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  • Id’d Half Plate Ambrotype of Capt. Thomas M. Garrett Co. F, 5th North Carolina Infantry – KIA at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864

Id’d Half Plate Ambrotype of Capt. Thomas M. Garrett Co. F, 5th North Carolina Infantry – KIA at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864

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Id’d Half Plate Ambrotype of Capt. Thomas M. Garrett Co. F, 5th North Carolina Infantry – KIA at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864 – This fine ambrotype depicts a young Thomas Garrett, most likely, at the time of his enlistment, in May of 1861, into Co. F of the 5th NC Infantry. Capt. Garrett had a rather interesting and eventful military career, to include his arrest, in Dec. of 1861, for non-compliance of orders, as well as his sustaining wounds at the Battle of Williamsburg, in the Spring of 1862; being captured and exchanged in Sept. of 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863; promotion to the rank of Colonel on Jan. 1, 1863; killed in action on May 12, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The image depicts Garrett in an early war uniform, wearing a secession badge on his chest and showing a tall, beaver, stovepipe hat resting on a table beside him. The image is housed in a half case; when the image is taken out of the case, one can see, written in period pencil, on the paper covering on the interior of the case, the following:

“T  M  Garrett”

The image remains in overall good condition; it has sustained a very narrow crack, running from one o’clock to seven o’clock. This crack does not enter much of the sitter’s image – only his body area – and does not detract from the overall depiction, at all. At some point, someone stabilized the crack, on the back side of the plate, with some kind of non-obtrusive tape. There is no chipping or flaking whatsoever on the back of the plate. This is a rare, half-plate, high resolution view of a courageous, young North Carolina officer. Thomas Garrett had been a successful young attorney prior to his enlistment, with some political involvement, as an active member of the Whig Party. A review of the extensive research we have conducted on Mr. Garrett’s pre-war and war career reveals him to have been quite a dynamic individual.

Thomas M. Garrett

Residence Bertie County NC; 30 years old. Enlisted on 5/16/1861 as a Captain. On 5/16/1861 he was commissioned into “F” Co. NC 5th Infantry He was Killed on 5/12/1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA  He was listed as:* Arrested 12/23/1861 (place not stated) (For non-compliance of orders)* Confined 3/7/1862 (place not stated) (Returned)* Wounded 5/5/1862 Williamsburg, VA (Returned)* Exchanged 9/21/1862 Aiken’s Landing, VA (Exchanged for James Bense 6th OH Inf)* Wounded 5/2/1863 Chancellorsville, VA* Returned 7/30/1863 (place not stated)  Promotions:* Colonel 1/16/1863   Intra Regimental Company Transfers:* 1/16/1863 from company F to Field & Staff

5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry

OVERVIEW:
5th Infantry Regiment State Troops was organized at Halifax, North Carolina, in July,1861. Its companies were recruited in the counties of Cumberland, Gates, Johnston, Graven, Rowan, Bertie, Wilson, and Caswell. Ordered to Virginia, the regiment reached Manassas on July 19 and fought in the battle under General Longstreet. In April, 1862, it had 460 effectives and during the war was brigaded under Generals Early, Garland, Iverson, R. D. Johnston. It participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Cold Harbor, then was involved in Early’s operations in the Shenandoah Valley and the Appomattox Campaign. It had 180 men in action at Seven Pines, lost 10 killed, 22 wounded, and 4 missing during the Seven Days’ Battles, and had 4 killed and 37 wounded at Chancellorsville. The unit took 473 men to Gettysburg, losing more than half, and reported 16 disabled at Bristoe and 3 at Mine Run. It surrendered with 7 officers and 76 men of which 48 were armed.
The field officers were Colonels Thomas M. Garrett and Duncan K. McRae; and Lieutenant Colonels John C. Badham, William J. Hill, Joseph P. Jones, John W. Lea, and Peter J. Sinclair.

