William Henry Penrose (1832 - 1903)

Born 10 Mar 1832 in Sackett's Harbor, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Harriet Elizabeth (Adams) Penrose — married 10 Mar 1832 in Niles, Michigan

Died 29 Aug 1903 at age 71 in Salt Lake City, Utah

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Biography

William Penrose is Notable.

Brig. Gen. William Penrose served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1861
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 3rd Infantry of the Regular Army, 15th Infantry New Jersey, 1st Brigade of 6th Corps 1st Division, 3rd United States Infantry

Military Service: USA, 1861-96

Unit: 3rd Infantry of the Regular Army, 15th Infantry New Jersey, 1st Brigade of 6th Corps 1st Division, 3rd United States Infantry

Alma Mater: Dickinson College, B.A. (Class of 1849 non-graduate)

William Henry Penrose was born at Madison Barracks in Sackett's Harbor, New York, where his father, Captain James W. Penrose, was stationed as a officer of the Regular Army.

William entered Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1846 with the class of 1849; he is listed in college records as a Carlisle resident living at the home of his mother. He withdrew from the College after his junior year and later trained as a civil and mechanical engineer.

He was working in Michigan when the Civil War broke out and in April 1861 was appointed as second lieutenant in the Third Infantry of the Regular Army, probably thanks to his father's connections.

He served in the Peninsula Campaign, at Second Bull Run, and at Fredericksburg. By April 1863 he was colonel of the 15th New Jersey, commanding them at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness.

During the battle of Spottsylvania, May 8th, just after General Sedgwick had been killed, an order received from General Grant for Colonel Penrose to assume command of the brigade, without regard to rank, thus placing him over all of his seniors.

He commanded the First Brigade of Sixth Corps First Division at Cold Harbor before moving with it to the campaigns in the Shenandoah and later at Petersburg, where he was wounded. Necessitating the removal of several inches of bones in his right arm. He was absent from his command only three months. He had been breveted as a Brigadier General of Volunteers in October 1864 and as Brigadier General U.S. Army on April 9, 1865.

Penrose was mustered out of the volunteer service in 1866 and took up service in the Regular Army as captain of the 3rd United States Infantry, a rank he held in various posts for seventeen years. He was at last promoted, to major in 1883, then to lieutenant colonel in 1888, and once again became, after thirty years, a full colonel with the 20th United States Infantry in 1893.

After the ware, he was made judge advocate-general on the staff of Major General Hancok, and stationed at Fort Leavenworth. In the early spring of 1867, he was ordered to cross the plains into Colorado, and there establish a military post at Fort Lyon, which he did, taking his family with him through hostile country.

While in command at Fort Lyon the venerable Kit Carson, came to his home and died there.

Led a winter campaign for General Sheridan in 1867-68 with Wild Bill Hickok as his scout. ^[1]

He finished his career with the 16th United States Infantry and retired in 1896 at the age of sixty-four. He lived in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife Harriet Elizabeth Penrose until his death there from typhoid fever on August 29, 1903. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery.^[2]

See also: civilwardata

Sources

1. ↑ Taylor, Morris F. "The Carr- Penrose Expedition: General Sheridan's Winter Campaign, 1868-1869," The Chronicles of Oklahoma (Summer, 1973) Life and Adventures of "Buffalo Bill," Colonel William F. Cody by Buffalo Bill , William Lightfoot Visscher (Published 1917)
2. ↑ http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/whpenrose.htm

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12943/william_henry-penrose: accessed March 31, 2024), memorial page for William Henry Penrose (10 Mar 1832–29 Aug 1903), Find a Grave Memorial ID 12943, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
• Wikipedia
• Dickinson College Archives