Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-03-05


artillery battalion was not present, but
he happened to be near the scene when
the sound of a chance battle summoned
every true soldier to the front. Riding
to the point Of danger he saw regi-
ment wayering and, with sword flying,
shouted: Forward boysl Forward to
victory and gloryl" At that moment
the guns of Stoneman's Federal horse
batteries were Smelling the fields where
the Confederates were gathering to dis
pute the crossing of the river. A frag
ment of shell struck Pelham and pierced
his brain. Amid the roar of battle his
young life went out, and most extraor-
binary ceremonies and eulogies attested
his renown in the corps Stuart issued
a general order announcing his death
and requiring that the military badge Of
mourning be worn for 80 days out OF
respect to his memory.
John Pelham was born in Alabama
in 1888 and was in the middle of his
twenty third year when the war broke
out. He was then in the graduating
class at West Point, where he had cut
no small figure during the five years of
his cadetship. 1t was a saying that
when Pelham started to go anywhere
or to do anything he would never turn
or look back, no matter what the temp
tation or provocation. In fencing and
boxing he excelled, and his skill in
craftsmanship, especially i'll feats of ex-
traordinary daring, became a tradition
of the school, The Prince of Wales sin
gled him out as a wonderful horseback
rider when he visited the academy in
1860.
Like most great soldiers of the civil
war, Pelham stood low in his class, yet
high career had been prophesied for the
young Albanian because of his general
bearing at West Point. A week before
commencement, in 1861, with his COM
mission already made out in the United
States army, he resigned his cadetship
and threw up all his chances, to fight
for southern rights.
Young Pelham set out in his cadet
uniform, but as he neared the southern
border he found himself an object of
suspicion, which he tried to allay by
passing himself off as o courier in the
wa FANO Va tAV OLA nv ANON
Albany, Ind, the cadet was intercepted
by the Federal authorities, word hav-
ing reached there that he had left West
Point, intending to so south and fight
In the Confederate army. He was placed
under surveillance and not allowed to
gross the river to Louisville, However,
at Jacksonville, above New Albany, he
found his project favored by fortune in
the shape of o true Yankee maiden who
so deeply fell in love with the gallant
adventurer that, although her principles
would not allow her to urge him on
ward, would not balk his honest ambi'
ton TO fight against her people. Little
by little she had learned his story. 3ne
urged him to give up the idea Of going
south, and he listened kindly if not
earnestly.
One day the couple, who were much
together, went out rowing on the river
and on nearing the Kentucky shore
young Pelham gave the skiff an impetus
that sent it to the bank. Swiftly jump
ing out, he pushed the boat back into
the current and waved farewell 20 the
astounded girl who had unwittingly
helped an enemy and sped the departure
of lover from her side
From Louisville Pelham hurried to
Montgomery, then the capital of the
Confederacy. He was commissioned
first lieutenant in the regular Confed-
crate service and assigned to duty with
the artillery at Lynchburg, Va. Al the
First Bull Run the boy fought with a
battery which he had drilled and han
died the guns so skillfully that Jeb
Stuart, then commanding the First regi-
ment OF Virginia cavalry, helped him
raise a new six gun light battery for
service with his own command. Re
cruits for the battery were quickly
gathered in Alabama and Pelham him.
self raised a detachment Of creoles from
Mobile to man one piece. Being OF
French descent, these crColes were
named the Napoleon detachment, -
They Went into battle singing the
"Marseillaise' and chung to their boy
leader as did the Old Guard to Napo
leon If not always first into battle
they We're invariably the last to leave.
Pelham's six gun battery became thC
nucleus Of the famous battalion of horse
artillery which helped to make StuartH
corps a terrible thunderbolJ Of war. Al
the battle Of Gaines Mill, in June
1862, Pelham advanced one gun a mile
to the front Of the general Confederat,
line and drew the fire of several piece
Of Federal artillery. Stuart was fighting
with Stonewall jackson that day anC
the conduct Of the hoy artillerist die
not pass unnoticed by that shrewd com
mander, ever looking for hearts as Lolc
as his own. At the Second Bull Run
where Stuart and Jackson were again
fighting ia unison, Pelham rushed hi
whole battalion to the front and tor
the enemy columns with awful effect
jackson said to Stuart, General, if yol
have another Pelham, give him to me. ,