The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-10-11
GORDON SAVED Y0EK
And Protected Wrightsville from the
Flames.

When General Gordon was shown q
newspaper reference to his York, Penn.
aylvania, experience, in which it was
stated that that town was saved from
destruction by some intercession or con
tract rade with him by some of the citi
zeus, he expressed surprise at any such
statement, and in answer to questions
oaid:
tMy troops were in advance of Gen.
eral Lees army. We had been sent some
distance ahead and we entered York on
Sunday morning just as the people we're
un their way to church.
"My command had marched from
Richmond almost literally without bag
gage and in the hot July sun upon dusty
turppikes. They were, therefore, covered
With dust and with the fine powder
ground by wheels on the macadamized
lime roads, their heads and clothes and
horses all being made the same color by
this dust. Many of them were bare
footed, and altogether it was the most
forbiding looking set of men, doubtless,
that had ever entered the streets of that
town. had not myself had an opportu.
nifty of changing my clothes in many
days.
'sIt is easy to imagine, therefore, what
& panic was created by this rough, dust
Legrimed body of men. As I rode along
The main streets, which were crowded
with men, women and children in Sun.
day attire, the contrast between our
appearance and theirs vas most striking.
No wonder it created a panic, and / have
nsver seen population more alarmed.
SIN the heastvii.is'',s i',s cisg on the main
square, was q vast gathering a6daa aSs:sIss rs
10 relieve the population from apprehens
.ion, I halted the column and made them
speech from my horse. The faces Of
the men were full of an expression of
apprehension, the women of alarm and
the children of terror. I said to them, in
substance:
GENERAL GoRDoN's SPEECH TO THE
PEOPLE.
Ladies and Gentlemen of York: 1t
Is doubtless a most painful sight to you
to:see a hostile army in your midst. !
beg you to remember, however, that you
have been accustomiDg our eyes to such
sights for aeveral years past. I wish to
assure you, however, that General Lee
and the Confederate soldiers have enter
ed your State in no spirit of retaliation.
We are here simply to fight the armies
which are invading our soil and destroy.
ing our homes. The men who are before
you in dusty gray uniforms, barefooted
many of them and ragged, are gentlemen
and the sons Of gentlemen. They are
actuated by no mean spirit, but by the
loftiest conception Of duty that ever
moved men in any war-that of self.
defense. I beg to assure you that no
private property will be disturbed that
TO private home will be entered, and if
;9ne woman in this city is insulted by one
Of these soldiers, promise you the head
Of such man. They have just read in
the Philadelphia Inquirer of this morn.
Ing of the destruction, by order Of Fed.
eral commanders, of the town of Buford,
South Carolina, and of Darien, Georgia.
Some of these men were citizens Of
Darien, and naturally feel some indigna.
ton at the destruction of their homes,
but as have already stated there is in
their hearts no spirit of retaliation, and
they fight only the men with arms in
their hands,