“There was scarcely an officer or man in the command whose attention was not attracted by the cool and handsome bearing of General Garnett,” wrote Major Peyton of the 19th Virginia, “who, totally devoid of excitement or rashness, rode immediately in rear of his advancing line, endeavoring by his personal efforts, and by the aid of his staff, to keep his line well closed and dressed. He was shot from his horse while near the center of the brigade, within about 25 paces of the stone wall.” 4

Colonel Birkett Fry, leading the brigade to Garnett’s left, wrote: “I heard Garnett give a command to his men which amid the rattle of musketry I could not distinguish. Seeing my look or gesture inquiring he called out, ‘I am dressing on you.’ A few seconds after he fell dead.” 5

Captain John Jones and a Pvt. Robert Irvine both claimed to have been present when Garnett was killed instantly by a minie ball through the brain and fell from his horse. Irvine saw that a bullet had entered just above and behind the general’s left ear. Irvine claimed to recover Garnett’s watch and gave it to an adjutant before both were forced to run for their lives. Irvine placed this “within fifteen or twenty paces of the stone wall” and a little to the right of the Angle. 6

Private James Clay, in the 18th Virginia, was struck down when about 100 yards from the clump of trees. “The last I saw of General Garnett he was astride his large black horse in the forefront of the charge and near the stone wall…General Garnett was waving his hat and cheering the men on to renewed efforts against the enemy.” Garnett’s horse soon “came galloping toward us with a huge gash in his right shoulder, evidently struck by a piece of shell.” Two Federal soldiers told Clay, “our brigade general had been killed, having been shot through the body at the waist by a grapeshot.” 7 Yet at least one other account insisted that his horse went down with him. 8