Isham Warren Garrott
Encyclopedia
Isham Warren Garrott was a brigadier general
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. Garrott was killed during the Vicksburg Campaign
.
or Wake County, North Carolina
in 1816. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and then studied law
. In 1840, he moved to Marion, Alabama
where he practiced law. Garrott was a member of the Whig Party
and a Mason
. Garrott was also an incorporator of the Marion and Alabama River Transportation Company, and President of the Board of Trustees of Howard College
. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1845 and 1847. Garrott served as an elector for John C. Breckinridge
's failed 1860 Presidential Election
campaign. Alabama Governor Andrew B. Moore
sent Garrott to North Carolina as a commissioner to enlist his home state's aid in joining the secession
movement.
When the Civil War began, Garrott formed the 20th Alabama Infantry Regiment, serving as its colonel
. The brigade was stationed in Mobile, Alabama
during 1861 and 1862. Garrott's brigade was sent to Mississippi as part of General Edward D. Tracy’s brigade. Garrott took part in the Battle of Port Gibson
and the Battle of Champion's Hill. Garrott was killed by a Union sharpshooter on June 17, 1863, shortly before being promoted to Brigadier General. His commission to rank from May 28, 1863, was received at headquarters after his death. According to Warner's footnote, Garrott was buried under the window of a friends {Finny} house in Vicksburg and remains never moved {letter from Garrott's wife}. What happened to Garrott was the following: An Confederate undertaker's list/map of CS burials in Vicksburg was lost-although partically found years later. This list reported a "Colonel Garnet" of the 20th Alabama-although gravesite plot unknown. Apparently Garrott was reburied in Vicksburg Cedar Hill/Confederate Cemetery; however due to misspelling of his surname and incorrect rank-his Generals commission was received after his death-apparently lead to report that his remains were not moved from his first burial place. Thus the NPS listing for Garrott now has his correct rank/surname but no grave number. Ironically a stone marker for him stands in Soldiers Rest Confederate Cemetery, located in the Cedar Hill (Old Vicksburg City) Cemetery.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Garrott was killed during the Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
.
Early life
Garrott was born in either Anson CountyAnson County, North Carolina
-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Anson County, North Carolina-External links:*...
or Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
in 1816. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and then studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. In 1840, he moved to Marion, Alabama
Marion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
where he practiced law. Garrott was a member of the Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. Garrott was also an incorporator of the Marion and Alabama River Transportation Company, and President of the Board of Trustees of Howard College
Howard College
Howard College is a community college with its main campus in Big Spring, Texas and branch campuses in San Angelo and Lamesa....
. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1845 and 1847. Garrott served as an elector for John C. Breckinridge
John C. Breckinridge
John Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
's failed 1860 Presidential Election
United States presidential election, 1860
The United States presidential election of 1860 was a quadrennial election, held on November 6, 1860, for the office of President of the United States and the immediate impetus for the outbreak of the American Civil War. The nation had been divided throughout the 1850s on questions surrounding the...
campaign. Alabama Governor Andrew B. Moore
Andrew B. Moore
Andrew Barry Moore was the 16th Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1857 to 1861, and served as Governor at the outbreak of the American Civil War....
sent Garrott to North Carolina as a commissioner to enlist his home state's aid in joining the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
movement.
Civil War
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. The brigade was stationed in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
during 1861 and 1862. Garrott's brigade was sent to Mississippi as part of General Edward D. Tracy’s brigade. Garrott took part in the Battle of Port Gibson
Battle of Port Gibson
The Battle of Port Gibson was fought near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
and the Battle of Champion's Hill. Garrott was killed by a Union sharpshooter on June 17, 1863, shortly before being promoted to Brigadier General. His commission to rank from May 28, 1863, was received at headquarters after his death. According to Warner's footnote, Garrott was buried under the window of a friends {Finny} house in Vicksburg and remains never moved {letter from Garrott's wife}. What happened to Garrott was the following: An Confederate undertaker's list/map of CS burials in Vicksburg was lost-although partically found years later. This list reported a "Colonel Garnet" of the 20th Alabama-although gravesite plot unknown. Apparently Garrott was reburied in Vicksburg Cedar Hill/Confederate Cemetery; however due to misspelling of his surname and incorrect rank-his Generals commission was received after his death-apparently lead to report that his remains were not moved from his first burial place. Thus the NPS listing for Garrott now has his correct rank/surname but no grave number. Ironically a stone marker for him stands in Soldiers Rest Confederate Cemetery, located in the Cedar Hill (Old Vicksburg City) Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals