The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-26
"Reminiscences. of West Point

The fourth of Morris Schaffs artf- cles entitled "The Spirit of Old West Point, appears in the May number of the Atlantic Monthly. It is all so admirable that 1t is impossible to con- dense 1t and difficult to make extlkcts. He says: Whenever l review my ca- det life. my fellow-cadets. West Point, It's buildings, it's surroundings. and Its ceremonies all seem to be clothed in the sweet distance and softness of shadows in a pool---as gravely beau- tiful and far away as the shadows of the trees and slowly drifting through the war is interposed for a back ground. and the fields that have been on. and where some of them lost their lives. come back into view. with the quickness of dream the battal- ion becomes distinct and real"
 Among those recalled in these day who was next seen after his gradua- ton riding across the field near Brandy station. where he was Inor- tally wounded on the 17th of March. ''Of all the men at West Point fin my day, either as cadets or as officers, his GasS,n 6ame %iil possibly Ssx. SSatIast all save thought that at the last the dew will sparkle brighter on Pelham's mem- ory. And that for two reasons. Lee, whose towering fame, like a soft ly burning torch, will light the face of the Confederacy down the murky galleries Of time. wooing atonemens for the South at every step.s And. second, poetry and sentiment, under some mysterious and inexorable im- pulse, seem loath to turr away from great displays of courage and sacrifice of life for principle; most lovingly of all will they cherish the ashes of brilliant youth associated with faiI- vitality. think. than the romance of yictory-like the morning glory. 1t blooms freshest over ruins."
 When Pelham's body was carried home to his widowed mother in Ala bama, it was on night when the moon was full; and her still, white light lit the way by the cotton fields he knew so well, and lay softly white on the roof and in the dooryard of home. His mother stood waiting for him on the doorstep. and. as they bore him up to her. she whispered through falling tears, Washed in the blood of the Lamb that was slain.' She Is buried beside him in the little village graveyard at Jacksonville. Ala. He was only 25 years old"
 And now for the reverse on the shield. In Pelhams class was a ca- det whose square. bull-doR jaws and resolute face would have certainly down tho battalion front searching for the bravest cadet in 1t. He dIsap- peared on the first occasion when his company of regulars went into battle.
 After the engagement he reappeared and acknowledged his failure to do his duty. alleging in explanation the low state of his system. But at the next fight off he wen' and then his commanding officer had private in- terview with him. telling him that such conduct could not be Overlookad that he must remember he was graduate and regular. The poor fellow cried and begged for just one more chance to redeem himself. The chance was given and it occurred at fredericksburg Forward moved the regulars. The fire swept them; stiiI they went on; but not -. White as the moonlight that fell on Pel- hams dooryard. he broke to the rear and was dropped from the army
 Speaking of others, General Schafe says: Tn the battalion with me, there were many more than those have mentioned. whose records and fate It would give me sweet pleas ure (though sometimes sadly tingedl carried Fort Fisher; Babcoek of Grants stan. one of the best friends I ever had: Beebe of my class. who won A medal of honor: Mordecai, who. although Southern in all his family connections. remained loyal. and who, with ~Michie. was breveted for con- spicuous daring while carrying on the Gaenther. whose battery will be re- membered by hundreds of veterans of Shermans army; and Blount. Willett
 
 more than l have done. The dear fellows do not need my pen; history. it is true is silent; but as long as West Point lives they will live with 1t; and when (to give her personality she and the spirit of our country--and may I add that of the dead Confeder- aCy-meet on nights to come and talk over those days of trial, when epochs closed and history was made, then they will all be mentioned"
 Of furlough days, Erueral Schah says: But 1t is while the cadet is performing sentineIs duty in the dead hours of the night. while there Is around him the mystery of darkness. that he dwells on his coming furlough most fondly. He clothes every hour of 1t with the light and beauty of dreams. In his fancy he hears the timber and the, fields welcoming him home again: he feels the paws of the old dog he hunted with as he leaps up on his breast to kiss him; he sees the plain, country church spire reverently pointing starward; and soon. in his uniform he is walking up It's aisle. and his mother is at his side. Yes. yes furlough days! you arc lifting again through the mists. and with all the freshness and spicy odoE of blooms inR sweetbriera."