They Lie Forgotten
by Mary Elizabeth Sergent
The Prior King Press, Middletown, N. Y., 1986.
Just in case any of our members have not already purchased Mary Betty's book, I have the pleasure of offering a review of this most welcome addition to my library. Those of us who attended the West Point convention in 1985 and experienced the author's excellent slide lecture already knew that she had some wonderful material to show us. The end result well-fulfilled the promise.
Within its soft covers lies a wealth of Pelham-period information on West Point and its occupants, from students to instructors to the Superintendent. As most of the buildings then in existence have been demolished, the many pictures included are all we have to see what the Military Academy was like during John Pelham's term there. Pictures of Pelham's classmates and brief biographical sketches, including some really delightful anecdotes, make up the class album section. Not surprisingly, John himself is one of the four cadets whose pictures are included on the covers.
We follow the Class of May, 1861, from its enrollment to its dispersal or graduation and even get a few glimpses of some of the cadets' experiences during the war. Personalities emerge -- the snobs, the radicals, the quietly persevering, the mischievous. John Pelham's name crops up often, and to my great delight the author included in detail the incident in which John, after his resignation from West Point, is invited to drill the locals. Milham referred only briefly to it; why he did not include the entire occurrence is quite beyond understanding. Thank goodness Miss Sergent did! It is typical of what might befall a newly-fledged officer at his first drill with green troops.
Written in an informal style, They Lie Forgotten is a beautiful tribute to a group of young men torn asunder by the tragedy of our nation's civil war. The author's affection for each one of them is touchingly clear (without being lachrymose) and dour indeed is the reader who does not feel at least some aching pity for the Class of '61 at its close. Young men of the period formed close friendships; to see them forced apart by political upheaval that few of them embraced is painful.
Of considerable value are the "Notes and Acknowledgements," in which the nineteenth century names of some places around West Point are listed opposite their current names. Those who like to know the exact source of each anecdote will regret the absence of footnotes, and there is no index. Having read the book, I could cheerfully read the entire contents of the many letters from which the author has excerpted anecdotes -- it would make an interesting companion volume in itself! A great many long hours must have gone into deciphering the handwriting of her sources, to say nothing of locating them. She has done a really fine job of selecting the best incidents and rewriting them in a very readable manner.
Interspersed among the pages of strictly fact lie several fanciful deviations into the realm of fiction that, far from detracting from the book, help to set the stage for reality. They further suggest that Mary Betty has also considerable talent as a fiction writer. I for one would like to read more.
One curious statement that calls for more explanation (please, Mary Betty?) refers to William Hoxton, brother of one of Pelham's classmates, beating out a brush-fire and rescuing Pelham's body at Kelly's Ford. As if we didn't have enough mysteries surrounding the death of our hero, now we are faced with an additional one.
Perhaps there is more information that has not been included within the covers of this book. If so, I can only beg that the author submit it to The Cannoneer for our further education. She has certainly won my heart over to the enti.re West Point Class of '61, and I'm ready for more.
This article first appeared in Volume 5, No. 6of The Cannoneer.
