Voices Of Freedom - Pvt. James Daniel Gardner
a.k.a. - Pvt. James Daniel Gardiner
a.k.a. - Pvt. James Daniel Gardiner
Gardner was born a free man in Gloucester,
VA. He enlisted in the Army at Yorktown, VA,
on Sept. 15, 1863, the day before his 24th
birthday. He was assigned to the 2nd North
Carolina Colored Volunteers. A few months
later, his unit was transferred to Hampton, VA,
where Major-General Benjamin F. Butler had
begun forming the Army of the James, which
was predominately made up of black troops.
The North Carolina 2nd Colored Volunteers
were transformed into the 36th Infantry of the
United States Colored Troops. Gardner was
in I Company. It was the first unit of what
would become the United States Army. A
most interesting fact is that prior to and during
the Civil War, troops came from state militias.
But no state wanted to “own” the United
States Colored Troops. As a result, by default
they became the first unit of the United States
Army.
Gardner’s unit was at Frederick, MD,
performing guard duty for a prisoner of war
camp when they received orders to move to
West Point, VA. Within 24 hours, they were in
position in front of Petersburg, VA, before even
the 20,000-strong Army of the Potomac got
there.
Gardner’s unit was in St. May’s County, MD,
performing guard duty at the Point Lookout
prisoner of war camp when they received
orders in late April, 1864. The 36th is ordered
to be prepared, within 24 hours, to move over
land to West Point, VA, to then board ships. In
approximately 48 hours after moving out, the
36th made a forced march of 130 miles,
The 36th sailed down the York River and
joined the rest of the Army of the James at
Fortress Monroe in Hampton, VA. On the
morning of the 5th of May, Gen Butler sailed
his army of about 4,500, up the James River,
debarked at Bermuda Hundred and
demonstrated in front of Petersburg. This
exercise led to the ten and a half month siege
of Petersburg and set the stage for the
historic “Battle of the Crater”.
Meanwhile, Gardner’s unit was moved from
the trenches of Petersburg, VA, to Deep
Bottom near New Market Heights, just outside
of Richmond, VA, (near the present airport.)
On Sept. 29, 1864, the white commanding
officer determined it was too foggy for his
troops to use their firing caps. Instead, the
troops were ordered to charge the
Confederates positions with their bayonets.
The Colored Troops were known for following
orders and charged the Confederate
positions without firing their weapons. But the
fog lifted and the black troops were quickly
pinned down. They were being systematically
slaughtered. Gardner, who was probably lying
there with his face stuck in the mud, decided
to do something.
Gardner disobeyed orders, pulled out his
percussion cap, and began firing. As one
Confederate lieutenant stood on the
barricade, Gardner shot him, and then he ran
him through with his bayonet.
The others in his unit followed Gardner, and
soon they won the battle. After the war,
Gardner received a Medal of Honor for his
actions.
The brigade they overran at New Market
Heights was the Gloucester Light Dragoons,
of Gloucester, VA, one of the most famous
and respected cavalry units for the
Confederates. Gardner never returned to his
home in Gloucester.
VA. He enlisted in the Army at Yorktown, VA,
on Sept. 15, 1863, the day before his 24th
birthday. He was assigned to the 2nd North
Carolina Colored Volunteers. A few months
later, his unit was transferred to Hampton, VA,
where Major-General Benjamin F. Butler had
begun forming the Army of the James, which
was predominately made up of black troops.
The North Carolina 2nd Colored Volunteers
were transformed into the 36th Infantry of the
United States Colored Troops. Gardner was
in I Company. It was the first unit of what
would become the United States Army. A
most interesting fact is that prior to and during
the Civil War, troops came from state militias.
But no state wanted to “own” the United
States Colored Troops. As a result, by default
they became the first unit of the United States
Army.
Gardner’s unit was at Frederick, MD,
performing guard duty for a prisoner of war
camp when they received orders to move to
West Point, VA. Within 24 hours, they were in
position in front of Petersburg, VA, before even
the 20,000-strong Army of the Potomac got
there.
Gardner’s unit was in St. May’s County, MD,
performing guard duty at the Point Lookout
prisoner of war camp when they received
orders in late April, 1864. The 36th is ordered
to be prepared, within 24 hours, to move over
land to West Point, VA, to then board ships. In
approximately 48 hours after moving out, the
36th made a forced march of 130 miles,
The 36th sailed down the York River and
joined the rest of the Army of the James at
Fortress Monroe in Hampton, VA. On the
morning of the 5th of May, Gen Butler sailed
his army of about 4,500, up the James River,
debarked at Bermuda Hundred and
demonstrated in front of Petersburg. This
exercise led to the ten and a half month siege
of Petersburg and set the stage for the
historic “Battle of the Crater”.
Meanwhile, Gardner’s unit was moved from
the trenches of Petersburg, VA, to Deep
Bottom near New Market Heights, just outside
of Richmond, VA, (near the present airport.)
On Sept. 29, 1864, the white commanding
officer determined it was too foggy for his
troops to use their firing caps. Instead, the
troops were ordered to charge the
Confederates positions with their bayonets.
The Colored Troops were known for following
orders and charged the Confederate
positions without firing their weapons. But the
fog lifted and the black troops were quickly
pinned down. They were being systematically
slaughtered. Gardner, who was probably lying
there with his face stuck in the mud, decided
to do something.
Gardner disobeyed orders, pulled out his
percussion cap, and began firing. As one
Confederate lieutenant stood on the
barricade, Gardner shot him, and then he ran
him through with his bayonet.
The others in his unit followed Gardner, and
soon they won the battle. After the war,
Gardner received a Medal of Honor for his
actions.
The brigade they overran at New Market
Heights was the Gloucester Light Dragoons,
of Gloucester, VA, one of the most famous
and respected cavalry units for the
Confederates. Gardner never returned to his
home in Gloucester.
James Daniel Gardner, aka. Gardiner, I Company 36th
Infantry Regiment United States Colored Troops
(USCT) as Gloucester County Virginia’s only Medal of
Honor recipient is honored with the installation of a
monument in the historic Gloucester. VA, Court Circle.
Gardner was born September 16, 1839 at Ware Neck,
Gloucester, VA, and joined the Union Army on
September 15, 1863 at York County, VA.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extreme
bravery during the battle of New Market Heights (vic
Richmond) on September 29, 1864. After being pinned
down for over 30 minutes Gardner rallied his fellow
USCT and initiated a charge that successfully overran
the Confederate positions.
Civil War re-enactors, black and white Union as well as
black and white Confederate participated in the
ceremony. Also participating were members of the
Contraband and Underground Railroad Societies.
Infantry Regiment United States Colored Troops
(USCT) as Gloucester County Virginia’s only Medal of
Honor recipient is honored with the installation of a
monument in the historic Gloucester. VA, Court Circle.
Gardner was born September 16, 1839 at Ware Neck,
Gloucester, VA, and joined the Union Army on
September 15, 1863 at York County, VA.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extreme
bravery during the battle of New Market Heights (vic
Richmond) on September 29, 1864. After being pinned
down for over 30 minutes Gardner rallied his fellow
USCT and initiated a charge that successfully overran
the Confederate positions.
Civil War re-enactors, black and white Union as well as
black and white Confederate participated in the
ceremony. Also participating were members of the
Contraband and Underground Railroad Societies.
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