Ernest Albert Garlington
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| Ernest Albert Garlington | |
|---|---|
| February 20, 1853 - October 16, 1934 | |
 Ernest Albert Garlington, Medal of Honor |
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| Place of birth | Newberry Hill, South Carolina |
| Allegiance | U.S. Army |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | 7th Regiment, United States Cavalry |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Wounded Knee South Dakota |
Ernest Albert Garlington (February 20, 1853 - October 16, 1934 was an American military general in the United States Army.
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[edit] Early life and education
Garlington was born in Newberry Hill, South Carolina, and entered the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens in 1869; however, he left UGA before graduating to accept an appointment to the United States Military Academy. He graduated from the academy in 1876 and was commissioned on June 15 of that year as a Second Lieutenant in the 7th Regiment of the United States Cavalry, but he did not physically join the unit until after the Battle of the Little Big Horn which occurred several weeks after his appointment.
[edit] Military career
He was quickly promoted to First Lieutenant on June 25, 1876 and then to Regimental Adjutant June 6, 1877, and served in that post until 1881. He commanded one of the failed Greely Relief Expeditions in 1883. On December 29, 1890, Garlington was injured while fighting the Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, and was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 23, 1893, for distinguished gallantry in that fight.
Garlington's next promotions were to Captain on December 3, 1891, and Major, Inspector General, on January 2, 1895. In 1898, Garlington served as Inspector General in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. In that same year (July 7, 1998), he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He again served as Inspector General from 1899 through 1901 in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War. On March 1, 1901, Garlington was promoted to Colonel. He served in the Inspector General position again in the Philippines from 1905 to 1906.
The ultimate promotion for Garlington was to Brigadier General, Inspector General of the Army, on October 1, 1906, after which he served on the General Staff of the Army. In 1908, he conducted the Army investigation into the Brownsville Affair.
[edit] Death and legacy
Garlington died in 1934 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His first wife, Anna Buford Garlington (1864-1954) and his daughter, Sally Chamberlain Garlington (1890-1949), are buried with him. His son, Cresswell Garlington, was also a Brigadier General in the United States Army and is buried in a separate plot at Arlington.
Books written by Garlington include: Historical Sketches of the Seventh Cavalry Regiment and A catechism on cavalry outposts, reconnaissance, patrols, and advance and rear guards.
[edit] References
- Account of Garlington's Rescue Attempt of the Greely Expedition
- Brigadier General Ernest Albert Garlington bio at Arlington National Cemetery Website
- History of the University of Georgia, Thomas Walter Reed, Imprint: Athens, Georgia : University of Georgia, ca. 1949, p.943
- Anita Hamilton, A Step Back For Blacks, July 3, 2006
