Greatest CSA Artilleryman

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

Funeral of the "Gallant" Pelham

The Boy Hero of the Confederacy
by Norman Dasinger Jr​

On Tuesday, March 31, 1863, the city of Jacksonville, Alabama and its citizens witnessed the funeral of John Pelham, perhaps, the most well known artillery commander to have served during the Civil War.



Pelham was born September 7, 1838, along Cane Creek in the Alexandria community of northeastern Alabama. John grew up and entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on July 1, 1856. He did not complete his five year course of study but resigned in 1861 just before his class was scheduled to graduate.



Pelham joined the Confederate States Army and served as an artillery officer under the command of famed cavalry General JEB Stuart. John rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Kelly's Ford, Virginia on March 17, 1863 and died early the next morning in Culpepper.



His body arrived at the Pelham home in Alexandria on Saturday, March 28, 1863 having been pulled by four white horses from the Blue Mountain railroad depot near present day Anniston, Alabama.



After a meeting of community leaders at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Jacksonville on the 30th​, it was decided the order of the funeral procession from the Baptist Church to the Jacksonville City Cemetery would be arranged as follows: 1. the body of John Pelham and pallbearers 2. family/relatives 3. Clergy 4. Attending CSA officers 5. Teachers and Students of the Female Academy 6. Teachers and Students of the Male Academy 7. Ladies 8. Committee for the Arrangement of the Funeral 9. the County Grand Jury 10. Citizens 11. Carriages.



The morning of the 31st​ the body was loaded onto an open wagon and transported from the Pelham home in Alexandria to Jacksonville. It was a bright spring day and it was stated, "the attendance was at the time the largest body of people ever seen together in Jacksonville." At the Baptist Church, the eulogy was delivered by Chancellor Foster and then by order of procession John was delivered to the city cemetery. He was lowered into ground as school children filled his grave with lilac blossoms before caretakers shoveled dirt upon the casket.



Today, he rests under a large marble statue of the young artillerist with one of his five brothers that also served in the Confederate Army buried at his side.

 

[UCVRelics]

Today, he rests under a large marble statue of the young artillerist with one of his five brothers that also served in the Confederate Army buried at his side.

Great Story. Been there many times.

 

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

The statue over his remains is still there - it was vandalized in 2020 but it has not been removed

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Did his brother survive the war?

 

[Belfoured]

Others are at least equally deserving of that title. E. Porter Alexander and R. Snowden Andrews are two that come to mind.

 

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

It's a nice story, but what made him a hero?

His biography is quite amazing. Especially his work at the battle of Fredericksburg, VA

 

[UCVRelics]

Did his brother survive the war?

Charles, served in the Civil War and served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

We need to have a WEd night zoom on Pelham. Lee wrote that he was GALLANT in a report. He opened the Confederate firing at Fredericksburg early on Dec 13, 1862 and basically held up the Union advance for an hour with one gun.

 

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

Several books on him. And many articles have been written. He is worth your reading time

 

[UCVRelics]

Now that is something!

Its well worth the price and is a great read.
The Perfect Lion: The Life and Death of Confederate Artillerist John Pelham

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

His biography is quite amazing. Especially his work at the battle of Fredericksburg, VA

Did he have a fiancé? I read that when he died, three girls went into mourning, but that could be a legend. He was extremely handsome and was supposed to be a refined person, so I imagine he was quite a catch!

 

[Norman Dasinger Jr]

no official fiancé' - he had a close female friend in culpepper

 

[redbob]

It should be considered that he was basically a battery commander and you have to wonder if he had advanced in rank and responsibility what would have been the results.

 

[bayonet]

Lt Col H P Jones at Gettysburg is my pick. His Battery took the head off of the mounted Commander of the 17th Connecticut on Barlows Knoll on the first day. My GG Grandfathers Regiment. Having been at that spot and also where the Battery was positioned I have to say that was one impressive shot from that distance. Or just lucky!

 

[Rebforever]

It's a nice story, but what made him a hero?

Fredericksburg battle. IMO.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Another outstanding young artillery officer was William Pegram in A. P. Hill's Corps. Apparently Pegram was very nearsighted, and he needed to wear spectacles in battle.

Pegram was aged 24 years, when mortally wounded at Five Forks on April 1, 1865.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Captain Henry Guibor, who commanded a Missouri artillery battery in the western theater, was another very capable artillery officer.

 

[Belfoured]

It should be considered that he was basically a battery commander and you have to wonder if he had advanced in rank and responsibility what would have been the results.

Agree. That's why I named Alexander and Andrews. Alexander had achievements at a higher level and Andrews did as well - plus he survived a devastating wound to author the CSA version of the Instructions manual.

 

[jackt62]

What about Colonel Willy Pegram? Didn't he have an excellent record as an artillerist under Hill's Third Corps?

 

[rgtaylor61]

Wasn't DH Hill known for his Artillery prowess?