Born at Philadelphia, PA, he graduated from the Military Academy with a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Artillery, July 1, 1837. He served in the Florida War against the Seminole Indians, 1837-1838, being engaged in the Action of Locha-Hatchee, January 24, 1838. He was in garrison at Ft. Columbus, NY, 1838; in the Florida War, 1838-1839; in garrison at Ft. Columbus, NY, 1839; at the camp of Instruction near Trenton, NJ, 1839; on the Northern Frontier during the Canada Border Disturbances, at Detroit, MI, 1840; at Ft. Mackinac, MI, 1840-1841; Ft. Brady, MI, 1841; and at Buffalo, NY, 1841-1842.

Pemberton was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, 4th Artillery, March 19, 1842. He was in garrison at Ft. Monroe, VA, 1842; at Carlisle Barracks, PA, 1842-1843; Ft. Monroe, VA, 1844-1845; and in the Military Occupation of Texas, 1845-1846.

Pemberton served as Aide-de-Camp to Bvt. Brigadier-General William J. Worth, August 4, 1846-May 1, 1849. He entered the War with Mexico engaged in the Battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846; Battle of Resaca-de-la- Palma, May 9, 1846; and Battle of Monterey, September 21-23, 1846. He was breveted to Captain, September 23, 1846, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the several conflicts at Monterey, Mexico.

He was next engaged in the Siege of Vera Cruz, March 9-29,1847; Battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17-18, 1847; Skirmish at Amazoque, May 14, 1847; Capture of San Antonio, August 20, 1847; Battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1847 and Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847. He received a brevet to Major, September 8, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey. He was further engaged in the Storming of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847; and the Assault and Capture of the City of Mexico, September 13-14, 1847.

Pemberton served in garrison at Ft. Pickens, FL, 1849; in the Florida Hostilities against the Seminole Indians, 1849-1850; and in garrison at New Orleans Barracks, LA, 1850. He was promoted to Captain, 4th Artillery, September 16, 1850.

He was in garrison at Ft. Washington, MD, 1851-1852; at Ft. Hamilton, NY, 1852-1856; in the Florida Hostilities against the Seminole Indians, 1856-1857; on Frontier Duty at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, quelling Kansas Border Disturbances, 1857-1858; on the Utah Expedition, 1858; at Ft. Kearny, NM, 1859; at Ft. Ridgely, MN, 1859-1861; and in garrison at Washington Arsenal, D. C., 1861. He resigned April 29, 1861.

Pemberton was commissioned a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Provisional Army of Virginia on April 28, 1861, receiving orders to organize the state's cavalry in Richmond. He was promoted to Colonel on May 8 and ordered to Norfolk to train artillery units. He received a commission in the Confederate army as a Brigadier-General, June 17, 1861. On January 14, 1862 he was promoted to Major-General and, when Lee was ordered to Richmond on March 2 Pemberton succeeded him in command of Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General, to rank from October 10, 1862, and assigned to command the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, an area embracing the important stronghold of Vicksburg.

John Clifford Pemberton

Hampered by conflicting orders at the outset, he was compelled to surrender despite a stubborn defense on July 4, 1863. Jefferson Davis had insisted that he hold Vicksburg at all costs while his immediate superior, Joseph E. Johnston, pressured him to abandon the city in order to prevent Grant from isolating nearly 30,000 soldiers in its extensive fortifications. After being paroled at Vicksburg and officially exchanged a few weeks later, Pemberton was unable to find suitable duty suitable and resigned his commission as Lieutenant-General on May 18, 1864. Jefferson Davis later appointed Pemberton a Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery, a position he held until the end of the War.

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