General Samuel Garland - May ‘96 America’s Civil War Feature

Garland courted Elizabeth Campbell Meem, the daughter of businessman John G. Meem, and married her on May 15, 1856. Their wedding was said to have been one of the most brilliant in Lynchburg memory. They purchased a house at 303 Madison Street on Garland’s Hill, and the annual dress balls held there were a high point of Lynchburg society. During the first year of the war, tragedy struck when both Elizabeth and Sammie, their 4-year-old son, died in an influenza epidemic. Grief-stricken, the shattered Garland returned to Lynchburg for Elizabeth’s funeral. Although he found some solace in his strong religious beliefs, he seldom smiled after his crushing loss.

On April 23, 1861, Garland left Lynchburg as captain of the Lynchburg Home Guard. He led the company to Richmond, where the unit was mustered in as Company G of the 11th Virginia Infantry. The 11th Virginia included four Lynchburg militia companies and six units from the surrounding area. Colonel Jubal Early of Franklin County was appointed commanding officer. Four days after arrival, Early was promoted and, partially as a reflection of Company G’s high state of readiness, Garland was appointed colonel in his place.

Garland led the regiment to Manassas, where it was assigned to the brigade of Maj. Gen. James Longstreet. The regiment was delegated to guard Blackburn’s Ford, and three days before the First Battle of Manassas, the 11th was involved in heavy fighting to hold the crossing. Garland was commended by Longstreet for “coolness and energy under fire.” After the battle, Garland was given the responsibility of organizing and implementing the collection of weapons left behind on the battlefield. The 11th Virginia then marched north and was involved in a minor action at Dranesville. Following the Dranesville skirmish, the regiment distinguished itself in rear-guard service and repelled several Union cavalry charges. Again, Garland was cited for “displaying great coolness,” and in February 1862 General Joseph Johnston recommended Garland for promotion to brigadier general.

In the spring of 1862, the regiment was incorporated into the newly formed brigade of Maj. Gen. Daniel Harvey Hill. Hill’s brigade was detailed to Williamsburg in May and became heavily engaged in stabilizing the Confederate line on the peninsula. The 11th Virginia was a major part of the successful action there, and Garland was praised by Hill for refusing to leave the field and for continuing to lead his regiment after being wounded.

Brigadier General Jubal Early was seriously wounded during the Battle of Williamsburg and required several months to recuperate. As a result of Garland’s three previous citations and his record of efficient administration, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and assigned command of Early’s brigade, which consisted of the 24th and 38th Virginia, the 5th and 23rd North Carolina, the 2nd Florida and the 24th Mississippi regiments.

After the retreat up the peninsula, Garland experienced his first major battle as a brigade commander at Seven Pines. Garland’s brigade, in concert with that of Brig. Gen. George B. Anderson, was ordered to assault some earthworks adjacent to the Williamsburg Road. The two brigades advanced through heavy woods containing 3-foot-deep pools of water. The brigades were also halted by extensive abatis and became intermingled; but under the leadership of their commanders they lay down under the obstruction and returned such a heavy fire that the Union defenders evacuated the position. Such frontal assaults were costly, and Garland’s brigade of about 2,200 men suffered 740 casualties. Garland’s horse was killed under him, and he commandeered an artillery horse that was wounded twice.

After Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, Garland and his brigade were engaged in the Seven Days’ campaign east of Richmond as Lee attempted to drive the enemy away from the Confederate capital. At the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, Garland scouted the Union right flank and found it open. He felt the flank could be turned if the soldiers could advance through Union artillery fire. He returned to the lines and sought Hill’s permission to attack. Hill agreed, and assigned Anderson’s brigade to support Garland. The two brigades advanced rapidly through strong artillery fire and fell heavily on the open flank. The Union troops were forced to abandon the position with the loss of many prisoners and several guns. A few days later, at Malvern Hill, Garland’s brigade took part in the hopeless charge on the Federal position. A mistake in command keyed a signal for a frontal assault by Hill’s entire division. Garland reported: “We were returning to our old positions under the impression that the infantry assault had been canceled due to insufficient artillery support. Suddenly two of [Maj. Gen. John] Magruder’s brigades on our right charged out of the woods and up the slope. This was the signal to Harvey Hill who immediately sent in his whole division.” All five of Hill’s brigades suffered heavily, with Garland’s already weakened unit losing 844 additional casualties.