General William Dorsey Pender: A Military Biography [Hardcover]

Edward G. Longacre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2001

The talented William Dorsey Pender is a prime example of the advantage held by the Confederacy in junior-level commanders during the opening months of the Civil War. The inability of the Southern forces to adequately replace Pender after his death at a young age also demonstrates the ultimate lack of depth that the Confederacy had at the command level.Pender was born in North Carolina and graduated in the top half of the West Point class of 1856. He was one of the first Southern-born officers to offer his services to the Confederacy and soon found himself a colonel, a rank he might not have attained during a full career in the pre-War army. Pender first came to prominence during the Seven Days' Battles, when a number of junior Confederate officers took bold action to counter the battlefield errors of some of their better-known superiors. Pender soon developed a reputation as Robert E. Lee's favorite brigade commander.After further capable work at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Pender was raised to divisional command. Arriving at Gettysburg on the first day of the battle, Pender's troops from Georgia, South Carolina and his own North Carolina played a major role in driving the veteran Union I Corps from the town. Unfortunately, Pender sustained what at first seemed a minor wound later in the battle and died of complications after the Confederate retreat back to Virginia. The inability of the less-populous Confederacy to replace key figures such as Pender was an important cause of the ultimate Southern defeat.Edward G. Longacre has previously done ground-breaking research for his acclaimed biographies of John Buford, George Armstrong Custer, and Joshua Chamberlain. His study of William Dorsey Pender is both a gripping narrative and a major contribution to our understanding of Civil War principles of command.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Edward G. Longacre has previously done ground-breaking research for his acclaimed biographies of John Buford, George Armstrong Custer, and Joshua Chamberlain. His study of William Dorsey Pender is both a gripping narrative and a major contribution to our understanding of Civil War principles of command.

About the Author

Edward G. Longacre has written acclaimed biographies of John Buford, George Armstrong Custer, and Joshua Chamberlain. He lives in Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1st edition (December 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580970346
• ISBN-13: 978-1580970341
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,212,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A meticulous, articulate, and valued contribution, October 10, 2001

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: General William Dorsey Pender: A Military Biography (Hardcover)

General William Dorsey Pender: A Military Biography is a superbly presented contribution to Civil War studies as biographer Edward Longacre relates the life and career of this Confederate officer. William Pender of North Carolina first came to prominence during the Seven Days' Battle when a number of junior Confederate officers took bold action to counter the battlefield errors of some of their better-known superiors. From id-1862 to mid-1863 he commanded a North Carolina brigade and soon came to the attention of General Robert E. Lee as he distinguished himself on a series of battlefields including Seven Pines, Gaines's Mills, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Harpers Ferry, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. Pender meet his fate at Gettysburg in July of 1863 when he was felled by a wound that would eventually take his life. General William Dorsey Pender is a meticulous, articulate, and valued contribution to Civil War Studies reading lists and reference collections.