The First Day at the Battle of Shepherdstown-- Part 3: William Pendleton Prepares for the Union Chase

William N. Pendleton was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1809 and graduated from West Point in 1830, a year after Robert E. Lee.  He spent three years in the Army before resigning to become an Episcopal priest, a vocation he continued  in addition to his military duties during the Civil War and that led to his nickname "Parson."

He taught at the Virginia Military Institute, serving on the faculty  with the future "Stonewall" Jackson.  At the outbreak of the war, Pendleton commanded the Rockbridge Battery, taking with him four cannons from VMI dubbed "Matthey", "Mark", "Luke" and "John."

Valued for his administrative skills, he moved through the ranks of the Confederate Army from colonel to brigadier general by March 1862.  And then he was  in the command of the Army of Northern Virginia's artillery.

He put together an artillery reserve of 44 cannons to guard the crossing at Boteler's Ford.  He managed to place 33 of the in position.  Despite looking good on paper, many of the guns were of too short range to battle with federal artillery on the other shore.  He also was given two battered brigades to protect the artillery which he posted along the shore.

--Old Secesh