Joseph Daniel Garrett
Representing: Confederate
Unit History
- 2nd Virginia Cavalry CSA G
- 3rd Virginia Cavalry CSA G
Joseph Daniel Garrett 3rd VA Cavalry Co. G
Joseph Daniel Garrett 3rd VA Cavalry Co. G Parole 1865
Joseph Daniel Garrett 1890 Veteran Schedule WA
Joseph Daniel Garrett Death Record 1919 WA
Full Unit History
2nd VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: May, 1861 Lynchburg, VA
Mustered In: 5/11/1861 Lynchburg, VA
Disbanded: 4/10/1865 Lynchburg, VA
3rd VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: Spring/Summer, 1861
Mustered In: 7/1/1861
Surrendered: 4/9/1865 Appomattox, VA
Regimental History
REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (2nd)
This organization’s period of service was spent in the eastern theater of the American Civil War (ACW). There, it primarily fought with the Army Of Northern Virginia.
Recruited from several Central Virginia counties, the unit, known as the 2nd Virginia Cavalry was initially designated the 30th Virginia Volunteer Regiment. In October, 1861 it was renamed the 2nd. **
Organizer of the 2nd was Colonel Jubal A. Early. Later in The War Early became a general. He is probably most famous for leading a Rebel attack on Washington, D.C. during the summer of 1864. During that attack President Abraham Lincoln was exposed to enemy fire at Ft. Stevens After the failed Rebel offensive Early reportedly said something to the effect of “Well, we didn’t capture Washington, but we sure gave old Abe a scare.”
Strength of the regiment in July, 1861 was six hundred seventy six men. Initial action came at the first battle of Bull Run/Manassas (7/18). No loss numbers are available.
During the spring of 1862 the 2nd was active during Confed. Gen. Jackson’s campaign in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It then fought at Second Bull Run/Groveton Heights (8/28 - 8/30). During that melee it lost twenty-eight percent of its one hundred sixty three men engaged. Next came Antietam/Sharpsburg, MD (9/17). The combat year was capped at Fredericksburg, VA (12/11 - 12/15). Early 1863 actions including Chancellorsville, VA (4/30 - 5/6), Brandy Station, VA (6/9) and Upperville, VA (6/11) preceded the battle of Gettysburg, PA (7/1 - 7/3). The year was concluded with the Mine Run, VA (11/27 - 12/2) campaign.
Virginia confrontations with Union forces during 1864 included The Wilderness (5/5 - 5/7), Spotsylvania (5/21) and Cold Harbor (5/31 - 6/12). The 2nd then moved back to the Shenandoah Valley with General Early and fought around Petersburg.
1865. In April actions around Appomattox, VA the 2nd cut through Federal lines and escaped to Lynchburg where the unit disbanded. Still, nineteen members of the 2nd were reportedly at Appomattox Court House when Confed. Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to the forces of Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on 4/9/1865.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
No Loss Numbers Available
REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (3rd)
This organization was likely a three year cavalry regiment. Its period of service was spent in the eastern theater of the American Civil War (ACW). There, it primarily served with the Army Of Northern Virginia.
Organization of the unit was completed by the melding of independent companies having been recruited in the Virginia counties of Mecklenburg, Elizabeth City, New Kent, Halifax, Nottoway, Cumberland, Dinwiddie and Prince Edward. . Initially known as the 2nd Virginia, the designation was changed to the 3rd in October, ‘61.
1862. The first full year of war found the 3rd involved in many Virginia conflicts from Williamsburg (3/5) to Fredericksburg (12/11 - 12/15).
Engagements of early 1863 included Kelly’s Ford, VA (3/17), Chancellorsville, VA (4/30 - ⅚) and Brandy Station VA (6/9). Gettysburg, PA (7/1- 7/3) came at mid-year. Latter ‘63 actions included the Mine Run, VA Campaign (11/27 - 12/2).
In 1864 activities of the 3rd generally focused on the forces of Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant as they moved southward into Virginia on the Overland Campaign. Major actions included The Wilderness (5/7), Spotsylvania (5/21), Haw’s Shop (5/28) and Cold Harbor (5/31 - 6/12). The third then moved into Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with Confed. Gen. Jubal A. Early.