5th NC Infantry

Organized: on 6/20/61
Mustered Out: 4/9/65

 

From To Brigade Division Corps Army Comment
Jul ’61 Jul ’61 Longstreet’s Army of Potomac
Jul ’61 Jul ’61 Longstreet’s 1st Army of Potomac
Jul ’61 Oct ’61 Early’s 1st Army of Potomac
Oct ’61 Oct ’61 Early’s Van Dorn’s 1st Army of Potomac
Oct ’61 Feb ’62 Early’s Van Dorn’s 1st Dept of Northern Virginia
Feb ’62 Sep ’62 Early’s/Garland’s Early’s/D.H. Hill’s Army of Northern Virginia
Sep ’62 May ’64 Garland’s/Iverson’s D.H. Hill’s/Rodes’ 2nd Army of Northern Virginia
May ’64 Jun ’64 Johnston’s Early’s/Ramseur’s 2nd Army of Northern Virginia
Jun ’64 Dec ’64 Johnston’s Ramseur’s/Pegram’s Valley Dist Dept of Northern Virginia
Dec ’64 Apr ’65 Johnston’s Pegram’s 2nd Army of Northern Virginia

Confederate (CSV)

Captain

Thomas Miles Garrett

(1830 – 1864)

Home State: North Carolina

Education: University of North Carolina, Class of 1851

Command Billet: Company officer

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 5th North Carolina Infantry

Before Sharpsburg

A lawyer in Murfreesboro, North Carolina before the War, he was commissioned Captain of Company F, Fifth Infantry on 16 May 1861. He was wounded and captured at Williamsburg, Virginia in May 1862 and released in August.

On the Campaign

He assumed command of the Regiment on September 14, at South Mountain, when Colonel McRae was given command of the Brigade as Gen Garland was killed. He was wounded again – in the foot – in action at Sharpsburg.

The rest of the War

He was promoted to Colonel on 16 January 1863, and was wounded for the third time at Chancellorsville in May. Following that battle he was mentioned for his bravery by Gen Rodes who said he “had behaved most gallantly on the first day, and was, unfortunately, wounded by one of our own men after the close of that day’s fight”1.

He was killed in action at Spottsylvania Courthouse on 12 May 1864.

References & notes

The photograph above is from Clark2. Service information from Moore’s Roster3, with further biographical data from Colonels4.

Birth

06/13/1830; Hertford County, NC

Death

05/12/1864; Spottsylvania, VA

 

NAME: Thomas M Garrett
ENLISTMENT AGE: 30
BIRTH DATE: 1831
ENLISTMENT DATE: 16 May 1861
ENLISTMENT RANK: Captain
MUSTER DATE: 16 May 1861
MUSTER PLACE: North Carolina
MUSTER COMPANY: F
MUSTER REGIMENT: 5th Infantry
MUSTER REGIMENT TYPE: Infantry
MUSTER INFORMATION: Commission
RANK CHANGE DATE: 16 Jan 1863
RANK CHANGE RANK: Colonel
TRANSFER DATE: 16 Jan 1863
TRANSFER FROM UNIT: F
TRANSFER TO UNIT: S
CASUALTY DATE: 5 May 1862
CASUALTY PLACE: Williamsburg, Virginia
TYPE OF CASUALTY: Wounded
CASUALTY INFORMATION: Returned
MUSTER OUT DATE: 12 May 1864
MUSTER OUT PLACE: Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
MUSTER OUT INFORMATION: Killed
SIDE OF WAR: Confederacy
SURVIVED WAR?: No
RESIDENCE PLACE: Bertie County, North Carolina
NOTES: 1861-12-23 Arrested, For non-compliance of orders; 1862-03-07 Confined, Returned; 1862-09-21 Exchanged, (Aiken’s Landing, VA), Exchanged for James Bense 6th OH Inf; 1863-07-30 Returned
ADDITIONAL NOTES 2: Casualty 2 Date: 02 May 1863; Casualty 2 Place: Chancellorsville, Virginia; Casualty 2 Casualty Type: Wounded;
TITLE: North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster; Official Records of the War of Rebellion

Garrett, Thomas Miles

by James Elliott Moore, 1986

13 June 1830–12 May 1864

Thomas Miles Garrett, attorney and Confederate officer, was one of three children of Jesse Garrett and his wife, Cynthia Rayner. His father died relatively young and his mother married Wiley Hayes, by whom she had two children. Garrett was reared near Colerain in Bertie County and prepared for college by John Kimberly at Buckhorn Academy, Como, in neighboring Hertford County. In 1848, Garrett entered The University of North Carolina where he soon made a name for himself. He joined the Philanthropic Society the same year and eventually finished second in scholarship and deportment. From June 1849 to November 1850 Garrett kept an interesting diary, which is now in the Southern Historical Collection at Chapel Hill. He was graduated with the A.B. degree in 1851.

