Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-23
Death Of Gen. VIM. n. Pendleton.
GENERAL LEES LATE CHIEF OF AR
TILLERY PASSES AWAY AT HIS HOME,
IN LEXINGTON-SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

GENERAL LEES LATE CHIEF OF AR
TILLERY PASSES AWAY AT HIS HOME,
IN LEXINGTON-SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
LEXINGTON, Va, January 16.-Gen-
eral Rev. Dr. William N. Pendleton,
late chief of artillery of the Army Of
Northern Virginia, and rector of Grace
Memorial church of this place, died
suddenly at his home here last night at
II O'clock.
SKETCH OF his LIFE.
In the death of General Pendleton
there has "crossed ever the river'' an
other who occupied conspicuous place
in the grand old Army Of Northern
Vagina, who was an ornament to the
pulpit, q man widely known for many
noble traits Of mind and heart, and one
of the men who was ever true to coun-
try, to cross, and to duty. ..tr..l ~,
Born in the good old county Of Ham
over, General Pendleton was reared
amid the refining influences Of old Vir-
ginia society in its palmiest days, and
at an early age entered the Military
Academy at West Point. Here he
roomed with that man of giant intellect,
Albert Taylor Bledsoe, and had as his
companions and friends among the ca
diets such men as Jefferson Davis, R. E.
Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston, J. E..
Johnston, John B. Magruder, Leonidas
Polk, and others whose names have
shone in the galaxy of American SOL
diers.
Graduating among the highest in his
class, he was assigned to engineer duty,
and did some faithful and effective
work in that department, until he
decided that it was his duty to enter the
ministry, and begun a course of prepa.
ration for the sacred calling.
He occupied several important pull
pits, but for some years prior to the
war he was rector of the Grace Episco.
pal church in Lexington, Va, where
he had wide field Of usefulness among
the young men of Washington College
and the Virginia Military Institute.
General Pendlet0n was man of high
noted books on science, and was at one
time the able president of Newark Col
lege, New Jersey. ....s, .....
At the breaking out of the war the
quiet rector was asked to accept the
Rockbridga Artillery, and after prayer
and entered at once upon the active disc
charge of his duties.
His battery was attached to the bri-
gade of his old townsman, T. J. jack
son, and the thunder of his guns on the
gave the command, STEADY, men ;
Thousand, and may the Lord have mer-
<,xx ~, that or,,,Io did rnt n 1skxI, e.
win for the brigade and its grand COM
mander Ito Immortal aoa6riquet OF
"Stonewall.n
Captain Pendleton was now rapidly
promoted until he commanded . regf-
important position of chief of artillery
The efficient organization which the
artillery OF this army attained was
largely due to his ability as an organizer,
his persevering efforts, and bis infiu-
ence with his old friends, General Lee
and President Davis. General J. 3.
Johnston had 30 high an opinion OF
command of the western army he ap-
piled for General Pendleton to organize
his artillery. s.o.
dence and friendship of General Lee,
and the fact that his only son (ths gall
liant, distinguished, and lamented Colo
of Jackson made his relations with that
great soldier Very intimate. .aa
At Appomattox he was selected to
break to General Lee the opinion of the
corps commanders that the time had
come for negotiation with General
Grant; he was one of the council OF
FitZ Lee) which decided the question.
General Lee appointed to carry out the
terms of surrender.
After the surrender he returned to his
Eome, in Lexington, and resumed his
duties as EeGter Of the Episcop pal church,
(save when by sicknessj up
to the time when he gave I'D bis cross
and went to wear his crown.
When General R. E. Lee moved to
Lexington in October, 1865, to assume
the presidency of Washington College,
his old classmate and army oomrads
became pastor, and the friendship OF
years was eemented into q beautiful af-
fectlon. 1h rsa ..e4
General Lees last public act was to
preside over vestry-meeting, use his
influence, and make liberal contribu.
ton, in devising the means of giving
his pastor more competent support.
When the great chleftain was laid
away neneath the chapel he had build
ed. amid the tears OF the weeping mul.
titude, DIR. Pendleton read the funeral
cnr vf1fth
pressed emotion. lfE ~
He has been largely instrumental in
the erection of the beautiful Lee Me-
mortal church, In whose recent com.
pletion he 30 greatly rejoiced and he
was president of the Lee-Memorial
Association, whose labors have culmi.
nRted in the mausoleum. which is to
receive the splendid erection of Valen-
tines art, the recumbenf figure Of Lee,
to whose uaveiling next June he was
looking forward with such eager de-
light. IS ~! ~ i5l4s
But 'fthe Captain of his Salvation"
has ordered him to ''strike his tent. u
and he has gone to join his great chief
tain in that blessed land of rest which
is undisturbed by "war's rude alarms. /"
Of broad culture, wide charity, evan
gelical spirit, and devoted piety, DR..
Fendleton had warm friends outside of
his own communion, and will be sadly
missed in the town where he lived SO
long, In his native State, to which be
was so devoted, and in the land he loved
30 we'll and served SO faithfully. He
will sleep we'll in the beautiful cemetery
at Lexington, beside his noble son, hard
by where old "Stonewall" bivouacs,
and in sight of the mausoleum in which
r. E. Lee will repose, and all who visit
these honored tombs will pause to cast
some flower on the grave Of the soldier
vino was faithful to cross and to coun-
try, and now wears the victor's crown
of rejoicing."1
A BULLY BULLET.-Joseph Racer,
son of John Racer, who lives near town,
made one of the most remarkable shots
few days ago With an old musket, that
ever came to olr notice. Being engaged
to kill beef, he loaded the musket with
powder and ball, ss usual, and taking
aim, fired. The beef dropped dead, the
ball having entered its head midway
between the eyes. going through the
head and back into the neck about fif-