Before I forget (I’m literally in the process this afternoon of coordinating 2008 interviews with Mort Kunstler, Col. Keith Gibson of VMI, and filmmaker Ken Carpenter) I wanted to share some wonderful materials that have recently been added over on the Museum of the Confederacy’s website. As part of their new online Lee and Jackson galleries, which contain a wealth of photos, letters, and exhibits, are the entire collection of letters from the 1862 Court martial trial of Richard Garnett.

According to the MOC: “Stonewall” Jackson was notoriously contentious with his subordinate officers, ordering the arrest of several and threatening them with court martial. In late April 1862, Jackson filed formal court martial charges against Brig. Gen. Richard B. Garnett. The charges arose from Garnett ordering a retreat from the field at the battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862. Garnett was determined to clear his name and to prove that Jackson had kept him (his second-in-command) in the dark about his battle plans at Kernstown. The subsequent Shenandoah Valley Campaign and Seven Days Battles delayed the trial until August 6, 1862. Enemy movements forced a suspension of the trial and it was never resumed.  Shown here are Jackson’s charges and specifications against Garnett; Garnett’s list of questions for Jackson; and a transcript of Jackson’s trial testimony and Garnett’s challenges to him. Garnett had a chance to review the written testimony and wrote several marginal notes, including the word “Lie.”

Understandably, many of the documents posted are difficult to read, but the overall group of Jackson’s letters containing the questions, charges, testimonies are a real gem. I plan on contacting the MOC’s staff when (and if) I have some time and inquiring about getting the annotated transcripts (if there are any). I’ll keep you posted, and if I’m successful, I’ll certainly post them here.