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 Major John Pelham Posted by:  Thorny1
N 33° 43.887 W 085° 52.728
16S E 603867 N 3732944
Major John Pelham was born here Sept 7, 1838
Waymark Code: WM43QW
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 07/02/2008
Views: 70
Major John Pelham was born here Sept 7, 1838. Commanded Horse Artillery of Army of Northern Virginia, CSA. Killed at Kelly's Ford, VA March 17, 1863. Styled the Gallant Pelham by Robert E. Lee.
John Pelham (September 7, 1838 – March 17, 1863) was an artillery officer who served with the Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart during the American Civil War. Dubbed "The Gallant Pelham" for his military prowess and personal courage, Pelham revolutionized the usage of light artillery as a mobile arm of the cavalry.[
Marker Name: Major John Pelham
Marker Type: Rural Roadside
Addtional Information::
John Pelham fought with such valor and dedication for the Confederacy, finally giving his life in that cause, that he has become symbolic of Alabama fighting men in all wars who have offered themselves to defend the state, the nation and the principles in which they believed.
Pelham resigned from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1861, just a few weeks before he was to graduate, in order to return to Alabama and enter the Confederate Army. After a brief period of drilling an artillery battery Pelham took part in the First Battle of Manassas, so distinguishing himself that General J. E. B. Stuart recommended he form and lead a six-gun battery of horse artillery to move with the cavalry. In more than 60 battles Pelham displayed genius for sizing up the situation at a glance, dashing to a spot that commanded the battlefield but that was not vulnerable to enemy fire, and bravely raining shot and canister on forces that greatly outnumbered his own. Pelham's greatest battle was at Fredericksburg where he confused a federal army of 120,000 men with his brilliant one-gun barrage from their flank. His contribution to the Confederate victory that day was a major one and General Robert E. Lee cited the part played by "the gallant Pelham" in his official report.
Pelham, then a major, was killed at the age of 24 in the Battle of Kelly's Ford. He died in the explosion of an enemy shell, and as Stuart said, "with the battle-cry upon his lips and the light of victory beaming from his eye."
Date Dedicated / Placed: 1963
Marker Number: None
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