William A. Pile
| William Anderson Pile | |
|---|---|
| 8th Governor of New Mexico Territory | |
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In office 1869–1871 |
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| Preceded by | Robert B. Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Marsh Giddings |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st district |
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In office March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 |
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| Preceded by | John Hogan |
| Succeeded by | Erastus Wells |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 11, 1829 Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Died | July 7, 1889 (aged 60) Monrovia, California |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician, Minister |
| Religion | Methodist |
William Anderson Pile (February 11, 1829 – July 7, 1889) was a nineteenth-century politician and minister from Missouri, as well as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1869 to 1871. William was one half Native American (from his mother), most likely Choctaw. His father's name was Jacob Pile and his mother's name was Comfort Williams.
Born near Indianapolis, Indiana, Pile completed preparatory studies, studied theology, became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a member of the Missouri conference. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the Union Army as chaplain of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment in 1861, serving under Colonel Clinton B. Fisk. He was made captain, Battery I, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, March 1, 1862 and promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 33rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry September 5, 1862, and colonel December 23, 1862, brigadier general of volunteers in 1863, commanding Post of Port Hudson, District of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, Department of the Gulf (December 26, 1864 - February 13, 1865; and commanding 1st Brigade, 1st Division, United States Colored Troops, District of West Florida, Department of the Gulf (February 19 - April 25, 1865, and brevet major general in 1865.
Three of the regiment's batteries were at Fort Donelson and apparently Pile was too. Made a battery commander, it is stated that he was at Shiloh; however, the records indicate that it was under the command of Lieutenant Charles H. Thurber. He was, however, in the Corinth, Mississippi operations which followed. As an infantry commander he fought at Devall's Bluff and took part in the Yazoo River expedition. Named a brigadier general, he took up recruiting duties in St. Louis and was not particularly concerned to whom-loyal or secessionist-the slaves he inducted belonged. After serving in a post command, he led a black brigade at Mobile. For the attack on Fort Blakely he was brevetted major general and was mustered out on August 24, 1865. His later career included one term as a radical Republican congressman; he was also territorial governor of New Mexico and a diplomat to Venezuela.
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