PELHAM "THE GALLANT." 138 justified. It was the eye of the great soldier, the hand of the born artillerist, which was evident in his work during those days of struggle. He fell back neither too soon nor too late, and only limbered up his guns to unlimber again in the first posi tion which he reached. Thus fighting every inch of the way from Aldie, round by Paris, and Markharn s, he reached the Rappahannock, and posted his artillery at the fords, where he stood and bade the enemy defiance. That page in the history of the war is scarcely known ; but those who were present know the obstinacy of the contests, and the nerve and skill which were displayed by the young officer. That may be unknown, but the work done by Pelham on the great day of Fredericksburg is a part of history now. All know how stubbornly he stood on that day what laurels encircled his young brow when night at last came. This was the climax of his fame the event with which his name will be inseparably connected. With one Napoleon gun, he opened the battle on the right, and instantly drew upon himself the fire, at close range, of three or four batteries in front, and a heavy enfilading fire from thirty-pound Parrots across the river. But this moved him little. That Napoleon gun was the same which he had used at the battle of Cold Harbour it was taken from the enemy at Seven Pines and, in the hands of the young officer, it had won a fame which must not be tarnished by defeat ! Its grim voice must roar, however great the odds ; its reverberating defi ance must roll over the plain, until the bronze war-dog was silenced. So it roared on steadily with Pelham beside it, blow ing up caissons, and continuing to tear the enemy s ranks. Gene ral Lee was watching it from the hill above, and exclaimed, with eyes filled with admiration, " It is glorious to see such cou rage in one so young ! " It was glorious indeed to see that one gun, placed in an important position, hold its ground with a firmness so unflinching. Not until his last round of ammuni tion was shot away did Pelham retire ; and then only after a peremptory order sent to him. He afterwards took command of the entire artillery on the right, and fought it until night with a skill and courage which were admirable. He advanced his guns
