The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1905-11-05

q prayer upon their lips, but with pa
triotism In their hearts we bid them
God speed, and saw them go into the
conflict. The record shows that the
flag OF an Alabama regiment float
ed over every battlefield from Penn
sylvania to Missouri, and the
bravery of Alabamians won
for the State a renown that will be a
proud heritage to future generations.
1t 10 estimated that fully 10000 Of
Alabama's sons took up arms In the
cause OF the Confederacy, and that one
fourth of this number gave up their
lives on the battle field.
Search where you may. there will be
found no record more glorious than
that OF the staunch, stalwart sons Of
Calhoun, who made tip the rank and
file of those two noble companies, the
Calhoun Guards and the Pope Walker
Guards.
Many of these gave up their lives on
the battle field. Death claimed others
upon bed of sickness and suffering.
Many more did not have the glory to
Yield up their lives on the battle field,
but when the fitful four years were
ended, they came home all batt1e-scar-
red, showing too truly in how many
bloody CONFLICTS they had taken part.
Allah of these were heroes---for they
wore the gray, and made our cause glo-
rious--a cause SO replete with honor,
the glory and the renown Of the Con-
federate soldier.
And after many decades have passed
we are gathered here today to do honor
to one of these heroes-the gallant
Pelham-whose career was brief, bright
and glorious.
John Pelham was born at the Nc
Chez homestead. in Alexandria Valley,
Ala, Oct. z, 1888. His boyhood days
were spent there and Jacksonville, Ala.
till In 1856, when he was appointed
cadet and entered the West Point Mill
tary Academy. He was of ordinary
statue and light build; his eye bright.
penetrating and full of humor. with q
proud spirit. but too noble to be
touched by arrogance. and he never
spoke of his own achievements, for he
had a shrinking modesty. but a nerve
OF steel.
He was at West Point when the war
was pending, and with the warm blood
of the South In his veins, he turned his
face Southwark, and In April, 81, he
crossed the lines n Louisville. KY, dis
guised as one Of General SCOTS cou-
riers.
Repairing at once to Montgomery,
he reported for duty. and was commits
stoned first lieutenant OF artillery, reg
ulAl army, ana OT0CEGQ W tdhC Shat . .
of the ordnance at Lynchburg, Va.
He remained there but short time.
when he was assigned as driilmaster to
AIberton's battery at Winchester. Va.
Pelham's genius was for artillery;
he was born for that; he found his
proper sphere in command of Stuart's
guns, for he was called Stuart's boy ar
tiilerist. 1t was in the handling OF
these guns, at the first battle OF Man
asas, with such skill and daring that
he attracted the attention of his SUI
perior officers. He fought with the
ardor of a boy, but with the obstinacy
81 gray hairs. Stuart intrusted him
with the organization of a battery of
six pieces of horse artillery, and he
raised the requisite number OF men
from Alabama, Virginia and Maryland,
and at williamsburg he was conspic-
uous for skill and valor. He held his
ground, with ono Napoleon at Cold
Harbor against the hurricane OF shot
and shell poured on him from the OPP
posing batteries, and Stuart rode up TO
General Jackson on that awful day of
battle and said: General your guns on
the left are idle, no one is at work put
Pelham" His presence always gave q
feeling OF confidence at the opening OF
every great battle. and at the second
battle of Manassas Stonewall Jackson,
seeing the hosts OF Fosters
corps advancing and Longstreet not
or Pelham And at Sharpsburs Pei
ham commanded nearly all the artii-
iery on the left wing OF the army and
General Jackson witnessing the nerve,
the genius of this boy in the skillful
handling of his guns, said: With
pelham on each flank I believe / could
whin the world" And Stuart in
snecial report for that day, said Pei
ham has covered himself all over with
n .,an, Thus these two Major Cen
sraIs had chanted Pelham's praises and
virginia had called him her boy de-
fender"
His guns roared again in the bloody
ranuIse the Federals received at Shep
erdston and we find him again with
stuart on the bloody track from Aide
10 Markham, lightning immense ODDS
TIL they were within few PAGES or
the muzzle of his guns:
Rnt the climax of his renown was
reached at Fredericksburg. when he
went to The foot of Stafford Heights
with one Napoleon. opened the battle
ma drew upon himself the concen-
trated fire of half a dozen batteries. He
was enveloped in a cloud Of shot and
shell. but he fought on with such per-
sistence and such an uncomfortable
nerve till the blue columns We're rent
and torn. General Lee in Witnessing
this scene from the hill above ex-
claimed: TT Is glorious to see such
courage In one so young" and In his
of,cfaI renort the great Commander
IN -T,hIeS ifnmortalized him by calling
him ssThe Gallant Pelham and he was
The only officer below the rank of Ma
ior General that General Lee mention
ed in his report