New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-23
Johnny BOUQUETS WALKS.
THE BRAvEsr GENERAL OF THE LINE.

Happening on General Gordon, of Georgia, twice
elected United States Senator, at the ST. james
Hotel. asked him if BIO was not going to help the
old Carthaginian get rid of couple of bouquets
" 1 don't know, Johnny" said he, but you may
come up and see Mrs. Gordon. who likes flowers, and
perhaps she will take something from you"
Mrs. Gordon is a charming specimen Of Georgian
lady. She has mouthiul Of the most perfect teeth
one can see anywhere. With the slender and grace
ful BODY Of a girl, and the shy, yet engaging man.
Of buntress, she is said to be already grand
mother. During the war she went with Gordon TO
the camp and lived with him and the family among
the troops scarcely retiring in the time of battle.
She has been fine hOrsewoman from childhood and
still rides at her Georgia farm constantly. Her
youngest boy was born on the might Of the last often
sIye movement in the rebel lines at Petersburg, and
as the General says, the ev mt announced with
greater salute of cannon than greeted the birth of
any of the Napoeons or R0manotfs
General Gordon is one Of the most popular
men who ever sat in the Senate. Although
tho bravest OF the brave on tho rebel side he has
never been aggressive in his nature since he re-
entered civil life and has always been for placatng
and restoring good feeling. and therefore lac left the
Senate without an enemy. lie was INNING coal aud
iron in Northern Alabama when the war broke out,
aud was made captain IN the line. His mannersand
address made him the pet.Of the army, while his de-
termined yet quiet quality a fighter rapidly pro-
NOTED him. and he has been one oil the best shot men
in the country
asked Mrs. Gordon if she did not suffer good
deal during the war; seeing MIN frequently go out
to battle with the prospect of coming back before
her dead in few minutes or hours
eyes" she said. 81 had much suffering. Every
time he left me thought 1t might be the last; but
had rather have seen him brought home dead than
to run"
"She is the best soldier of the two" cried the
General, laughing. I" She can beat me now at a
foot race" heard it said too. that Gordon and his
wife were never separated in a marriage Of twenty
six years. over four weeks at time"
BADLY WOUNDED MAN.
"Where did you get that hole in your face, Gen.
eral y
AT Autietam. Johnny. Ipretty nearly came to
my end there, and Mrs. Gordon was very close 10
being widow. was shot through the calf OF the
leg early in the day, and although it did not pain
mo- 1t gave me the impression of having torn my
whole leg Of my body. such was the shock Then
got a hole further up the leg and was next shot in
the arm. and then nearly had my shoulder torn OIL
| felt as if had gone to pieces then, and thought
they were putting it altogether rather hard on hle
when got this ball in my face. and IL broke me all
up, and came out below my Garland that was the
last | knew for some time"
Where were you, Mrs Gordon when he got all
those woundsp
81 was at Richmond, but hearing Of the battle
pushed on TO Winchester, and when / arrived there
the doctors told me the General would probably
have 10 die that he had refused TO come off the
field and had been drained of almost every drop OF
blood before he was disabled, walking about there
1, bola III aiv
hours and bleeding all the time. The doctors told
ne | must lie very cautious and not disturb his
nerves. When knocked ut the door of his room in
Winchester, hi, voice came up Just as naturally as
ever heard it. crying: Come in opened the door,
and there no lay, with his leg trussed up, and his
arm ;russcd up and bis face perfect mass of blood,
bruises and distortion. Hal hal MOilIe.' he said,
here is your handsome man do look AT him! he
has been To an Irish fair"
"General.n said Johnny, you must have suffered
greatly while recovering from all those wounds"
non. yes; for a long time The constant weak
ness almost worse than death, was, perhaps the
greatcst afiiction-iOr weeks and weeks and months
to o there and expect every breath you drew should
be the last. Ny jaw could not chew and was kept
alive on brandy and beef tea"
and yet said Mrs. Gordon. he went back to
the sano place before he was quite WELL and then
wounded again. wanted him TO come ont of the
war honoraby. but was in hopes when he went OF
after those wounds, that no would turn out not
strong enough keep the field; yet he continued to
grow better after he took the field again, and 80 lie
went right through the war;"
Here | may say that Gordon was tho General
chosen to make the last big charge Of the war at
AppomattoX and Just at the moment of moving in
as the Federal cavalry drew oil 10 either sidc the
long blue lines OF the Sixth Corps were unroled and
it was seen that the COnfederates would DO swal-
lowed upin lead and fire. Then, fortunately
the word came not 60 attack, as negotiations were
proceeding.
FROM GRAVE TO GAY"
General Gordon said TO me: Johnny, l hope
never t. 70 through such a war ~ that again.
don't believe could stand it now. hut then we don't
know. Some scenes arise on my mind if they
never could have happened. often think of SpOtt-
sylvania where have seen my men standing ON
the dead bodies OF their comrades loading and firing
utterly Indifferent to the death below them, the
death in front of them. and the death everywhere.
The dead bodies lying down outside the works,
in the ditch, which WAS half filled with water, and
there soaking in tho rain, the dead men lay and
their friends were using their bodies TO get little
elevation In putting in that terrific work. Yet" said
the General there were somo right funny scenes in
that war; Did ever tell you about the man coming
in only to look at my camp
1--WE were on the Rapidan River. where 1t was a
little stream, hardly 100 feet wide. General Lee
sent ME word that must go out and break up the
on between our pickets aud the enemys.
They had got to tradng with each other in news
oapers. tobacco, lies and whatever would vary the
OF picket life. They would not shoot at
each other, and 80 1t was not military like. SO l
started out one morning on my horse and rode the
whole length of the picket line, and just as came
to a certain point saw that there was confusion
and surprise. as IL had not been expected. What
is the matter. men, here asked Nothing, Gen.
era nothing is here' You must tell the truth
said am not welcome. see, and there must be
some reason for it. Now, what is the natter
L.. "