Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/702

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CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the Rockbridge artillery until a short time before the battle of First Manassas, when he was promoted colonel and made chief of artillery of the army under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Arriving on the field of Manassas with Johnston's command, he promptly brought his artillery into action in support of the Confederate left, where the battle was raging the hottest, and rendered effective service. It is told that he paused before his first order to fire to say with solemn reverence, "Lord, have mercy on their souls." From this time he continued in command of the artillery under Johnston, with promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, and after Lee took charge of the army of Northern Virginia, he served under him in the same capacity until the close of the war. Before the Pennsylvania campaign he had given the artillery an excellent organization, and under his direction it rendered telling service in the great artillery duels at Gettysburg. Through the remainder of the struggle he did his duty with devotion, and in the final retreat from Petersburg brought off his guns, making gallant stands against the enemy at Rice's Station and Farmville. During the night of April 8th, part of his command, under General Walker, was captured. On the 9th the artillery took part in a spirited attack upon the enemy, but hostilities were soon arrested, and he, with General Longstreet and General Gordon, represented the Confederate army in arranging the details of the surrender. Meanwhile, General Pendleton had continued to hold his ministerial charge at Lexington, and while on military duty had exercised his spiritual privileges. After the war he resumed his post at Lexington, where General Lee was a vestry-man of his parish. He represented Virginia in the general convention of his church, both before and after the war, and received the degree of doctor of divinity in 1868. His only son, Col. "Sandie" Pendleton, was a member of Stonewall Jackson's staff, and fell mortally wounded at the battle of Winchester, in September, 1864. General Pendleton passed away January 15, 1883.

Major-General George Edward Pickett was born at Richmond, Va., January 25, 1825, son of a planter of Henrico county. He was graduated at the United States military academy in the class of 1846, which included George B. McClellan, J. L. Reno, Thomas J. Jackson,