John Pelham was an American military. He was one of the bravest and most capable youngs in Lee's army.
Background
John Pelham was born on September 14, 1838 in Alexandria, Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. His family was of good English stock. Peter Pelham, was the first to emigrate to America, his descendants living successively in Boston, Virginia, Kentucky, and, after 1836, in Alabama. John's great-grandfather, Peter, son of the immigrant, was for nearly fifty years organist of Bruton Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, and his grandfather, Charles, was a major in the Continental Army. His parents were Atkinson Pelham, a large planter and a country doctor, and Martha McGehee, a native of Person County, North Carolina. Dr. Pelham was opposed to secession but loyally supported the Southern cause, all six of his sons joining the Confederate army. John Pelham was born on his grandfather's plantation in Benton (later Calhoun) County, Alabama.
Education
John Pelham entered West Point in July 1856, and resigned April 22, 1861, in order to enter the Confederate army.
Career
John Pelham was commissioned lieutenant and sent to Virginia. In November Gen. J. E. B. Stuart recommended that he organize and be made captain of a battery of horse artillery. This battery formed the nucleus of the famous Stuart Horse Artillery. Under the command of Pelham it soon acquired the ideal qualities of this military branch: quickness and unexpectedness of movement and accuracy of execution. The slender, boyish-looking, modest captain displayed remarkable courage and enterprise at every point, and in posting and firing artillery he showed real genius. Soon he was almost idolized by his men, the fame of the Stuart Horse Artillery attracting to its ranks not only volunteers from his home state, including French creoles from Mobile, but also Virginians, Marylanders, and even foreign adventurers. In the Seven Days' battles from June 25 to July 1, 1862, he displayed exceptional ability. Though reluctant to lose him, Stuart recommended his promotion with the words, "In either cavalry or artillery no field grade is too high for his merit and capacity".
On August 16, 1862, John Pelham was appointed major. At the second battle of Manassas he rushed up with his horse artillery to protect Jackson's rear from a surprise attack, and at Antietam, while in command of several batteries, he held a point essential to the Confederate position. He continued his brilliant achievements in Stuart's Loudoun County raid, in the fall of 1862, and exercised his unusual ability to keep up with the cavalry in the successful assault on the gunboats at Port Royal and at Fredericksburg. After he had held his position there for about two hours against overwhelming odds, Stuart is said to have sent him the following message: "Get back from destruction, you infernal, gallant fool, John Pelham". Lee recommended him for a promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of horse artillery, but he was mortally wounded at Kelly's Ford, Virginia, March 17, 1863. There was wide-spread grief in the South at his death. Stuart named his daughter, born not long afterwards, Virginia Pelham.
Achievements
Personality
John Pelham had not only great military ability but a lovable and winning personality as well.