William Montgomery Gardner

From Dixiepedia: The PC-Free Encyclopedia

William Montgomery Gardner (8 June 1824 - 16 June 1901) was born in Augusta, Georgia. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1846, and served in the Mexican War. He was engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz and in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, was wounded and received a brevet of First Lieutenant. He was subsequently on garrison duty and Indian scouting expeditions, rising to the rank of Captain. He resigned on 19 January 1861, when Georgia seceded from the Union. He was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 8th Georgia Volunteer Infantry.

Gardner was severely wounded on 21 July 1861, at the Battle of First Manassas. He was acting Colonel and commander of the 8th Georgia during the First Manassas battle, as Colonel Francis Bartow (the 8th's first Colonel) was brigade commander. Gardner is mentioned in the battle reports of both General Joseph E. Johnston and General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard.

Gardner's commission as Brigadier General had already been made out, but had not reached him before the battle. His wound was thought to be mortal at First Manassas, and some of the histories written years afterward speak of him as killed on that memorable day. He lingered long between life and death, and was unable to resume field command for some time.

On 14 November 1861, he was finally commissioned Brigadier General and put in command of the District of Middle Florida, holding that position until 11 November 1863. He participated in the battle of Olustee, a decisive Confederate victory, and saved Florida temporarily from invasion.

On 26 July 1864, General Gardner was assigned to command all military prisons east of the Mississippi, and from January until April of 1865, he commanded the post at Richmond, Virginia.

After the war, Gardner returned to Augusta, Georgia for a time, and then moved to Rome. He later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and died there in 1901.