John L. Gardner (brigadier general)

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, Gardner received a commission of third lieutenant in the United States Army on May 20, 1813, and was assigned to the 4th U.S. Infantry. His first experience of combat was in Canada where he was wounded in the Battle of La Cole Mills on March 30, 1814, while serving under General James Wilkinson.^[1] He served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General T. A. Smith.^[2][3]

Second Seminole War

Gardner later fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida (1835-1839), including at the Battle of Wahoo Swamp on November 21, 1836.^[2][3] Shortly after the war, Gardner wrote and published the book Military Control in which he pointed out various faults with existing military organization and management.^[4][5]

Mexican–American War

During the Mexican–American War, Gardner was a major in the 4th U.S. Artillery^[1] and was originally stationed at Fort Polk, Texas between July 29, 1846, and January 31, 1847.^[2] He fought at the Battle of Cerro Gordo on April 18, 1847, and received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel for gallantry and meritorious conduct. He received another brevet promotion to colonel for his gallantry at the Battle of Contreras on August 20, 1847.^[1][3] At the Battle of Cerro Gordo he commanded a company of the 7th U.S. Infantry, many of whom were killed or wounded during combat. He was later praised by his commanders, including Scott in his report of April 23, 1847, for his signal services.^[6]

In January 1848, during the occupation of northern Mexico, Gardner oversaw the shipment of bullion and enforced the collection of taxes on bullion as Superintendent of Assessment for the Federal District.^[7]

Antebellum Period

During the Third Seminole War (1855-1858), Gardner was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Capron, Florida. On June 16, 1858, while serving as commander of Company A, 4th U.S. Artillery, he was transferred to Fort Moultrie, South Carolina for additional garrison duty. In August, a yellow fever epidemic broke out amongst the companies of newly arrived artillerymen, infecting 49 and eventually killing 28. To reduce the possibility of further spreading of the epidemic, Washington authorized Gardner to temporarily move his command outside the fort, and he was absent from throughout most of the summer of 1859 scouting out potential arrangements around Smithville, North Carolina.^[8]

As commandant of Fort Moultrie, Gardner took up residence with his family outside of the walls of the fort in a large house directly opposite the Western Postern-Gate. Living in the nearby community, he could not take a very active or visible role giving aid to the fort fearing reprisal to his family and himself. Although he was a Union officer, Gardner still held various southern sympathies and felt that the South had been treated unfairly in the question of territories and had been defrauded by the interests in the North. However, he acquiesced when it came to defending the forts in Charleston Harbor.^[9] During the months leading up to the Civil War, Gardner, realizing that secessionist tensions were mounting, made several requests to Secretary of War John B. Floyd for troops to reinforce the garrison at Fort Moultrie, but he received only 70 men, most of whom were southern sympathizers. Floyd, a southern sympathizer, had the intent to weaken the forts at Charleston Harbor so they would fall in the hands of the South Carolinians if there was conflict. Gardner did not receive extra provisions for these men, and he wrote to an old friend, Colonel Joseph P. Taylor,^[1] in the Subsistence Department, requesting provisions for one hundred men for six months and hinted that he could carry out the requisition in the normal line of duty without having to inform Floyd.^[10]

On November 8, 1860, Colonel Gardner ordered Captain Truman Seymour to transfer arms from the Charleston Arsenal to Fort Moultrie, but the shipment was blocked by civilians.^[11] Through an observer, Floyd learned that Gardner had been working his men day and night to strengthen the defenses of Fort Moultrie and had increased its supply of provisions and ammunition.^[10] On November 15, 1860, Gardner was relieved of duty and replaced by Major Robert Anderson.^[12] Gardner was ordered to report to General David E. Twiggs in Texas.^[1]

Civil War

On July 23, 1861, following the outbreak of the Civil War, Gardner was promoted to colonel and in command of the 2nd U.S. Artillery. He retired from active service on November 1, 1861, after forty-eight years of consecutive service in the Army. After retirement he was involved in recruitment duty for the remainder of the war. He received a brevet promotion to brigadier general for his long and faithful service effective March 13, 1865.^[1]

United States Army

More information Date, Insignia ...

Date	Insignia	Rank	Brevet Promotions
May 20, 1813		Third lieutenant
March 28, 1814		Second lieutenant
April 20, 1818		First lieutenant	Bvt. Captain (1820)[b]
November 1, 1823		Captain	Bvt. Major (1833)[c]
October 13, 1845		Major	Bvt. Lieutenant colonel (1847)[d] Bvt. Colonel (1847)[e]
August 3, 1852		Lieutenant colonel
July 23, 1861		Colonel
November 1, 1861	Placed on the retired list with the rank of colonel (died February 19, 1869).		Bvt. Brigadier general (1865)[f]

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