The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
GORDON AT SHARPSBURG.
Wounded Five Times In One Battle
GOTdOn's strange Mental COndi-
tiOn When wounded.
ATLANTA tGa.) Constitution, Nov. 2e.I


A Sharpsburg Gen Gordon. then a colonel.
furnished the sublimest spectacle Of endurance
and courage that | think Is furnished by the
the annals. Before the battle Lee rode down
the lines, and expressed doubt rs to Gordon
being able to hold his position and conveyed
to him an idea of the Importance of his doing
so. Gordon, turning SO that his men could
hear him, said: Gen. Lee. my men are de-
termined that they will stay here" Then
the battle opened Line after line was thrown
upon Gordons front. But from that da,lnt-
less front they were thrown back as often as
N hey marched against it. The slaughter was
y terrible. The ground was literally blue with
4eorpses OF the enemy, while only six men of
THE right wing Of the regiment were left. But
1.-The line never wavered. The men had come
10 stay" and, dead or alive they were de-
termined TO stay"
4 Gordon was wounded early In the fight. A
lminieball passed through the calf of his leg.
tearing the flesh In most fearful manner.
i The How OF blood was incessant. but he had
no time to stanch the wound. In about half
an hour another ball plunged through the
same leg about foot above whore the other
had gone. The loss of blood from these two
wounds weakened him. but he still kept his
feet and gave his orders calm and clear to his
fueD, who were lying on their faces. An hour
YAter ne was shot again. the ball tearing
Through his left arm making n hdeo,l,
wound and cutting small artery. This dis
f.bled his arm and helped drain his weakened
| ltystem. but still, haggard and bloody, he
ltaggared up and down the line encouraging
Ms men A fourth ball then entered his shout
! Ter, knocking him from his feet His men.
Who saw the crimsoned uniform and pale
bee go down, thought their heroic leader was
titled. With sublime courage, however, he
ltruggled to his feet. and though he had
hardly strength to stand, waved his sword
tbove his head, and called to his men to re-
main firm. Some one ran to him hastily and
laid 1t was rumored up the line that he was
dangerously wounded, and that the men were
Savering. Tell them / am not hurt" he
hid. And 50. through those dreadful hours
al slaughter, with four unstanched wounds
1awing blood from his body. he stood deter
aimed to die with his men and In defense Of
NE part that Lee had confded to his trust
Vas knightlier courage ever shown on field or
mbalmed In letters2 Was knightlipr hero
sm ever displayed2 All, great heart of gold
b, splendid gentleman All, lustrous shin
q souli On that day didst thou win immor-
i glory, even though all else Of thy life were
AT length fifth ball struck Gordon full in
ae face and, entering his cheek. knocked him
useless. He fell, and for some time his
rostrate body was wrapped In the smoke Oh
little.
We hear from Gen. Gordon's own lips n
DRY that, I'm a metaphysical point, is ex-
ledlngly interesting. He says that when he
II he was utterly incapable of moving. He
adnally began to think of his condition.
i'd this Ia the half dream and half soliloquy
lat he carried on:
81 have been struck In the head with q six
lund solid shot. II has carried away IN
'ad. On the left side there is a little piece
skull left. But the brain Is gone entirely.
therefore,, am dead. And yet / am think
Il. How can man think with his head shot
4 Andsff am thinking, l cannot be dead.
nd yet no man can live after his head is shot
/. / may have consciousness while dead,
{ not motion. Ii can lift my leg, then
alive. / will try that. Can1? Yes. there
s--lifted upl I'm all rightr'
che General says that every stage Of this