Background
PENDER, William Dorsey was born on February 6, 1834 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States, United States. Son of the wealthy planter James Pender and his wife Sarah (Routh).
PENDER, William Dorsey was born on February 6, 1834 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States, United States. Son of the wealthy planter James Pender and his wife Sarah (Routh).
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1854.
He clerked in his brother’s store before attending the U.S. Military Academy where he graduated nineteenth in a class of forty-six in 1854. He was an Episcopalian. He had three sons by his marriage to Mary Frances Shepperdon March 3, 1859.
Pender served with the U.S. Army Dragoons in New Mexico, California, Washington, and Oregon before the war. He fought in numerous battles with the Indians and served as adjutant of the 1st Dragoons in San Francisco. While distressed by the idea of civil war, his loyalty to his home state ultimately prevailed and he resigned his commission on March 21, 1861.
He entered the Confederate Army as a captain of artillery in the provisional army. After recruiting troops in Baltimore, he became a colonel of the 3rd North Carolina Volunteers, which participated at the battle of First Manassas in July 1861. After serving as a brigade commander during the battle of Seven Pines, he was promoted to brigadier general on June 3, 1862, and fought during the Seven Days before being wounded at Second Manassas, where he fought in Jackson’s Corps.
Pender also participated in the 1862 battles of Winchester, Harper's Ferry, and Sharpsburg and was heroic at the battle of Fredericksburg. At the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, he was a division commander under General A. P. Hill. On May 27, 1863, he was promoted to major general.
Hewasaheroof the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, but on the second day he was wounded in the leg.
"Peculiar institution" of slavery was not only expedient but also ordained by God and upheld in Holy Scripture.
Stands for preserving slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites. Every individual state is sovereign, even to the point of secession.
Married Mary Shepperd, March 3, 1859. Children: Turner, William D., Stephen Lee.