On 4/9/1865 the 3rd, with the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered at Appomattox Court House, VA. The regiment had fielded two hundred ten effectives at Gettysburg. Only three surrendered at Appomattox.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
No Loss Numbers Available
Soldier History
SOLDIER: (2nd)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail. Age: 13 yrs. (est.)
Enlisted/Enrolled: 1861 (est.) Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: Inf. Not Available
Mustered Out: 1864 (est.)
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail. Age: 16.7 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/10/1864 Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Captured: 4/6 or 7/1865 (est.) Farmville, VA
P, O, W, Parole: Between 4/11 - 4/21/1865 Farmville, VA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Parole: Pvt.
Family History
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of John D. Garret was created in March, 2022 near the end of the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It contains less depth of detail than many other biographies within this website because military service, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time those documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative which follows.
________________________________________________________________________________________________Joseph Daniel - at times during his lifetime known as J.D. - Garret was born 2/5/1848. His place of birth was likely Cumberland County, VA.
Joseph appears to have been an only child. Samuel (1802/VA) Garret was his father. His mother was Mary (nee Hughes 1818/VA) Garret. Mary was Samuel’s second wife. The couple married 2/3/1847 in Powhatan County, VA then settled into farming in Cumberland County. It is unclear if the Garrets owned slaves.
Based on available U.S. Census data, Samuel had sired at least four children by his first wife, Elizabeth (nee Allen b.1817 d. 1842/VA). Joseph’s half brothers and sisters were: James A. Garrett 1837 VA), Ann E. Garret (b. 1839 VA), Lucy Garret (b. 1842 VA) and Sarah Garret (b. 1843 VA).
It is surmised that Joseph remained on his parents’ Cumberland County farm until he entered the army of the Confederate States of America sometime during 1861. Although his company has not been identified, his unit at that time appears to have been the 2nd Virginia Cavalry.
Without accessing Private Garrett’s military service records - if such even exist - all that can really said about his first three years in the cavalry is that he survived. Then, it appears, he re-enlisted.
In September, 1864 Joseph was still in the cavalry, but by that time his unit was the 3rd Virginia. Although it is not documented, as earlier noted, it is very likely that the 3rd was merely a re-designation of the 2nd. We say this because within the 3rd Private Garret’s company unit was “G”. Originally known as the Cumberland Light Dragoons, this organization had been recruited within Cumberland County. He would conclude The War with this organization.
April, 1865 saw Union forces break through Confederate lines around Petersburg, VA. Richmond was evacuated and the Rebels began retreating westward toward Appomattox Court House and final surrender on the ninth of the month. During the Reel retreat Private Garret - and likely most of his regiment - was captured near the community of Farmville. For all practical purposes, The War was over.
Where Joseph settled after the shooting stopped is an unknown. At some point, however, he moved westward as by 1875 he was residing in Nevada. What had drawn him there is not known.
On 5/9/1880 in Eureka Eureka County, NV Joseph married. His bride was Eleanor F. Gavin .Born during 1854 in Canada of Irish parentage and familiarly known as “Ellen”, she had come to America in 1879. How she and Joseph had met is not known.
During their years together Joseph and Ellen produced three children. They were: Mary E. Garret (b. 1/1881 NV), Joseph Patrick Garret (b. 8/18/1883 NV), and Letitia E. Garret (b. 3/29/1892 (King County, WA).
As noted by the birth states of the Garret children, by 1892 the family had quitted Nevada and moved northwestward to the Pacific Northwest. What had drawn them to the Seattle King County Puget Sound region is not documented. Once here Joseph noted his occupation as being “teamster.”
Joseph and Ellen would live out their years in Seattle. Joseph died at home - 3626 Wallingford Ave. N. - on 3/26/1919. Cause of the seventy one year old’s passing was listed as chronic (non-tubercular) bronchitis with arteriosclerosis contributing. Burial was/is in Seattle’s Calvary (Catholic) Cemetery.
Eleanor Frances Galvin Garret died in Seattle on 4/7/1941. She, too, was/is buried in Calvary Cemetery.
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*The surname often appears as Garrett.
** One source indicates the regiment was known as the 2nd Virginia until October, 1861 when it was renamed the 3rd Virginia Cavalry.
Posted: 5/6/2022
Updated:
Cemetery
Buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery