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

lne lOllOWlUR SKetCn OR Ueu. GOrOOn
we copy from that excellent paper, THE
Baitimoreaa; and in addition thereto we
would recall to the minds of our people
his noble, untiring and successful efforts
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 it 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. He cannot be long
in arriving at o conclusion. The palm
must be awarded to General John B.
Gordon, who mentally and physically, is
entitled to the term distingue. OF splen.
did physique, intellectual forehead, and
a strikingly handsome face, only slightly
marred by scar upon one cheek, caused
by wound received in battle, he would
be selected from among thousand of his
fellows, as head aud shoulders taller than
all the rest.
General Gordon is q 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-four years
of age, having been born in Upson coun-
ty, Georgia, on the 9Th day of February,
At the breaking out of the late war
he raised regiment of cavalry for the
Confederate service, but as that branch
of the military force WAS not then re-
| ouired, he organized body of infantry,
offered it to the Governor of his State,
and went into the field with his troops,
who received the nickname of "Raccoon
Roughs," all the men having been raised
| on Raccoon Mountain.
In 1862 Gordon, as Colonel, led his
men into the famous battle of the Seven
Pines, during which two-thirds of his
command we're either killed or wounded.
When General Rodes was 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 Lees march into Maryland,
Gordon was the first to cross the Poto.
mac, and, for his. coolness, 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 five
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 Bayard of the army, charac-
ter given the lamented Ksarney on the
Federal side.
Upon recovering, Gordon was made q
Brigadier- General, and invested with the
command of the Georgia Brigade. A
month later he was in command al
Mary's Hill, in front OF Fredericksburg
where he captured the heights by a bril-.
liant charge.
In 1864 he Won his richest laurels on the
stormy lines of the Rapidan. The Con-
federate troops had been obliged to re-
treat after long engagement. Gordon
saw the condition of affairs; and suddenly
turning his men. he charged upon the
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 as gallant q
speech as was ever spoken by conquer.
or, concluding with the assurance: 81
pledge you that not one private dwelling
will be burned or robbed. So we'll do
know these men, can safely promise
the head of any one of them who insults
a lady.
In 1867, General Gordon was che Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor of Geor.
gia /; his party claimed his election by q
large majority, but the opponent, Rufus
| 8. Bullock, was declared elected.
He was a member of the National
Democratic Convention of 1868, from
Georgia, and delegate-at-large to the
Convention of 1872.
He was elected to the United States
| Senate in that year, and took his seat
in March following succeeding Joshua
Hill, Republican.
General Gordon is one of the most re-
markable men in that body, and will be
sure to take an advanced position upon all
questions affecting the honor and pros!
perity of the country. He is true rep
resentative of the intelligence and.integ-
rity of the South.