Afterwards, Garrett became an attorney and established a practice at Murfreesboro. In 1854, he was involved in a highly controversial case. A Hertford County committee for the Know-Nothing party sued one of its members for $10,000 after he became disenchanted with the organization and printed a violent denunciation of it in the Murfreesboro Gazette. Garrett was one of four attorneys engaged to represent the defendant. The political committee lost the case and Garrett’s client was awarded a token payment of a few dollars.

Early in the Civil War Garrett enlisted in the Confederate Army and on 16 May 1861 was appointed captain of Company F, which became part of the Fifth Regiment of North Carolina State Troops. He soon ran into trouble, for on 23 December he was arrested and accused of submitting false reports of those absent without leave. At the same time, it was charged that he had established headquarters in a house intended for the regimental commander and then had disregarded orders from his superior to vacate the residence. Garrett was detained until 7 Mar. 1862 and not formally cleared of charges until 9 December. However, he had rejoined his company in time to take part in the Battle of Williamsburg on 5 May 1862, when he was wounded in the arm and captured by the Union forces. He was treated first at Fort Monroe, Va., and later transferred to Fort Delaware, Del. After his release in August, he returned home to recuperate until September. He next saw action in the Battle of Sharpsburg on 17 Sept. 1862, when he was slightly wounded in the foot.

Garrett, who had been active in Whig politics, was elected to the state senate from Bertie County while a prisoner of war. However, finding that the demands of a legislative seat conflicted with his duties as an officer, he resigned in a letter to Governor Zebulon B. Vance on 20 Oct. 1862. Upon his return to duty, he became embroiled in a dispute with Captain Peter J. Sinclair, his rival for the post of colonel of the Fifth Regiment. Earlier, Garrett had been passed over for promotion to major. In a letter of 1 Sept. 1862 to Governor Vance, he complained that he was being discriminated against because of his former Whig affiliations. The officers of the regiment clearly favored Garrett. Consequently, Vance appointed Garrett commander and Sinclair resigned.

Governor Vance’s choice was vindicated as Garrett proved to be an excellent commander. He was wounded in the leg at Chancellorsville on 2 May 1863 and did not rejoin the regiment until late July or early August. Colonel Garrett was cited for bravery and recommended for promotion to brigadier general by General Robert E. Rodes, but no action was taken. Again Garrett was ignored when General Alfred Iverson was relieved of his command after mismanagement of his brigade at Gettysburg. Instead, Colonel Robert D. Johnston of the Twenty-third North Carolina Regiment was made brigadier general. This state of affairs prompted Governor Vance to charge in a letter of 9 Mar. 1864 to President Jefferson Davis that, because of their pro-Union stand at the opening of the war, Garrett and other deserving men were being passed over in favor of avowed Secessionists. Davis denied that he had been influenced by political considerations in promoting officers.

Garrett’s history of discrimination doubtlessly caused him to remark on the eve of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House that he would “come out of the fight a brigadier-general or a dead colonel.” He was killed in battle on 12 May at the “Mule Shoe” during the Battle of Spotsylvania. The next day, Garrett’s commander received a dispatch from Richmond promoting him to brigadier general. Nevertheless, he had died a colonel. He was unmarried.

References:

Walter Clark, ed., History of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War, 1861–’65, vols. 1, 2, and 5 (1901).

Daniel L. Grant, Alumni History of the University of North Carolina (1924).

John W. Moore, History of North Carolina from the Earliest Discoveries to the Present Time (1880).

