The presentation speech.
Commander, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen.
The days when
Pelham and
Stuart rode together and won immortal fame and deathless victory have passed into another age. The men who ‘though vanquished yet conquered disgrace and preserved unharmed the shrine of the public honor,’ are the foremost figures in the brilliant achievements of these modern times.
When the word was telegraphed from the trenches before
Santiago, that to the terror of death from the bullets of the enemy, there had been added the dread of fever, stalking like some death-dealing phantom among the men, in effect so terrible because so silent, the great heart of the nation throbbed with fear.
Alarm gave place to reassurance when
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the message was received that
General Wheeler was in the trenches with his men. This son of the great
State of Alabama has won the love of our entire country by his high honor and great daring.
Amid all clamor and criticism, by friend and foe, his name is never uttered save with praise.
Alabama, in former times, sent forth another son who, on the battle-fields of
Virginia, gained the names of ‘gallant’ and ‘vigilant.’
This is, therefore, an auspicious and fitting occasion, chosen by
R. E. Lee Camp Sons of Veterans, to present to the sponsor Veteran Camp, the picture of him who so worthily won, and wore his characteristic designations.
Major John Pelham was a marvellous development of the age in which he lived.
Great was he of whom the
London Times could say, ‘no one of an equal age in either army has won an equal reputation.’
Lovable was his character, which drew from an enemy in arms the praise: ‘I rejoice, dear
Pelham, in your success.’
Useful was the man, whose loss at the early age of twenty-four was mourned as an irretrievable disaster to the Cause for which he fought.
Loved, honored and admired by friend and foe, at home and abroad, had he lived longer, his name would have been written higher and his fame would have shone brighter in that galaxy of heroes whose memories shed brilliant lustre on the annals of our stupendous struggle.
