{⋆★⋆} BG Pendleton, Rev. William N.

William Nelson Pendleton

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Born:
December 26, 1809

Birthplace: Richmond Virginia

Father: Edmund Pendleton 1774 – 1847
(Buried: Fork Episcopal Church Cemetery, Doswell, Virginia)​

Mother: Lucy Nelson 1776 – 1848
(Buried: Old Chapel Cemetery, Millwood, Virginia)​

Wife: Anzolette Elizabeth Page 1807 – 1884
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​

Married: July 15, 1831

Children:

Susan Pendleton Lee 1833 – 1911​
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​
Lucy Pendleton 1834 – 1849​
(Buried: Old Chapel Cemetery, Millwood, Virginia)​
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Mary Nelson Pendleton 1837 – 1918​
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​
Alexander Swift “Sandie” Pendleton 1840 – 1864​
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​
Hughella Pendleton Gadsden 1844 – 1919​
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​
Rose Page Pendleton 1847 – 1910​
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​
Nancy Nelson Pendleton 1848 – 1902​
(Buried: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia)​

Education:

1830: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (5th in class)​

Occupation before War:
1830: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Artillery​
1830 – 1832: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Artillery​
1832 – 1833: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 4th Artillery​
1833: Resigned from United States Army on October, 31st
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1833 – 1837: Mathematics Professor at Bristol College​
1837 – 1840: Math Teacher Newark College​
1837: Ordained a Episcopal Priest of the State of Pennsylvania​
1840 – 1843: Math Teacher Episcopal Boy's High School​
1843 – 1847: Math Teacher in Baltimore, Maryland​
1847 – 1853: Rector of All Saint's Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland​
1853 – 1861: Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Lexington, Virginia​

Civil War Career:
1861: Captain of Confederate Army Artillery​
1861: Captain of Rockbridge Artillery​
1861: Participated in the Battle of Falling Waters​
1861 - 1862: Colonel of Confederate Army Artillery​
1861: Wounded in ear and back during First Battle of Bull Run​
1861 – 1862: Commander of Artillery for CSA Army of the Potomac​
1862 – 1865: Commander of Artillery Army of Northern Virginia​
1862 – 1865: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Artillery​
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1862: Wounded in the leg by an Artillery Mule​
1862: Commander of rearguard infantry Battle of Shepherdstown​
1861 – 1865: Episcopal Minister for the Confederate Army​
1865: Paroled at Appomattox Court House, Appomattox, Virginia​

Occupation after War:
1865 – 1883: Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Lexington, Virginia​

Died:
January 15, 1883

Place of Death: Lexington, Virginia

Cause of Death: Old Age

Age at time of Death: 73 years old

Burial Place: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia

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Davis considered naming Pendleton to an infantry corps in the Western theater , but Lee refused to endorse the idea. Lee very much liked his administrative skills and talents. He developed a system of artillery battalions assigned to infantry divisions which allowed for for a more rapid concentration of firepower.
 
Although he understood the principles of artillery, the aging and dithery Pendleton was not really fit for senior combat command of artillery.

Pendleton had high connections though. After Chancellorsville, he was made the Army of Northern Virginia's Chief of Artillery, which was essentially a supervisory and advisory role.

Pendleton was largely ineffective as an artillery leader in the field.

During the Peninsula campaign, Pendleton did not effectively make use of the batteries in his artillery reserve on the battlefield. At Malvern Hill, for example, he failed to engage thirteen of the fourteen batteries he had available.

At Fredericksburg, however, in a rare display of competence, he chose favorable gun positions (with valuable assistance from staff officers).

Historians, like Stephen W. Sears, were highly critical of his performance at Gettysburg. As Sears says in 'Gettysburg' (page 277), …"Pendleton completely lacked any instinct for the battlefield"… One of Lee's many errors made at Gettysburg, was assigning Pendleton with the ultimate responsibility of planning for the bombardment that preceded the July 3 infantry frontal assault. (Tactical artillery command for the attack was to be exercised by the Corps' Artillery Chiefs, most notably Alexander).

As the Army's overall artillery commander, Pendleton's main shortcoming was his inability to decisively direct the movement of guns on the battlefield. His involvement in the chain of command was also problematic (through his lack of communication of orders).

Fortunately, he had some capable subordinates and battery commanders that could mitigate his inadequacies to an extent.
 
There was a recent thread on generals who were considered Martinets. Pendleton was not well liked by his troops, was he a martinet or just "unlikeable"?
An interesting question.

From what I've read about him, he was not so much a martinet, as more of a bumbler and ditherer.

His underlings referred to him as 'Old Mother Pendleton' ('Gettysburg', Sears, at page 377).

The views of his men seemed to be that he just got in the way of the smooth running of things. He was considered more of a hindrance or nuisance to them than anything else.
 
There was an embarrassing episode involving Pendleton after the battle of Antietam and the ANV's withdrawal across the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Pendleton was supposed to cover the withdrawal with infantry and his artillery but somehow fumbled control of the situation and awkwardly reported to Lee that all his artillery cannon had been captured by the AoTP. As it turned out, most of the guns were in fact saved, but the farce was another taint on Pendleton's reputation.
 
There was an embarrassing episode involving Pendleton after the battle of Antietam and the ANV's withdrawal across the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Pendleton was supposed to cover the withdrawal with infantry and his artillery but somehow fumbled control of the situation and awkwardly reported to Lee that all his artillery cannon had been captured by the AoTP. As it turned out, most of the guns were in fact saved, but the farce was another taint on Pendleton's reputation.
From what I've read only 4 pieces were actually lost.And the "press"(Richmond papers) got a hold of the story and Pendleton soon became the butt of many jokes.
 
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