8th Georgia - William M. Gardner

Brigadier-General William Montgomery Gardner was born in Georgia in 1824, 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 Jan. 19, 1861, when Georgia seceded from the Union. He was commissioned Lt. Col. of the 8th Georgia Volunteer Infantry.

At First Manassas, July 21, 1861, he was severely wounded. Gardner was acting Colonel and commander of the 8th Georgia during the First Manassas battle, as Col. Francis Bartow (the 8th's first Col.) was brigade commander. Gardner is mentioned in both Gen. Joseph Johnston's, and Gen. Beauregard's battle reports.

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

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

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

[Above information from "Confederate Military History," ed. by Clement Evans, vol. 6; and from "Civil War Dictionary," by Mark Boatner, c. 1988.]

Note: Gardner is one of the 34 "cast of characters" (which includes classmates Jackson, McClellan, Pickett, A. P. Hill, etc.) in "The Class of 1846," by John C. Waugh, c. 1994. Gardner described Jackson in Mexico: "... as calm in the midst of a hurricane of bullets as though he were on dress parade at West point."

[Gardner is the ancestor of Milton Williams]