"THE GALLANT PELHAM"
John Pelham was a native son of Benton County, now Calhoun County (changed in 1858), Alabama. He was born in an area outside Alexandria on September 7th, 1838. His father was Dr. Atkinson Pelham, who was a native of Kentucky, and his mother was a Miss McGehee from the State of North Carolina. John grew up in this county with his large family and extended family. He was educated locally and attended the Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Alabama. He remained in the area until he secured an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, which he entered in 1856 as a cadet.
John was placed in the only five year class that the Academy ever had. The rules were changed in 1856 from a four year course of study to the five year course, to produce better officers, but the War Between the States changed that because of a lack of officers. This accounts for his presence there in 1861. He was one week from graduation when he left the school to return to Alabama to offer his services to his State and
eventually, to the Confederacy. Several cadets from other Southern States had already left when he decided that his State would soon secede, and that he should go also.
He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant of Artillery, Regular Confederate States Army, and ordered to take charge of the ordinance at Lynchburg, Virginia. He remained at that post for a short time and then was assigned as drillmaster to Alburtus's Battery at Winchester, Virginia. He handled his guns with such skill and daring at the Battle of 1st Manassas that he attracted the attention of his superior officers. One of these officers was none other than General J.E.B. Stuart. General Stuart entrusted John with the organization of a unit of horse artillery. He raised the officers and men from several sources, some even from Alabama, during the remainder of 1861.
Pelham's artillery fought bravely at the battles of Williamsburg, 1st Cold Harbor, the "White House", 2nd Manassas, Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown and Fredricksburg. He won his lasting fame and his nickname at the battle of Fredricksburg by his tenacity and courage under fire from Union troops, both artillery and infantry. He thwarted the Union advance for several hours with one battery of artillery and he only withdrew when his guns had no more ammunition to fire. General Robert E. Lee stated during the battle that "It is glorious to see such courage in one so young". In his report after the battle, General Lee referred to him as "the gallant Pelham". Hence, the name that he is so commonly referred to til this very day.
Following the battle of Fredricksburg, John's commission to Lieutenant Colonel soon followed, for he had already been promoted through the ranks to Captain and Major for his previous battlefield actions. His commission never reached him before he was killed in action with a unit that he was not even attached to. His death occured at Kelly's Ford, Virginia, on March 17th, 1863. He was struck in the head by a shell fragment and put on the back of a horse to be taken to the field hospital. After an extended period of time, he was finally taken to the hospital, where he died around midnight.
His remains laid in state in the Confederate Capitol Building in Richmond, Virginia, a great tribute to one who was so young. His body was brought back to Alabama by wagon, boat and train. Young ladies covered the train tracks with flower petals along the way in tribute to this fallen hero. His remains finally returned to Calhoun County along the tracks of the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers Railroad, which ran to the Confederate Depot in Blue Mountain. From there he was taken to Jacksonville by wagon, where he was buried, after laying in state, in the Jacksonville City Cemetery. John Pelham had finally returned to his beloved Calhoun County. His death was truly tragic. He was only 24 years old.
Copyright © , June 26, 2000, all rights reserved, Permission to copy by written request only. Contact pelhamscv@webtv.net for information.
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One of the Confederacy's early hero's was a young artillery officer from the State of Alabama. He fought with such gallantry in the Army of Northern Virginia that he was recognized as a brave and daring officer by several Confederate and Union officers.