The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-27
Hon. John D. Gordon.

The following sketch Of Gen. Gordon
Ee copy from that excellent paper, Tile
BaAinorcdR; and In addition thereto we
would recall to the minds of our people
his noble, untiring and sIccesslii: efiorts
In behalf Of South Carolina during the
! great campaign of 1876 and the mo-
mentous months that followed. In that
tremendous crisis, quitting his home and
laying aside all other duties, Gen. Gordon
came to Columbia, and remained there,
working with Hampton and our leaders,
until the Palmetto State was redeemed.
Let IL never be forgotten among us that
TO the wisdom, influence, courage and
patriotism of John b. Gordon, of Geor-
gia, South Carolina owes much of her
present freedom, happiness and pros
perity:
The visitor upon entering the gallery of
the United States Senate now in session
at Washington d. c., very naturally
scans the faces of the gentlemen there
assembled, and speedily settles upon the
finest looking man. Ho cannot be long
In arriving at q conclusion. The palm
must be awarded to General John B.
entitled TO the term distingue or splen-
did physique, intellectual forehead, and
strikingly handsome face, only slightly
marred BY scar upon one cheek, caused
by o wound received in battle, he would
be selected from among thousand of his
fellows, as head nud shoulders taller than
all the rest.
General Gordon is o. descendant Of the
celebrated Gordons Of Scotland, the most
of whom came TO the United States but
| short time previous TO the Revolution
ary War. He is not yet forty-fo years
| of age, having been born in Epson coun-
| ty, Georgia, on the 9th day of February,
At the breaking out Of the late war
he raised g regiment of cavalry for the
Confederate service, but as that branch
| of the military force was not then re-
| quired, he organized body Of infantry,
| cTared it to the Governor of his State,
ARD went into the field with his troops,
who received the nickname Of "Raccoon
Roughs." all the men having been raised
on Kaccoon Mountain.
/ In 1862 Gordon, as Colonel, led his
men into the famous battle of the Seven
Pines, during which two.thirds of his
command were either killed or wounded.
When General Itodes vas wounded he re.
linquished his brigade to Gordon. The
battles before Richmond and at Malvern
Hill followed, and Gordon's Brigade was
in the thickest of each.
During Lee'e march into maryland,
| Gordon was the first to cross the Poto-
mac, and, for his GOODNESS, bravery and
skill, was highly complimented by Gen.
erals Rodes and Hill. He also achieved
great distinction at Sharpsburg, where
his regiment occupied the salient in the
Confederate line. He was wounded fve
times during the engagement, and but
for the heroic attentions of his wife
would have died. In speaking Of this
battle, General Hill called Gordon the
Chevalier Baynrd of the army, O oharac.
ter given the lamented Kearney on the
Federal side.
Upon recovering, Gordon was made q
Brigadier- General, aud invested with the
command of the Georgia Brigade. A
month later he was in command at
Mary'a Hill, in front of Fredericksburg,
where he captured the heights by bril-
liant charge.
/ 10 1864 he gon his richest laurels on the
stormy lines of the Rapidan. Tho Con-
federate troops had been obliged to re-
treat after long engagement. Gordon
cav the condition Of affairs apd suddenly
turning his men, he charged upon tho
Federal troops, broke their line, and cap.
tured an entire regiment.
Immediately after entering York,
Penn, he met large body of excited
women, and made them no gallant q
speech as was ever spoken by conquer.
or, concluding with the assurance 81
pledge you that not one private dwelling
sill to burned oE robbed. So wsil 40
know these men, can safely promise
the head of any one of them who insults
lady.
In 1857, General Gordon was the Dem.
ocratio candidate for Governor of Geor.
gia his party claimed bis election by q
large majority, but the opponent, Rnfne
B. Bullock, was declared elected.
He was q member Of the National
Democratic Convention Of 1868, from
Georgia, end delegate-at-large to the
Convention Of 1872.
He wasr elected tn the United States
Senate in that year, and took his seat
in March following succeeding Joshua
Hill, Republican. I'D
| General Gordc.. is one of the most re.
markable men in that body, and will be
sure 10 take an advanced upo. aii
questions affecting the honor and preI
perity of the country. He is true rep
resentative Of the intelligence and.integ.
rity of the South