Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-03-20
Gordon's Narrow Escapes.

Death passed very close to thousands,
but on none did the DESTROYER Law so
firm "A grip and then release his hold as
on Gen. john Is, Gordon. Whether as u
captain leading bis company or as II
general commanding half of Lees army
the present Governor OF Georgia was
always where the bullets ew thickest
and where death and carnage and hard
lighting were found.
For the first two years Of the war
the life OF General Gordon appeared
to be protected by some omnipo-
tent power In leading his men he
was constantly exposed, and though
others fell on every side of him ho re-.
manned uniDlured. lie was bruised
many times, but never once was 10 drop
OF his blood spilled, His clothes on
several occasions were pierced aud rent
by bullets; his hat twice lifted from his
head, and his canteen was shot from his
side without his being hurt. Finally u
superstition grew among the men that
their leader bore charmed life. And
when the opening shot Mt the battle of
Sharpsburg was fired IL was asserted
that the bullet had never been nodded
that would break the skin Of Gordon.
Before the close Of the great fight,
however, not only one, but many bull
let's had found their billets in his body,
and the Sixth AL bama Regiment, which
he then commanded, mourned bitterly
because they believed, that their leader,
who knew not what fear meant wa
beyond all hope. In that one fight Gen
eral Gordon had more narrow escapes
than almost any man who survived
through the great four years struggle.
At the beginning of the engagement
q shell burst Immediately in front Of
him and large piece struck him fairly
in the chest. A sad bruise was inflicted,
but Gordon never showed that he felt
the pain Of ii and continued at the head
of his men. Shortly after the explo-
sion of the she'll n bullet passed through
the Deshy part Of his right leg, but still
he made no moan. A handkerchief tied
about the limb absorbed the blood and
served to set an example OF endurance
to the men. One hour later bullet
passed through the same leg, between
the leaders and the knee joint; another
bandage was applied and still the COM
mander continued Mt his post. Only
half an hour later and the left arm,
raised 10 emphasize an order, fell use
less, u ball having passed through II.
severing IN its passage every tendon and
also a small artery. The constant loss
of blood made him weak, but the
mighty will conquered pain, and all re-
quests to retire from the light were re-
fused with scorn. Fifteen minutes later
and mimic ball tore through his left
shoulder, breaking in two and leaving
half the lead buried in the bone. Tot
tering and scarcely able to stand Gordon
turned to rally his men and as he did so
the final wound was inflicted. Square
in the left cheek the bullet struck, COM
ing out under the ear AT last the won
derful ply sical energy gave away and
the dauntless commander fell forward,
with his mutilated face buried in his
cap. and so he would have died, drowned
by the blood that flowed so freely for
his country, but for bullet-hole which
had pierced his cap unnoticed and al
lowed the red blood to escape. How
long General Gordon lay there uncon
scious lie never knew, but the sensa-
tions he experienced, us he himself de-
cribes them, must have been very ter
rible. He says that he felt six-pound
shot had carried away his head. He
argued with himself that il his head
was gone he could no longer think, as
the brain must have been destroyed.
Then he concluded that he was dead,
and it was only the immateral part OF
the man lowering above the useless
clay that was thinking. Finally he de-
cded that il he were alive he could
move his legs, but il he We're dead he
had no legs. With great effort he
did move his limbs, and, pierced as they
were, he drew them almost to his chest.
The effort sent the little blood remain
ing in his body TO the brain, aud he re-
covered consciousness only 10 faint
again. When he next came TO himself
he was on litter being taken to tine
rear For seven months General Gordon
remained away from his command. AZ
the end of that time, though the
wounds were only partially healed, he
returned to duty as brigadier general.
He passed through several other des-