William H. Penrose

William Henry Penrose (March 10, 1832 – August 29, 1903) was a United States Army officer who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Penrose commanded the First New Jersey Brigade and ended the war with the rank of brigadier general.

Biography Penrose was born at Madison Barracks in Sackett's Harbor NY, his father being a career army officer. He moved to Michigan where and became a civil and mechanical engineer. At the beginning of the Civil War Penrose appointed 2nd lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Infantry and fought in the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run and Fredericksburg. In early 1863 he served as the regimental adjutant until being appointed as colonel of the 15th New Jersey Infantry on April 18. He led the regiment at the battle of Marye's Heights, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness briefly in command of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, VI Corps (First New Jersey Brigade). He received a brevet promotion for conspicuous action at each of these battles. During the battle of Spotsylvania Court House he assumed permanent command of the 1st Brigade, leading it through the battles of Cold Harbor, and Jerusalem Plank Road. The entire VI Corps was transferred to the Civil War Defenses of Washington where Penrose and his brigade were involved in the battle of Fort Stevens. Penrose and the VI Corps were attached to the Army of the Shenandoah during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 before returning to the Army of the Potomac along the Petersburg Front. Penrose was awarded a brevet to brigadier general of United States Volunteers for the battle of Cedar Creek. During the Siege of Petersburg the VI Corps was selected to lead the final assault on the Confederate trenches. During this attach Penrose was wounded in the hip but maintained command of his brigade through the battles of Sayler's Creek and Appomattox Court House where he received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the Regular Army. Penrose was given a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers in June 1865 and mustered out of volunteer forces in 1866 but stayed in the U.S. Army serving in the 12th, 16th and 20th U.S. Infantry Regiments. While serving in the 12th Infantry he commanded Fort Sully in Dakota Territory. He retired from the army in 1896 and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he died on August 29, 1903.

Penrose and his wife Harriet Elizabeth (1836–1910) are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Promotion history Full Promotion Rank Unit Date35px 2nd Lieutenant 3rd U.S. Infantry 13 April 186135px 1st Lieutenant 3rd U.S. Infantry 14 May 186135px Colonel 15th New Jersey Infantry 18 April 186335px Captain (3rd U.S. Infantry) 11 September 186335px Brigadier General U.S.V. 27 June 186535px Major 12th U.S. Infantry 31 May 188335px Lieutenant Colonel 16th U.S. Infantry 21 Aug 188835px Colonel 20th U.S. Infantry 28 November 1893 Brevet Promotion Brevet Rank Citation Date35px Captain U.S.A. Marye's Heights 3 May 186335px Major U.S.A. Gettysburg 3 July 186335px Lieutenant Colonel U.S.A. Wilderness 5 May 186435px Colonel U.S.A. Cedar Creek 19 Oct 186435px Brigadier General U.S.V. Cedar Creek [Middletown] 19 Oct 186435px Brigadier General U.S.A. 9 Apr 1865

Footnotes