Sandie Pendleton
Encyclopedia
Alexander Swift "Sandie" Pendleton (September 28, 1840 – September 23, 1864) was an officer on the staff of Confederate Generals Thomas J. Jackson
, Richard S. Ewell
and Jubal A. Early during the American Civil War
.
, the only son of future Confederate General William N. Pendleton
and his wife Anzolette Elizabeth Page. He spent most of his childhood in Maryland before his father accepted the rectorship of Grace Church in Lexington, Virginia. He attended Washington College
, where he first met Stonewall Jackson who was part of the same literary society. He graduated in 1857 and enrolled at the University of Virginia
where he was studying for a master of arts degree when the civil war broke out.
. Stonewall Jackson was in command of the Confederate forces in Harpers Ferry and he requested Pendleton join his staff as ordnance officer. He soon showed his capabilities as a staff officer and Jackson appointed him assistant adjutant general on his staff. He served Jackson in every battle until the latter's death at the Battle of Chancellorsville
in May 1863.
Following Jackson's death, he continued his service on the Second Corps
staff under its new commander, Richard S. Ewell
during the Gettysburg Campaign
. In 1864, when Jubal A. Early assumed command of the second corps, he promoted Pendleton to chief of staff with the rank of lieutenant colonel
. The Second Corps returned to the Shenandoah Valley
in the summer 1864 and mounted the last Confederate invasion of the north.
Following this, the Union
assigned Major General Philip Sheridan
to put down resistance in the valley once and for all. Early was defeated at the Third Battle of Winchester
on September 19, 1864, forcing the Confederates to retreat to nearby Fisher's Hill. When Union forces attacked
on September 22, 1864, Pendleton was fatally wounded in the abdomen. He was moved to the nearby town of Woodstock, where he died the following day, September 23, 1864. Initially interred near the battlefield his body was exhumed and returned to his family in Lexington where he was buried near Stonewall Jackson on October 24, 1864.
in the 2003 Civil War film Gods and Generals
.
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
, Richard S. Ewell
Richard S. Ewell
Richard Stoddert Ewell was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E...
and Jubal A. Early 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...
.
Early life and career
Sandie Pendleton was born in Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, the only son of future Confederate General William N. Pendleton
William N. Pendleton
William Nelson Pendleton was an American teacher, Episcopal priest, and soldier. He served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, noted for his position as Gen. Robert E. Lee's chief of artillery for most of the conflict...
and his wife Anzolette Elizabeth Page. He spent most of his childhood in Maryland before his father accepted the rectorship of Grace Church in Lexington, Virginia. He attended Washington College
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
, where he first met Stonewall Jackson who was part of the same literary society. He graduated in 1857 and enrolled at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he was studying for a master of arts degree when the civil war broke out.
Civil War
At the outbreak of war, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Provisional Army of Virginia and was ordered to Harpers FerryHarpers 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....
. Stonewall Jackson was in command of the Confederate forces in Harpers Ferry and he requested Pendleton join his staff as ordnance officer. He soon showed his capabilities as a staff officer and Jackson appointed him assistant adjutant general on his staff. He served Jackson in every battle until the latter's death at the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
in May 1863.
Following Jackson's death, he continued his service on the Second Corps
Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American Civil War. It was officially created and named following the Battle of Sharpsburg in 1862, but comprised units in a corps organization for quite...
staff under its new commander, Richard S. Ewell
Richard S. Ewell
Richard Stoddert Ewell was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E...
during the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
. In 1864, when Jubal A. Early assumed command of the second corps, he promoted Pendleton to chief of staff with the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. The Second Corps returned to 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...
in the summer 1864 and mounted the last Confederate invasion of the north.
Following this, the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
assigned Major General Philip Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
to put down resistance in the valley once and for all. Early was defeated at the Third Battle of Winchester
Battle of Opequon
The Battle of Opequon, more commonly known as the Third Battle of Winchester, was fought in Winchester, Virginia, on September 19, 1864, during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War....
on September 19, 1864, forcing the Confederates to retreat to nearby Fisher's Hill. When Union forces attacked
Battle of Fisher's Hill
The Battle of Fisher's Hill was fought September 21–22, 1864, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. Fisher's Hill is located near Strasburg, Virginia....
on September 22, 1864, Pendleton was fatally wounded in the abdomen. He was moved to the nearby town of Woodstock, where he died the following day, September 23, 1864. Initially interred near the battlefield his body was exhumed and returned to his family in Lexington where he was buried near Stonewall Jackson on October 24, 1864.
Personal life
Pendleton met Kate Corbin when the Confederate army was stationed in the vicinity of Fredericksburg during the winter of 1862. The two were engaged just prior to the Chancellorsville campaign in 1863 and married in December of that year. Kate was pregnant at the time of Sandie's death and gave birth to a son, Sandie, a month later. The child contracted diphtheria and died in September 1865. Kate Corbin next married John Mercer BrookeJohn Mercer BrookeJohn Mercer Brooke was an American sailor, engineer, scientist, and educator. He was instrumental in the creation of the Transatlantic Cable, and was a noted marine and military innovator.-Early life and career:...
and is buried beside him near where Stonewall Jackson was originally buried. Kate Corbin of "Mossneck" and Diane Fontaine Maury-Corbin (dau. Matthew Fontaine MauryMatthew Fontaine MauryMatthew Fontaine Maury , United States Navy was an American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, and educator....
was married Spotswood Wellford Corbin of "Farley Vale") were related by marriage in the Corbin family of Va.
In popular media
Pendleton was portrayed by Jeremy LondonJeremy London
Jeremy Michael London is an American actor. He is best known for his regular roles on Party of Five, 7th Heaven, and I'll Fly Away, as well as a notable supporting role in the Civil War epic Gods and Generals....
in the 2003 Civil War film Gods and Generals
Gods and Generals (film)
Gods and Generals is a 2003 American film based on the novel Gods and Generals by Jeffrey Shaara. It depicts events that take place prior to those shown in the 1993 film Gettysburg, which was based on The Killer Angels, a novel by Shaara's father, Michael...
.