Last updated: December 6, 2021
Person
Thomas Garland Jefferson
Courtesy of the Virginia Military Institute Archives
Quick Facts
Place of Birth:
Amelia County, Virginia
Date of Birth:
January 1, 1847
Place of Death:
New Market, Virginia
Date of Death:
May 18, 1864
Place of Burial:
Lexington, Virginia
Cemetery Name:
New Market Monument at Virginia Military Institute
Thomas Garland Jefferson was born on January 1,1847 in Amelia County, Virginia. He was the second child and eldest son of John and Otelia Garland, and the great nephew of Thomas Jefferson. Before the war, Thomas was raised on his parent’s plantation near Amelia Courthouse and received a quality education before he arrived at the Virginia Military Institute in 1863. According to Memorial, Virginia Military Institute, “(Thomas) distinguished for sobriety, integrity, firmness, fidelity, and piety.” When Confederate General, John Breckenridge called for every able cadet at VMI to march north and meet his forces, Jefferson left VMI to fight for the Confederacy. He left on May 11, 1864 and arrived at the Battle of New Market on May 15, 1864. As the cadets made their charge, Thomas was shot through the body and brought to the house of Eliza Clinedinst, and was nursed until he passed away on May 18th. During his last hours, his fellow VMI Cadet, Moses Ezekiel read him the bible at his bedside. Thomas is buried beneath the New Market Monument at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.