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Brig. Gen. Francis E. Patterson (b. 1821, d. 1862) “An accidental discharge of his own pistol” was the official cause of death of Brig. Gen. Francis Engle Patterson, who died near Occoquan, Virginia, or at Fairfax Court House. Patterson was the son of Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson, a leader in the Mexican War and militia general of Pennsylvania troops during the early stages of the Civil War. The younger Patterson was born May 7, 1821, in Philadelphia. Francis also served in the Mexican War as a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1848 and captain in the 9th Infantry March 3, 1855. On May 1, 1857, Patterson resigned his commission, but came back at the outbreak of the Civil War. He started the war as colonel of the 17th Pennsylvania, a 90-day regiment. This unit served on the Potomac River before being sent to his father’s command at Martinsburg, Virginia. The regiment mustered out Aug. 2, 1861. He returned as a brigadier general of volunteers April 15, 1862 (to rank from April 11, 1862). His brother-in-law, J.J. Abercrombie, also was a brigadier general of volunteers. Commanding the 3rd brigade of the 2nd division of III Corps, Patterson led is men at Williamsburg and Seven Pines. He had to relinquish command June 1, 1862, due to illness. In November, Patterson was back in action as a brigade commander under Brig. Gen. Daniel Sickles. At Catlett’s Station on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, Patterson called for a retreat at the rumor of Confederate forces near Warrenton Junction. He came under fire from Sickles and his corps commander Samuel Heintzelman, who recommended investigating the matter. Patterson never knew that the army’s commander, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, approved looking into the matter. Two days before that happened, Patterson was found dead in his tent. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, a plot where his father eventually buried.