Publication Date
11-5-2024
Abstract
CSA Maj. John Pelham (1838-1863) was born in Alexandria, Alabama, and attended West Point military academy, which he was forced to leave in 1861 when the Civil War broke out. He reported for duty in the Confederate forces and was commissioned a first lieutenant, first being put in charge of ordnance, and later quickly gaining fame as commander of artillery. He was dubbed “the Gallant Pelham” by Robert E. Lee for his valor at Sharpsburg and achieved the field rank of major before his death at Kelly’s Ford, Virginia. He is buried in Jacksonville Cemetery, and a monument consisting of a statue of Pelham was erected in 1905 to mark his grave. The Pelham Historical Association, led at the time by Charles Hooper, placed portraits and other memorabilia related to “the Gallant” Pelham on loan in the Library’s Alabama Gallery in the late 1980s, when it was first envisioned as a center for Civil War history.
The materials consist primarily of newspaper clippings and photocopies of articles related to Pelham which were compiled by JSU librarians and kept in a vertical file for ready reference.
Recommended Citation
Latham, Bethany, "John Pelham Informational Materials: Finding Aid" (2024). Finding Aids. 44.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/lib_ac_findaid/44