Robert Patterson
Encyclopedia
Robert Patterson was a United States major general during the Mexican-American War and at the beginning of the American Civil War
. His inability to contain a small Confederate army within the Shenandoah Valley
was a proximate cause for the Union Army
's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run
, bringing his Civil War career to a premature conclusion.
, County Tyrone
, Ireland
. His family was banished from Ireland due to his father's involvement as an insurrectionist. In 1799 he emigrated to the United States
, where he eventually became involved in banking at a young age. Patterson received his education in public schools and afterward became a clerk in a Philadelphia counting house. He volunteered for service during the War of 1812
and rose from captain to colonel
in the 2nd Pennsylvania Militia
before joining the United States Army
. He served in the Quartermaster General Department and was discharged in 1815 as a captain. After the war, he became influential in politics in Pennsylvania.
of volunteers at the outbreak of the Mexican-American War and commanded the 2nd Division, Army of Occupation, during the Tampico Expedition. He was considered for command of the expedition to Veracruz
which eventually went to Winfield Scott
. He was, however, placed in command of the expedition's Volunteer Division and saw action during the Siege of Veracruz
and at the Battle of Cerro Gordo
, where he was wounded. He led the American pursuit of the Mexican Army and was the first to enter Jalapa
. While the U.S. Army was stationed at Jalapa, Patterson returned to the U.S. with other volunteer units whose enlistment time had expired. He then resumed his business interests in Pennsylvania, where he acquired 30 cotton mills and became quite wealthy. He again was an influential figure in Philadelphia politics.
brought Patterson back to military service. He was appointed major general
of Pennsylvania volunteers and commanded the Department of Pennsylvania and the Army of the Shenandoah
. In 1861, Winfield Scott, now General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, gave Patterson vague orders to retake Harpers Ferry
. Patterson failed to immediately act on these orders, was outmaneuvered at the Battle of Hoke's Run
, and a Confederate
army at Winchester, Virginia
, under Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
, was able to march without interference to reinforce the Confederates at the First Battle of Bull Run
. Patterson, widely criticized for his failure to contain the enemy forces, received an honorable discharge and mustered out of the Army in late July 1861.
from 1867 to 1881. Patterson died in Philadelphia and is buried there in Laurel Hill Cemetery. His son Francis Engle Patterson
and his son-in-law John Joseph Abercrombie
were both Union generals during the American Civil War.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. His inability to contain a small Confederate army within the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
was a proximate cause for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, bringing his Civil War career to a premature conclusion.
Early life and War of 1812
Patterson was born in CappaghCappagh
Cappagh is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is between Pomeroy, Ballygawley, Galbally and Carrickmore, with the hamlet of Galbally about one mile to the east...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His family was banished from Ireland due to his father's involvement as an insurrectionist. In 1799 he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he eventually became involved in banking at a young age. Patterson received his education in public schools and afterward became a clerk in a Philadelphia counting house. He volunteered for service during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and rose from captain to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in the 2nd Pennsylvania Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
before joining the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He served in the Quartermaster General Department and was discharged in 1815 as a captain. After the war, he became influential in politics in Pennsylvania.
Mexican-American War service
Patterson was commissioned a major generalMajor general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of volunteers at the outbreak of the Mexican-American War and commanded the 2nd Division, Army of Occupation, during the Tampico Expedition. He was considered for command of the expedition to Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
which eventually went to Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
. He was, however, placed in command of the expedition's Volunteer Division and saw action during the Siege of Veracruz
Siege of Veracruz
The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport of Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. Lasting from 9-29 March 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States military forces, and ended with the surrender and occupation...
and at the Battle of Cerro Gordo
Battle of Cerro Gordo
The Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, in the Mexican-American War saw Winfield Scott's United States troops flank and drive Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position.-Battle:...
, where he was wounded. He led the American pursuit of the Mexican Army and was the first to enter Jalapa
Xalapa
Xalapa-Enríquez, commonly Xalapa or Jalapa, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In the year 2005 census the city reported a population of 387,879 and the municipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of...
. While the U.S. Army was stationed at Jalapa, Patterson returned to the U.S. with other volunteer units whose enlistment time had expired. He then resumed his business interests in Pennsylvania, where he acquired 30 cotton mills and became quite wealthy. He again was an influential figure in Philadelphia politics.
Civil War service
The American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
brought Patterson back to military service. He was appointed major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of Pennsylvania volunteers and commanded the Department of Pennsylvania and the Army of the Shenandoah
Army of the Shenandoah (Union)
The Army of the Shenandoah was a Union army during the American Civil War. First organized in 1861 and then disbanded, it is best known for its recreation in 1864 under Philip Sheridan...
. In 1861, Winfield Scott, now General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, gave Patterson vague orders to retake Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
. Patterson failed to immediately act on these orders, was outmaneuvered at the Battle of Hoke's Run
Battle of Hoke's Run
The Battle of Hoke's Run, also known as the Battle of Falling Waters or Hainesville, took place on July 2, 1861, in Berkeley County, Virginia as part of the Manassas Campaign of the American Civil War....
, and a Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
army at Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
, under Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
, was able to march without interference to reinforce the Confederates at the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
. Patterson, widely criticized for his failure to contain the enemy forces, received an honorable discharge and mustered out of the Army in late July 1861.
Postbellum life
Patterson again returned to his cotton milling business and wrote a book, A Narrative of the Campaign in the Valley of the Shenandoah, in 1861, published in 1865. He was also President of the Aztec Club of 1847Aztec Club of 1847
The Aztec Club of 1847 is an historic society founded in 1847 by United States Army officers of the Mexican–American War. It exists as a hereditary organization including members who can trace a direct lineal connection to those originally eligible....
from 1867 to 1881. Patterson died in Philadelphia and is buried there in Laurel Hill Cemetery. His son Francis Engle Patterson
Francis E. Patterson
Francis Engle Patterson was a US Army general who died during the American Civil War.Patterson was born in Philadelphia to Irish-American army officer Robert Patterson and Sarah Engle...
and his son-in-law John Joseph Abercrombie
John Joseph Abercrombie
John Joseph Abercrombie was a career United States Army officer who served in numerous wars, finally reaching the rank of brigadier general during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
were both Union generals during the American Civil War.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals