William M. Gardner
Encyclopedia
William M. Gardner was a Confederate States Army
brigadier general, during the American Civil War
. Before the Civil War, he served in the U.S. Army for 15 years. He was a veteran of the Mexican-American War.
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1846. He served in the Mexican-American War in the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Churubusco
, Mexico and the Battle of Contreras
, Mexico. Gardner was promoted to captain on March 3, 1855. He resigned from the U.S. Army on January 19, 1861.
On April 1, 1862, William M. Gardner was appointed Assistant Commissary General of Subsistence for the 1st Corps of the Army of Mississippi. From October 6, 1863 through February 23, 1864, he was in command of the District of Middle Florida.
Warner states that Gardner participated in the Battle of Olustee
, Florida in February 1864, although Longacre notes that Gardner's commanding officer, General P.G.T. Beauregard, did not give Gardner a field command due to his physical limitations. Sifakis states there is nothing in the Official Records to indicate Gardner participated in the battle. In fact, recent histories of the Civil War in Florida show that Gardner had been on sick leave in February 1864 and that Beauregard ordered Gardner to take command of the Confederate force pursuing the Union force's retreat toward Jacksonville, Florida only after the battle, when he realized Gardner had returned to duty. Gardner in fact assumed command of the force in the field soon after the battle and had his troops begin to erect fortifications outside Jacksonville until Beauregard himself arrived to take charge of the Confederate force and direct completion of the construction of defenses in March 1864.
Between July 26, 1864 and March 3, 1865, Gardner was chief of prisons in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Thereafter, he was commandant of the post at Richmond, Virginia until April 2, 1865 and briefly also Chief of the Bureau of Prisons between March 20 and March 24, 1865. No record of Gardner's parole has been found.
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...
brigadier general, 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...
. Before the Civil War, he served in the U.S. Army for 15 years. He was a veteran of the Mexican-American War.
Early life
William Montgomery Gardner was born on June 8, 1824 at Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1846. He served in the Mexican-American War in the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco
The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. After defeating the Mexican army at Churubusco, the U.S. Army was only 5 miles away from Mexico City, the capital of the nation...
, Mexico and the Battle of Contreras
Battle of Contreras
The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place during August 19–20, 1847, in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War. In the Battle of Churubusco, fighting continued the following day.-Background:...
, Mexico. Gardner was promoted to captain on March 3, 1855. He resigned from the U.S. Army on January 19, 1861.
American Civil War
After his resignation from the U.S. Army, Gardner was appointed as a major of infantry in the regular army of the Confederate States on March 16, 1861. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant General for the Defenses of Savannah, Georgia on May 30, 1861 but was also appointed lieutenant colonel of the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment at the end of May 1861. Acting in that assignment, Gardner was severely wounded in the leg at the Battle of First Bull Run (First Manassas), July 21, 1861. Gardner was commissioned colonel on the date of the battle because the colonel of the regiment, Benjamin Bartow, had been killed. Gardner's later wound also was taken to be fatal. He took a year to recover and was incapacitated for further field service but he did survive. While he was recovering, Gardner was appointed brigadier general, to rank from November 14, 1861.On April 1, 1862, William M. Gardner was appointed Assistant Commissary General of Subsistence for the 1st Corps of the Army of Mississippi. From October 6, 1863 through February 23, 1864, he was in command of the District of Middle Florida.
Warner states that Gardner participated in the Battle of Olustee
Battle of Olustee
The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on 20 February 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.-Background:In February 1864, Major General Quincy A...
, Florida in February 1864, although Longacre notes that Gardner's commanding officer, General P.G.T. Beauregard, did not give Gardner a field command due to his physical limitations. Sifakis states there is nothing in the Official Records to indicate Gardner participated in the battle. In fact, recent histories of the Civil War in Florida show that Gardner had been on sick leave in February 1864 and that Beauregard ordered Gardner to take command of the Confederate force pursuing the Union force's retreat toward Jacksonville, Florida only after the battle, when he realized Gardner had returned to duty. Gardner in fact assumed command of the force in the field soon after the battle and had his troops begin to erect fortifications outside Jacksonville until Beauregard himself arrived to take charge of the Confederate force and direct completion of the construction of defenses in March 1864.
Between July 26, 1864 and March 3, 1865, Gardner was chief of prisons in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Thereafter, he was commandant of the post at Richmond, Virginia until April 2, 1865 and briefly also Chief of the Bureau of Prisons between March 20 and March 24, 1865. No record of Gardner's parole has been found.