The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-16
THE GALLANT PELHAM,

From the Houston (Texas) Journal
Where is there soldier of the old army, who
was On the heights of, Fredericksburg, but eau
recoliect the hero, young Pelham, Sighting his
guns in front of Franklin's corps. One thrill
OF admiration ran throughout the army, aud the
great hero, as brave as he was modest, had his
reward in the general orders of Gen. Lee, of the
battle, when he styled him "the gallant Pelham
name that was at once adopted throughout the
army The sublimity of this compliment is en-
hanced by the fact that he was the only one
ever mentioned by Gen. Lee in general orders,
under the rank of General
We watched him fighting with unremitting
ardor the guns that he commanded. Now
firing, now retreating, and then returning almost
to the very line of the returning foe-at each
discharge silver line of white would CLEAN
where the line Of blue had before stood. It was
around the shouts of our men as they cried
der II is Pelham !" and cheer after cheer
went ur when making his stand near the centre
of the field, be fought until nearly every horse
be had was killed, and the men torn to frag-
ments ty shot and she'll. Then we understood
his work, for gliding to the right Of us came
Stonewali Jackson's and A Hills corps, and
the lines collided. Pelham's work was done,
and General Lee, in presence of his corps COM
manders and his staff made the remark, "Is it
not wonder how one SO young can be SO
brave?' This compliment brought from him
only blush upon bis beardless cheek.
Brave and heroic heart, we saw him fall in
the front of AverilPs fierce surprise. He was
leading to the front some stragglers, and en-.
deavoriog to rally broken line, his fine sabre
glisteniug 10 patriotic circles his head, and
his clear voice cheering up each weary heart to
one more honest effort, when she'll burst over
his head, and one fragment went Kissing through
his brow. He fell, and for moment there was
a pause. Stuart for a moment stopped and
looked at him, and said in solemn tone, the
tears trickliog from his eyes, "Serving on my
staff is fatal-it is fatal"
The following narrative of Harry Gilmore tells
the rest of the close of this pure good life:
"He was taken from the field by Col. Harry
Gilmore, laid upon his horse and placed in
charge of two dismounteG men with orders to
carry him to an ambulance and call a surgeon.
Col. Gilmore thus relates in his book, entitled
"Four Years in the Saddle" the subsequent fate
and brutal treatment of one of the nobest spirits
that perished for the "Lost cause"
"On my way to Culpeppsr, overlook, near
Brandy Station, the two men | bad placed in
charge Of Pelham, making their way back to
Culpepper, with the body across the horse, just
as they had started from the field of battle, bis
head and hands hanging down on one side, his
legs on the other-face, hair and hands soaked
and clotted with mud and blood.
"Overwhelmed with horror, had him laid on
the grass in the fence corner, and then, to my
found him still alive. Imagine
my indignation and vented wrath, when found
that instead of hooking for an ambulance, they
had moved toward CulPepper, distance of eight
miles, four Of which they had already accom-
p!ished. 1 firmly believe that had surgical aid
been called to remove the compression on the
brain, his life might have been saved
San ambulance was Immediately sent for him,
and by the time l had dispatched my business
with the telegraph, Pelham had arrived in town,
and was at once conveyed to Bessie's home,
bis reception. Three surgeons were soon ia at
tendance and after, by gentle hands he had
been washed with warm water, his feet and
hands swathed in flannel, and some brandy
poured in his mouth, the surgeons commenced
relieving the compression on the brain. The
piece of shell that had struck him was not larger
than the end of my little fDger. 1t entered just
at the curl of the hair on the back of the head,
raking through the skull without even piercing
the brain, coming out two inches below the
point where it had entered. The skull was
badly shattered between the entrance aud the
exit of the shell. AS the surgeons removed the
pieces, selected one as a memento OF one OF the
most gallant and highly esteemed officers of the
Southers army. He was just 2l years of age
"The surgeons soon pronounced his case hope
less, and left him to the care of Bessie aud my
friends crowded To-. About l, D. m,
his eyes opened-he turned toward me with an
look-closed them-drew a long
breath, and died without struggle, We dressed
him in his best uniform, and had but just laid
him on the bed, when the door was gently
opened, and Stuart entered, having returned
from the fight at Kelly's Ford. Great .ears
rolled down his cheeks as be silently gazed on
the lifeless form, and then retired.
Exhausted with fatigue lay down upon
the floor, and slept soundly beside the mortal
remains of a companion who had ridden to the
field that morning ia usually fine spirits; but
such is the fortune Of war"
Thus, indeed, perished great and good lad.
He was carried to bis home 10 Alabama, and
buried beneath her loved soil. 10 Richmond
his body lay in state, and the ladies OF the
doomed city not only covered his coffin with
wreaths of evergreens, imnortelies and pure
white roses, to designate the purity Of bis life,
but they paid to the form-sons peu-, sans
reproche-the tribute of their tears: Every
where on the way he was greeted with funeral
honors, and the noble heart Of Pelham passed
inte history as the type Of that pure chivalry
that glowed in the hearts Of the youths of the
army, and the loss of whom hath caused much
mourning throughout the South
II. w. SPARROW,