Additional Resources:

Thomas Miles Garrett Diary, 1849-1850 (collection no. 01171-z). The Southern Historical Collection. Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/g/Garrett,Thomas_Miles.html (accessed March 13, 2014).

  1. N. H. Smith to Governor Zebulon B. Vance, Richmond, Va., September 5, 1862. Zebulon Baird Vance Papers. State Archives of North Carolina. http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p15012coll8/id/13288

Hamilton, John Bowen, editor. “Diary of Thomas Miles Garrett at the University of North Carolina, 1849: Part I.” North Carolina Historical Review 38, no. 1 (January 1961). 63-93. http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll9/id/3981 (accessed March 13, 2014).

Hamilton, John Bowen, editor. “Diary of Thomas Miles Garrett at the University of North Carolina, 1849: Part II.” North Carolina Historical Review 38, no. 2 (April 1961). 241-262. http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll9/id/3982 (accessed March 13, 2014).

Hamilton, John Bowen, editor. “Diary of Thomas Miles Garrett at the University of North Carolina, 1849: Part III.” North Carolina Historical Review 38, no. 3 (July 1961). 380-410. http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll9/id/3983 (accessed March 13, 2014).

Hamilton, John Bowen, and T. M. Garrett and Elisha Mitchell. “Diary of Thomas Miles Garrett at the University of North Carolina, 1849 (Concluded).” North Carolina Historical Review 38, no. 4 (October 1961). 534-563. http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll9/id/3984 (accessed March 13, 2014).

Antietam after battle report:

  Report of Capt. Thomas M. Garrett, Fifth North Carolina

Infantry, of the battle of Sharpsburg.

CAMP, October 11, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor so submit the following report of the operations of the Fifth North Carolina Troops in the action of October [September] 17 at Sharpsburg:

At an early hour in the morning and shortly after the battle had opened with musketry, the regiment was moved along with the brigade by the left flanks across the open field north of the town in the direction of the firing. The brigade was halted upon the left of the “burning house,” and formed in line of battle. While halted here for a few minute, and while passing to our position, we were subjected to a very severe cross-fire from the enemy’s artillery, and had the misfortune to lose for the day Lieut. Charles R. King, commanding Company H, who was wounded severely in the arm by the fragment of shell.  The regiment, being formed in line on the right of the brigade, was moved forward rapidly across the open field and over a fence into the woods in front. Here a state of confusion ensued which it is difficult to portray. Various conflicting orders (mere suggestion, perhaps, taking that shape) were passed down the line, the men in rank being allowed by the officers to join in repeating them, so that it became utterly impossible to understand which emanated from the proper authority. The regiment, following the movements of the brigade, which were vacillating and unsteady, obliquing to the right and left, came upon a ledge of rock and earth, forming a fine natural breastwork. Under the covered of this the regiment, following the example of those on the left, fell down and sought shelter. Seeing a regiment of the enemy coming up in the open field in our front and somewhat on the flank, and the breastwork

turning where the right of the regiment rested in such a manner as to expose

a few files of men of my regiment, I ordered these to deploy as flankers to

the right and take shelter behind the trees. At this moment, and while

directing this movement, Capt. [T. P.] Thomson, Company G, came up

to me, and in a very excited manner and tone cried out to me, “They are

flanking us! See, younder’s a whole brigade!” I ordered him to keep silence

and return to his place. The men before this were far from being cool, but,

when this act of indiscretion occurred, a panic ensued, and, despite the

efforts of file-closers and officers, they began to break and run. I have

employed this language in regard to Capt. Thomson’s conduct because he

remained upon the ground and exerted himself to really the men, and, while

it manifests clearly a want of capacity to command, my observation of him

did not produce a conviction that it proceeded from a cowardly temper. I

gave an order to the few men who remained–not more than 10 in number–to

retire, fence in our rear. A few rallied by the example of Lieut. Isaac E.

Pearce, commanding Company B, who acted with great spirit, and all of the

men belonging to my company present in the regiment rallied to my side.

