The following poem was written by Ms. Jean Howard Monk of Pelham, Ga. She kindly submitted it to The Cannoneer.
WHITE ROSE OF KELLYSVILLE
by Jean Howard Monk
Within these lonely sonless days of age
for the fineness, the valor, and the show
Time has taken pens upon life's page
and etched a cost list we may never know.
Evergreens for His blanket
a white rose upon His chest
weeping girls with tearful tribute
flags of honor: a coffined rest.
"The noble, the chivalric, the
Gallant Pelham is no more."
Alabama's gray fleur immortelle
has passed nobly through life's door.
The Rebel war cry on His precious lips
bedecked with gay ribbons on his breast
this gray knight riding Kelly's Ford
was cheering Confederates to their best.
Then torn by shot and shell
Pelham fell at Averell's fierce surprise
jasmine in the snow
"the light of victory beaming from His eyes."
Can you see it in their war tears?
Can you hear it in their sighs
pressing sweet memories' for age
as His living glorified their eyes.
"Johnny Rebs, do ya'll remember
when He took our gauntlet in His hand?
Do you recall His cardinal song?
'Not for ourselves, but for this Land! '
"Why Rebs, His eyes glanced every battlefield
from the first Manassas on for more
Williamsburg, Cold Harbor, retreating from
Aldie, Union to Markham's gore!"
"He built up strong our battlements."
"Who is he?" even the Generals cried.
"Why boys! That's Gallant Pelham!"
cheer after cheer...pride after pride.
"Yeah, I was with him at Fredericksburg!
In front of Franklin's corps!
He fought till every horse was killed
the shells ran out! But still he bore. "
"They say Jackson gave Him that black horse!
The one He's probably still on now!"
And that when he died at Bessie's home
General Stuart kneeled and kissed his brow. "
''It is Pelham! "See how He fights!"
"With just one Napoleon and a Blakely's reel!"
"Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day!"
"YEA REBS!" ...and the Battle of Kellysville!"
To: Lieutenant Colonel John Pelham
September 7, 1838 -- March 17, 1863 (Saint Patrick's Day)
He was only 25. (He died at the Battle of Kellysville.)
He leased his life to a siege of giving
© 1981. All Rights Reserved.
This article first appeared in Volume 2, No. 3 of The Cannoneer.
