THE CIVIL WAR: THE TRUE STORY BOOK 1

Colonel John Pelham

Even before the end of the Civil War Colonel John Pelham had become a legendary figure of the Confederacy. General Lee called him "the gallant Pelham," and on seeing the young artillerist employ but a single gun to hold up the advance of three Union divisions and over a hundred guns at Fredericksberg, he exclaimed: "It is glorious to see such courage in one so young."

"Stonewall" Jackson, who relied implicitly on Pelham in tight situations said: "It is really extraordinary to find such nerve and genius in a mere boy. With a Pelham on each flank I believe I could whip the world."

"Jeb" Stuart, the dashing cavalry chief, claimed that "John Pelham exhibited a skill and courage which I have never seen surpassed. I loved him as a brother."

Major John Esten Cooke, a fellow-officer and tent-mate, wrote: "He is the bravest human being I ever saw in my life."

And one of Pelham's veteran gunners asserted: "We knew him -- we trusted him -- we would have followed him anywhere, and did."

Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in the spring of 1861, Cadet Pelham slipped away from West Point to join the Confederacy. Following the fierce Battle of First Manassas, in which he fought side-by-side with "Stonewall" Jackson, Pelham was assigned to "Jeb" Stuart's command with orders to organize the Stuart Horse Artillery. This mounted unit -- dashing from action to action on the battlefield -- provided General Lee's army with invaluable mobile firepower which saved many desperate situations.

In over sixty battles Pelham's blazing guns saw furious action against Union infantry, cavalry, artillery, gunboats and even locomotives. Although he fought against tremendous odds, Pelham never lost an artillery duel or a single gun!

Colonel Pelham was an outstanding figure on the battlefield and off.

The modest, boyish-looking commander of the Horse Artillery was as calm and popular with his gunners under fire as he was with beautiful Southern belles in the ballroom.

The sun dawned slowly upon a grim scene. It was December 13, 1862. The rising sun painted the fog of the Rappahannock River a ghastly red, foreshadowing the bloody day that was to come. Lee was up early, surveying the scene from the top of Marye's Heights. Across the river, on the other side, Northern Generals were peering toward Lee's position, hoping to drive the Confederates from those hills and fulfill Burnside's promise of celebrating Christmas in Richmond.

As the morning wore on, the fog began to burn away under the influence of the rising sun. The lifting fog revealed to the Confederate commanders the surging ranks of the Federal infantry, forming for a massive attack on the Confederate right. From their post of observation, James Longstreet turned to Stonewall Jackson and asked, "What are you going to do with all those people over there?" Jackson answered firmly as he mounted his horse, "Sir, we will give them the bayonet."

After Jackson had ridden back to his command, he ordered JEB Stuart to deploy his horse artillery against the advancing enemy in order to slow the Federal advance. Stuart told John Pelham, his young artillery officer, to prepare for action.

Pelham had proven himself faithful before. In the battles around Richmond, earlier that spring, Pelham had earned the confidence of Stuart and the admiration of Jackson for his ability to maneuver his light artillery with precision and accuracy. Jackson had famously declared, "If I had a Pelham on each flank, I could whip the world." He had gone on to ask Stuart, "If you have another Pelham, send him to me."

Today would be Pelham's greatest test. Pelham selected two cannons for the task at hand, a Blakely rifle and a twelve-pound Napoleon. Stuart's troopers cheered as Pelham boldly led his small detachment forward to slow the Federal advance. At a crossroads in the front of the Confederate position, Pelham unlimbered his guns and opened on the Federal lines with solid shot. The accurate fire sent shock and confusion into the Federal infantry. Pelham had an ideal position from which he could enfilade the Union lines. Each cannonball went bouncing along its path of destruction, tearing off arms, legs, and heads as it cut a path right through the enemy lines. He was fighting an entire division of infantry with only two guns.