With them I made a stand at the fence, and ordered the men to fire upon the

advancing enemy. This they did with coolness and deliberation. I observed,

however, immediately, that all the brigade of the left were retreating in

disorder, and had already passed the fence without halting. I retired with the

few men behind the fence, toward the town. I could see no body of men of

my regiment on the way, and I went immediately down into the town in the

hope of getting up with them. Here I met Gen. Lee in the street, and

reported to him the misfortune which had befallen me, and asked for

directions. He ordered me to rally all  the stragglers I could, without regard

to what command they belonged, and report with them to Gen. Evans.

Only about 50 of my regiment could be found; but, with the assistance of

yourself and Lieut. Pearce, about 150 were rallied and carried up to

Gen. Evans, on the hill, on the north edge of the town. These were

formed in line, under my command, along with other stragglers, and all

placed under the command o Col. Iverson, of the Twentieth North

Carolina.

 

Very soon we advanced into the open field, and, meeting with Gen. D.

H. Hill, were ordered to attack a regiment of the enemy which was

maintaining a doubtful contest with a small body of our troops. We moved

up in line on the right and engaged them with spirit, and forced them, for

a moment, to give back. Very soon, however, the left of the line of which

my command formed part gave way, and being left with but the men from

my regiment, I ordered them to retire, and form

behind a large rock in the field, about 50 yards distant. This was done, and,

by the determined conduct of these few men, the regiment of the enemy was

held in check for twenty-five of thirty minutes. After feeling our strength,

however, he began to advance and I ordered the men to retreat.

In this affair I observed, as throughout the day, your admirable

self-possession and command of your faculties in the midst of danger, and

I am greatly indebted to you for valuable aid rendered me.

 

Retiring again to Gen. Evans’ headquarters, and being furnished with a

horse, I went again into the town and gathered up another body of stragglers,

who, whit what remained of the Fifth North Carolina, were formed. Gen.

Evans asked me to take command of them, but a slight wound on the foot

had by this time become so painful as to orbit it, and he called upon you to

lead them. How well this was done I would be glad to be able to narrate, but

being separated finally from any organized body of the regiment this report

necessarily closes.

 

In this last affair we have to lament the loss of our much-esteemed friend,

Lieut. John M. Felton, Company G, who was killed instantly by a round

shot from the enemy’s battery. He was modest and unassuming as he was

brave and determined. The casualties* of the day have already been reported.

I halve the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. M. GARRETT,

Capt. Company F, Commanding Regiment.

Lieut. J. M. TAYLOR,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source:  Official Records:  Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27

Birth

06/13/1830; Hertford County, NC

Death

05/12/1864; Spottsylvania, VA

 

NAME: Thomas M Garrett
ENLISTMENT AGE: 30
BIRTH DATE: 1831
ENLISTMENT DATE: 16 May 1861
ENLISTMENT RANK: Captain
MUSTER DATE: 16 May 1861
MUSTER PLACE: North Carolina
MUSTER COMPANY: F
MUSTER REGIMENT: 5th Infantry
MUSTER REGIMENT TYPE: Infantry
MUSTER INFORMATION: Commission
RANK CHANGE DATE: 16 Jan 1863
RANK CHANGE RANK: Colonel
TRANSFER DATE: 16 Jan 1863
TRANSFER FROM UNIT: F
TRANSFER TO UNIT: S
CASUALTY DATE: 5 May 1862
CASUALTY PLACE: Williamsburg, Virginia
TYPE OF CASUALTY: Wounded
CASUALTY INFORMATION: Returned
MUSTER OUT DATE: 12 May 1864
MUSTER OUT PLACE: Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
MUSTER OUT INFORMATION: Killed
SIDE OF WAR: Confederacy
SURVIVED WAR?: No
RESIDENCE PLACE: Bertie County, North Carolina
NOTES: 1861-12-23 Arrested, For non-compliance of orders; 1862-03-07 Confined, Returned; 1862-09-21 Exchanged, (Aiken’s Landing, VA), Exchanged for James Bense 6th OH Inf; 1863-07-30 Returned
ADDITIONAL NOTES 2: Casualty 2 Date: 02 May 1863; Casualty 2 Place: Chancellorsville, Virginia; Casualty 2 Casualty Type: Wounded;

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