Newspaper Article - May 2, 1861

The following article appeared in the May 2, 1861 issue of the Jacksonville (Ala.) Republican. It is from the Fred R. Martin Papers in the Public Library of Anniston and Calhoun. County.

Lieutenants Pelham, of this county, and Rosser, of Texas, arrived here last night on their way to Montgomery, from West Point. They have both received appointments in the Confederate army, and are hastening to Montgomery for orders "and a place in the picture."

We had the pleasure of a long interview with them. They were compelled to come all the way round by Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to avoid being arrested and detained by the abolitionists.

They report the populace all through Pennsylvania all worked up to the last degree of frenzy and madness by their abolitionist leaders. They talk of nothing but shooting, and the gibbiting of "the traitors of the south." At one place they saw a number of ropes hung up in regular hangman's style, with a placard, 'For Southern Traitors. " They were , themselves, narrowly watched and scrutinized, and questioned as to their destina¬tion, but managed by a little finesse to pass unmolested.

All Southern officers who offer to resign now are arrested before they can get out of the country, if possible.

Lieutenants Pelham and Rosser are a couple of handsome young officers; and will be an acquisition to our army at this time. We predict for them a brilliant future.

This article first appeared in Volume 6, No. 4 of The Cannoneer.