Killed from Cold Harbor while serving Company H of the 55th Regiment of Virginia Infantry.
From Richard O'Sullivan;
GARNETT, WILLIAM KEMP (known as Kemp Garnett): Born, 6/25/39. Sixth son of Muscoe Garnett (a successful lawyer, judge, planter, slave owner and, for 17 years a member of the Va. House of Delegates). Kemp grew up on the magnificent "Ben Lomond" plantation in Essex Co., which his father purchased incrementally from his maternal grandmother. By 1860, he had left home and was working as a clerk. Elected 2nd Lt. in Co. D, 7/4/61. Mustered in, 7/17/61. Served as Post Adjutant at Urbanna, Feb-March'62. Absent sick, 4/17/62-May'62. Otherwise present for duty on all rolls until MWIA at Gaines' Mill, 6/27/62. On 6/30/62, The Daily Dispatch reported, "... on Friday evening, Lieut. W. Kemp Garnett, company D, 55th Virginia regiment, particularly distinguished himself for his gallant bearing and courage in the thickest of the fight. He at last fell mortally wounded and died on Sunday morning at the residence of Mr. Ligon, on Church Hill. The clothing of Lieut. Garnett shows that thirteen balls had passed through them. He had been literally riddled by the enemy's shot." [Kemp's younger brother, Frank Buckner Garnett, served in Co.F, 9th Va. Cavalry and died of typhoid fever on 6/6/62, shortly after participating in Stuart's ride around McClellan. Their mother was left "childless and broken hearted".]
From Richard O'Sullivan;
GARNETT, WILLIAM KEMP (known as Kemp Garnett): Born, 6/25/39. Sixth son of Muscoe Garnett (a successful lawyer, judge, planter, slave owner and, for 17 years a member of the Va. House of Delegates). Kemp grew up on the magnificent "Ben Lomond" plantation in Essex Co., which his father purchased incrementally from his maternal grandmother. By 1860, he had left home and was working as a clerk. Elected 2nd Lt. in Co. D, 7/4/61. Mustered in, 7/17/61. Served as Post Adjutant at Urbanna, Feb-March'62. Absent sick, 4/17/62-May'62. Otherwise present for duty on all rolls until MWIA at Gaines' Mill, 6/27/62. On 6/30/62, The Daily Dispatch reported, "... on Friday evening, Lieut. W. Kemp Garnett, company D, 55th Virginia regiment, particularly distinguished himself for his gallant bearing and courage in the thickest of the fight. He at last fell mortally wounded and died on Sunday morning at the residence of Mr. Ligon, on Church Hill. The clothing of Lieut. Garnett shows that thirteen balls had passed through them. He had been literally riddled by the enemy's shot." [Kemp's younger brother, Frank Buckner Garnett, served in Co.F, 9th Va. Cavalry and died of typhoid fever on 6/6/62, shortly after participating in Stuart's ride around McClellan. Their mother was left "childless and broken hearted".]
Killed from Cold Harbor while serving Company H of the 55th Regiment of Virginia Infantry.
From Richard O'Sullivan;
GARNETT, WILLIAM KEMP (known as Kemp Garnett): Born, 6/25/39. Sixth son of Muscoe Garnett (a successful lawyer, judge, planter, slave owner and, for 17 years a member of the Va. House of Delegates). Kemp grew up on the magnificent "Ben Lomond" plantation in Essex Co., which his father purchased incrementally from his maternal grandmother. By 1860, he had left home and was working as a clerk. Elected 2nd Lt. in Co. D, 7/4/61. Mustered in, 7/17/61. Served as Post Adjutant at Urbanna, Feb-March'62. Absent sick, 4/17/62-May'62. Otherwise present for duty on all rolls until MWIA at Gaines' Mill, 6/27/62. On 6/30/62, The Daily Dispatch reported, "... on Friday evening, Lieut. W. Kemp Garnett, company D, 55th Virginia regiment, particularly distinguished himself for his gallant bearing and courage in the thickest of the fight. He at last fell mortally wounded and died on Sunday morning at the residence of Mr. Ligon, on Church Hill. The clothing of Lieut. Garnett shows that thirteen balls had passed through them. He had been literally riddled by the enemy's shot." [Kemp's younger brother, Frank Buckner Garnett, served in Co.F, 9th Va. Cavalry and died of typhoid fever on 6/6/62, shortly after participating in Stuart's ride around McClellan. Their mother was left "childless and broken hearted".]
From Richard O'Sullivan;
GARNETT, WILLIAM KEMP (known as Kemp Garnett): Born, 6/25/39. Sixth son of Muscoe Garnett (a successful lawyer, judge, planter, slave owner and, for 17 years a member of the Va. House of Delegates). Kemp grew up on the magnificent "Ben Lomond" plantation in Essex Co., which his father purchased incrementally from his maternal grandmother. By 1860, he had left home and was working as a clerk. Elected 2nd Lt. in Co. D, 7/4/61. Mustered in, 7/17/61. Served as Post Adjutant at Urbanna, Feb-March'62. Absent sick, 4/17/62-May'62. Otherwise present for duty on all rolls until MWIA at Gaines' Mill, 6/27/62. On 6/30/62, The Daily Dispatch reported, "... on Friday evening, Lieut. W. Kemp Garnett, company D, 55th Virginia regiment, particularly distinguished himself for his gallant bearing and courage in the thickest of the fight. He at last fell mortally wounded and died on Sunday morning at the residence of Mr. Ligon, on Church Hill. The clothing of Lieut. Garnett shows that thirteen balls had passed through them. He had been literally riddled by the enemy's shot." [Kemp's younger brother, Frank Buckner Garnett, served in Co.F, 9th Va. Cavalry and died of typhoid fever on 6/6/62, shortly after participating in Stuart's ride around McClellan. Their mother was left "childless and broken hearted".]
Gravesite Details
His body was moved from Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Va to his home cemetery after the war.
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