"Evelyn's" Report on Pelham's Death
The following clipping is in the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery, Alabama, originally appearing in The Mobile [Alabama] Advertiser and Register (Vol XXX, No 298). We believe that "EVELYN" is a pen-name; furthermore, "EVELYN" is not female, and possibly served on Pelham's or Stuart's staff.1 You will find some minor errors of fact as well as some exaggeration of numbers. The article was found and is submitted through the kindness of C.J. Cochrane.
OUR RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
(From our Special Correspondent.)
Richmond, March 20, 1863.
To day the summer begins, but if one had kept no note of time, it would be difficult to make him believe it. A heavy storm is now raging, and already the ground has over four inches of snow upon it. It is a better time to drive in sleighs than we have had this whole winter.
I have just returned from the Capitol, and with saddened spirit sit down to write of the dear dead boy now lying there -- Alabama's noblest tribute of the whole war. His coffin stands in the hall, upon a pedestal arranged for the purpose. A sentinel paces backwards and forwards beside it. Upon the top are spread the flags he fought so bravely to sustain; and upon them a mourning wreath of evergreens. Beside it -- just over the manly heart, now still forever -- lies a single snow-white flower. The outer prospect is mournful enough, and with moistened eyes a little party of Alabamians gaze upon it. The flag is removed, and there -- dear God! I can hardly write it for the blinding tears -- there lies the body of my darling friend -- noble, noble Pelham. Stiff and stark in death, the loved face white and cold, the same sad smile lingering upon his beautiful lips, the same dear head that has so often in life slept upon my arm. I press my cheek against the cold coffin-lid and weep, and weep, and weep! -- Some poor mother weeping for her son; some wife bending over the dead body of her husband; some maiden throwing herself upon her bed and crying in secret over the picture of her lifeless lover -- these alone can know the deep grief, the poignant sorrow the death of this brave youth has caused. Tears, sorrowing tears, is now all the tribute I can pay him; oh! that I could break through that cruel coffin and press one kiss upon his lips, but they are gone, frail me forever! -- We veil once more the placid face, and retiring I murmur a prayer to God for his soul, asking Him to help me imitate the virtues of the dear youth he has taken from earth. May Alabama do honor to one of the noblest of her sons!
It is with a great effort I can write of these things today, and I know my reader will pardon me. It is hard to turn again to the scenes in which he was so recently an actor....The further intelligence from the cavalry skirmish shows. it a more serious affair than was at first supposed. The action took place three miles from Brandy Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, nine miles from Culpeper Court house. Early in the morning word was brought in that the enemy were advancing in force across the river. The picket was reinforced by a company of sharp-shooters, about forty in number, who were ordered to hold the ford at all hazards until the main body could come up. They fought bravely, contesting faithfully the passage of the Yankees, fighting until they were surrounded and all captured. The enemy, three thousand in the saddle, supposed to be Averell's and Pleasanton's brigades, then advanced their whole force. Our cavalry at that point consisted of Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, only about one thousand men. Upon the approach of our men the Yankees dismounted, and entrenching themselves behind stone walls and fences, fought as infantry. A battery of horse artillery acccompanied them, and early opened upon our advance. Gen. Stuart commanded. A vigorous attack was made upon them, and the 3d and 5th regiments of cavalry were ordered to charge. This they did, and being met by a fierce volley of musketry, and also heavy discharges of canister and spherical case from the battery, were forced to retire. Col. T.L. Rosser placed himself at the head of the 5th, and charged again, but with the same result. Several successive charges were made, but the Yankees fought obstinately, and we were unable to break their line. The battery was then advanced, and an effort was made to silence it. Col. Pelham's guns had not come up. At that time the Colonel was riding beside Gen. Stuart, and was then struck by a piece of shell. The fragment entered his brain, and he fell from his horse mortally wounded. That night he died. The cavalry again rallied and charged the artillery, but once more the murderous fire of the dismounted men drove them back. Then Major Puller, of the 5th, was shot through the body, and Col. Rosser severely wounded in the foot. Lieut. Harris, of the Powhatten [sic.] troop, was also killed.
Finding it impossible to dislodge the Yankees from their strong position, Gen. Stuart fell back. They immediately pursued, but after retreating a mile or two, our little force again charged, and that time successfully. The advance was checked, and the Yankees began to retire. They were pressed closely, and driven slowly across the river, leaving a few wounded men in our hands. About fifty of our men were captured, among them Maj. Breckenridge. Our dead and wounded number nearly, if not quite two hundred; a large number of horses were left dead upon the field. The enemy's loss was slight compared to ours, and has not yet been ascertained. Eighteen prisoners were captured, but these seemed to know little about the object of the expedition. It was probably intended as a magnificent raid, as the prisoners had several days cooked rations in their haversacks, and all the appointments for a whole week were prepared. The disparity of numbers between the two forces, together with our serious loss, shows it must have been one of the hardest contested fights of the war. Through the most indomitable bravery and courage of our little force, the expedition, whatever its object may have been, was checked and driven back across the Rappahannock. Another lesson has been taught the Yankees, how Southern gentlemen fight for their honor and their homes, and the price they are willing to pay for liberty!...
I have just learned that John Pelham had been made a colonel of artillery, his commission having been made out and signed two days before his death. It never reached him, but will be sent to his father in Alabama.
Castle Lightning is to be turned into barracks for the city guard. A Richmond Opera House is talked of -- what is the use when we have no opera singers? Chappell, the youth wounded in the laboratory, has died. The flour impressment case is not yet decided. Congress sent [?] on tax bill.
-EVELYN.
1 J. Cutler Andrews, in The South Reports the Civil War (Princeton University Press, 1970), identifies "Evelyn" as Dr. William G. Shepardson. Dr. Shepardson was in Montgomery, Alabama in the spring of 1861 and at Stuart's Headquarters in the fall of the same year. Probably, whatever acquaintance he claimed with Pelham dated from the latter period. He seems to be one of those elusive, "shadowy" figures of the war.
This article first appeared in Volume 11, No. 5 of The Cannoneer.
