Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-12
FROM A SOUTHERN GENERAL.
John p. Gordon, who Faced Hancock
at Gettysburg, Praises Bis VaIOr.

John p. Gordon, who Faced Hancock
at Gettysburg, Praises Bis VaIOr.
From the Nelo York Star.
Gen. John B. Gordon, of Georgia, who
was a warm personal friend of Gen. Han
cook, and who opposed him in several
hard fought battles, was in the city when
Gen. Hancock's death was announced.
1t was Gen. Gordon who turned the tide
in favor of tue Confederates on the first
day Of the battle OF Gettysburg. He was
also badly wounded by ball from Han
cocks division at Antietam, and was left
on the battlefield for dead. Gen. Gordon
was Vtetbly moved when told OF the death
OF his One-tlme adversary and afterward
personal friend. III heard OF it," SAID
Gen. Gordon, with great surprise and
with the deepest regret for | did not
know that he was i'll. 1 received a letter
from him only day or two ago, in which
he made no reference to any indispo-
sition."
Glow long have you known Gen. Han
cock, and what is your estimate of him as
a man and as a soldIerY
81 may say that while | had no personal
acquaintance with him before and during
the war, l did in one sense have occasion
to become very familiar with him. 1t was
my fortune to confront him often in bat
tie, but l cannot in a brief interview go
into details. II may be of some interest,
however, to mention the most unique oc-
casion upon which it was my fortune to
meet him. l allude to the dark, rainy
morning of May -, 1864, at SpOttsylvaniR,
when Gen. Hancock, under instructions
frem Gen. Grant, concentrated his
force in front of the salient points occu-
pied by the Confederate force under
the command of Gen. Edward john
stOn. Hancock's assault was made be-
fore daylight. He captured Gen. john
stOn's division, almost the entire works,
fanking the salient, and, getting the ar
tillery, was moving rapidly to the rear of
the COnfederates' line, having cut it in
twain, when | met him with my division,
which at that point was held in reserve
1t was here. in crisis which scarcely
had parallel during the war, that Gen.
Lee rode in front of my command and at
tempted to lead it in cOuntercharge against
Gen. HancOeks troops. l caused Gen.
Lees horse TO be led to the rear, and my
self ordered the charge against Hancock's
advancing column. This charge by my
troops was entirely successful so far as
emy lines reached. 1t secured the posses
sion again by the Confederates of a por-
ton Of the salient, and they recaptured the
artillery.
IL At erward met Gen. Hancock ahd
learned to regard him as one of the most
skillful and daring yet cautious COM
mander in Gen. Grants army. | believed
him, before / knew him personally, to be
a man Of rare military gifts, and l became
still more satisfied of this after making
his personal acquaintance This personal
acquaintance resulted in strong attach
n1ent, and while do not regard him as a
great military genius, do think be was
a very able commander in the field, and
what am Obliged to regard as better than
genius, one Of the most knightly and gen
erous soldiers ever enlisted in any cause.
HE was, of cOuRse, universally esteem
ed by our people at the South because OF
his memorable order, issued while in
command at New Orleans. His memory
will be cherished everywhere in our sec
ton"
"How long since you have seen him ?'
81 have not met him since last fall, or
summer, when he was at my house near
Atlsnta, &C., during his inspection Of
grounds Tor a barracks, recently located
near that city, although | have frequently
cOrresponded with him since on matters
Of public interest. At the time | sneak
OF he was the picture Of health, and GER
tainly one Of the finest specimens Of man
hood i have ever seen. / am glad, in
thinking Of him now, that our people in
Atlanta had an opportunity before his
death to testify their high appreciation Of
his course toward them after the war.
and their esteem also Of his exalted char
acter."
Gen. Gordon also thought that the
Southern people would take prompt ac-
ton regarding his death, and that they
would be well represented at the funeral