William N. Pendleton

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William Nelson Pendleton (December 26, 1809 – January 15, 1883) was an Episcopal priest and a Confederate general in the American Civil War, serving as Robert E. Lee's chief of artillery.

William N. Pendleton was born in Richmond, Virginia. He attended private schools, and was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated fifth in the class of 1830. In 1833 he resigned from the military to take up teaching. He entered the Episcopal Church, and in 1847 discontinued teaching to devote more of his life to the church. He was, from 1853 until his death in 1883, rector of Grace Church in Lexington, Virginia. Hence, he would receive the nickname "Parson" Pendleton from his troops.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Pendleton entered the Confederate military, and was elected captain of the Rockbridge Artillery. He advanced in rank quickly, becoming a colonel and chief of artillery on Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's staff. He stayed with the Army of Northern Virginia the entire war, from First Manassas to Appomattox Court House. On March 26, 1862, he became a brigadier general. He served as chief of artillery for the Army of Northern Virginia for a large portion of the war; however in the final stages of the war, this was mostly administrative, and Pendleton's active command was of the reserve ordnance. He was a good personal friend of Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

His only son, Alexander Swift "Sandie" Pendleton, born September 28, 1840, became Assistant Adjutant General on Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's staff until 1863, and was killed at the Battle of Fisher's Hill on September 22, 1864. His daughter, Susan, married Edwin Lee.

After the war, William Pendleton returned to Lexington and his rectorship of Grace Church, where he remained until his death. He is buried in Lexington.