
MotherAnn Maria Brooke (1787-)
Notes for General Richard Brooke Garnett
610From William Garnett Chisholm:
Richard Brooke Garnett was twin brother to William Henry Garnett. Raised and educated in Essex Co., VA, he entered the West Point Military Academy in 1836. He graduated in 1841, 29th in his class and 2 spots behind his cousin Robert Selden Garnett. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry in 1841. He began his service in the field during the Second Seminole War, 1841-42. He was ordered west and served at Jefferson Barracks (Missouri), Fort Towson (Indian Territory), and Fort Smith (Arkansas).
He was aide-de-camp to his uncle, Brvt. Brigadier general George Mercer Brooke, at New Orleans and at San Antonio, Texas (1845-51). He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on February 16, 1847, He was on frontier duty at Fort Laramie, Dakota, 1852-54, on recruiting service 1854-55, and was advanced to Captain in the 6th US Infantry on May 9, 1855. The rank of Captain was the highest staff position that he would achieve while serving in the Federal Army. He continued to serve the "Old Army" at Fort Pierre, where he assisted in quelling the Kansas disturbance of 1856-57, and was detailed to escort the Southern Boundary Commission in 1857.
He was at Fort Leavenworth, KS from 1857-58, and was engaged on the Utah Expedition and the subsequent march to California reaching as far as Fort Yuma and Fort Mojave. He returned to Benicia, CA to serve until 1861.
It was during this time that Richard attended the "Hancock Party" in Los Angeles where he together with General Winfield S. Hancock and Lewis A. Armistead they struggled with the difficult choice to serve under the old flag or to resign and serve their Confederate States. Like many other Southerners, Richard did not agree with secession, and he even spoke out against it (the only public speech he ever gave). However, like most all Southerners, he could not raise his hand against Virginia, and thus resigned his Commission on May 17, 1861 and offered his services to Virginia and the Confederacy.
He was commissioned a Major on the Corps of Artillery, and in November 1861, was promoted to Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army. General Garnett was attached to the "Stonewall" Brigade, serving under General Jackson in the Valley campaigns. He was later transferred to General Pickett's Division and placed in command of a brigade consisting of the 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th, and 56th Virginia Regiments.
He was reportedly very ill at the Battle of Gettysburg, but he was lifted to his horse on July 3, 1863, and led his brigade, consisting of the flower of Virginia's manhood, in the famous "Pickett's Charge", from which but a handful of men returned. As he urged his men forward, Richard shouted, "Faster men! Faster! Step out faster! Steady! Don't double quick! Save your strength and your ammunition for the final charge!" These were reputed to have been his last words. General Richard Brooke Garnett was shot from his horse near the middle of the brigade, within about 25 paces of the stone wall. (A recreation of Pickett's Charge and Garnett's last moments was included in the motion picture "Gettysburg".)
General Richard Garnett's war effects, along with those of his cousin, General Robert Selden Garnett, are housed on the Museum of the Confederacy. Richard's possessions, including "the lost sword of Richard Garnett from the Battle of Gettysburg", are stored away at the Museum for research and preservation.
The story of how the sword got to the museum is an interesting one. After Richard was shot from his horse on the battlefield, his sword disappeared. It turned up years later, in a Baltimore pawn shop. Colonel Stuart, who had survived the charge, happened to see the sword in the pawn shop and bought it. The sword was inscribed, R.B. Garnett, U.S.A. He gave it to Richard's Neice, Mrs. John Purcell. The sword was late donate to the Museum of the Confederacy, and is surprisingly good condition.
Richard Brooke Garnett was twin brother to William Henry Garnett. Raised and educated in Essex Co., VA, he entered the West Point Military Academy in 1836. He graduated in 1841, 29th in his class and 2 spots behind his cousin Robert Selden Garnett. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry in 1841. He began his service in the field during the Second Seminole War, 1841-42. He was ordered west and served at Jefferson Barracks (Missouri), Fort Towson (Indian Territory), and Fort Smith (Arkansas).
He was aide-de-camp to his uncle, Brvt. Brigadier general George Mercer Brooke, at New Orleans and at San Antonio, Texas (1845-51). He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on February 16, 1847, He was on frontier duty at Fort Laramie, Dakota, 1852-54, on recruiting service 1854-55, and was advanced to Captain in the 6th US Infantry on May 9, 1855. The rank of Captain was the highest staff position that he would achieve while serving in the Federal Army. He continued to serve the "Old Army" at Fort Pierre, where he assisted in quelling the Kansas disturbance of 1856-57, and was detailed to escort the Southern Boundary Commission in 1857.
He was at Fort Leavenworth, KS from 1857-58, and was engaged on the Utah Expedition and the subsequent march to California reaching as far as Fort Yuma and Fort Mojave. He returned to Benicia, CA to serve until 1861.
It was during this time that Richard attended the "Hancock Party" in Los Angeles where he together with General Winfield S. Hancock and Lewis A. Armistead they struggled with the difficult choice to serve under the old flag or to resign and serve their Confederate States. Like many other Southerners, Richard did not agree with secession, and he even spoke out against it (the only public speech he ever gave). However, like most all Southerners, he could not raise his hand against Virginia, and thus resigned his Commission on May 17, 1861 and offered his services to Virginia and the Confederacy.
He was commissioned a Major on the Corps of Artillery, and in November 1861, was promoted to Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army. General Garnett was attached to the "Stonewall" Brigade, serving under General Jackson in the Valley campaigns. He was later transferred to General Pickett's Division and placed in command of a brigade consisting of the 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th, and 56th Virginia Regiments.
He was reportedly very ill at the Battle of Gettysburg, but he was lifted to his horse on July 3, 1863, and led his brigade, consisting of the flower of Virginia's manhood, in the famous "Pickett's Charge", from which but a handful of men returned. As he urged his men forward, Richard shouted, "Faster men! Faster! Step out faster! Steady! Don't double quick! Save your strength and your ammunition for the final charge!" These were reputed to have been his last words. General Richard Brooke Garnett was shot from his horse near the middle of the brigade, within about 25 paces of the stone wall. (A recreation of Pickett's Charge and Garnett's last moments was included in the motion picture "Gettysburg".)
General Richard Garnett's war effects, along with those of his cousin, General Robert Selden Garnett, are housed on the Museum of the Confederacy. Richard's possessions, including "the lost sword of Richard Garnett from the Battle of Gettysburg", are stored away at the Museum for research and preservation.
The story of how the sword got to the museum is an interesting one. After Richard was shot from his horse on the battlefield, his sword disappeared. It turned up years later, in a Baltimore pawn shop. Colonel Stuart, who had survived the charge, happened to see the sword in the pawn shop and bought it. The sword was inscribed, R.B. Garnett, U.S.A. He gave it to Richard's Neice, Mrs. John Purcell. The sword was late donate to the Museum of the Confederacy, and is surprisingly good condition.