The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-23
GORDON AT cHIoAMAUaA.
me Fest Loved OF All the Surviving
Confederate Generals.
.Fronl the Globe Democrat.

The E6SL A-OHCN - ~-@-
Confederate Generals.
From the GIobe-Democrdt.
Gordon was the central figure OF the con-
--.n+ion and Of the reunion. OF all the
,;rinz ex.confederates to-day he is easily
,ba first general officer in the affections OF
re rank and file He was the John A
7 IAN OF the south-the great volunteer
l-sreraI in the service of the confederacy
20 southern states were full OF vest
Pointers when the war came on. MiIitaF5
a5rcation was esteemed more highly a
,,rereoulsite Tor promotion IN the conIeder-
ete service than in the union army. JeHer-
I'm Davis had graduated at west folnt,
ID saved in the regular army, and mad
no, secretary of war He had the usual
West Point prejudice against the volu teer
officer. But Gordon, going at the head OF
q cornpany. rose By hard ngatlhg anu
,,erirs as a commander to the rank OF
lieutenant general.
There was pathetic scene IN the conVen-
tion lust as adjournment was declared AFTER
rha onanipg session. A body Of men came
c-ovvdinr M the main aisle and pushing
their wav to the edge of the platform. They
had wild look about them, from Their
sIouch hats down to their heavy boots
Every man of them wore on his coat white
badge with ''R r" in big black letters,
"Gin'rul! Gin'rul" they called as they
got up to the platform, holding out their
hands.
Gordon came forward and began to shake
hands with them. Fearful grios they gave
him. PEOPLE stood around and smiled sym
pathetically. Little was said by either Tor
don or the mountaineers.
"Glnrull Ginrulw one would call out.
az know YOU. jim" Gordon said, and
then the hands would meet In wrenchlng
clasp.
And while some were shaking hands
others were pattlug Gordon's knees, ruo-
hing their hands up and down his pantaloon
legs and looking up in his face with most
EXPRESSIVE grins. For ten minutes the
Raccoon Roughs and their old commander
held a reunion, in which few words were
exchanged, some tears were shed and good
deal OF pantomine emotion was manifested.
Suddenly one of the widest in the lot look
ing around said: "Come on, boys, let's go
down to Macks." And away the supremacy
happy party tramped
Gordon was the II of Baptist minister.
When the war broke out he was a young
man aud was trying to develop coal mine
in the north west corner of Georgia, in the
heart OF the region which has since become
famous by the sudden development Of its
mineral resources. Up there in the moun-
tains Gordon recruited company of ma
tives. When the young captain ana his fol-
Every man in tie command wore a cap
made of a raccoon skin, and the tail hung
down behind. The Raccoon Roughs was
the name given to the company, and it was
accepted cheerfully by the captain and his
men. The Roughs reached Virginia in
time to participate in the opening of the
war. Four years later, when Lee made his
final offensive demonstration south of Apo
matox, Gordon's division charged breast
works and took them. Then came the flag
of truce and surrender. The young captain
with the 'coonskin cap won the right to
wear the three stars on his coat collar
Gordon is q ine-looking nan. The deer
scar just below the left eve adds to the
strength of his face rather than distigures.
Nature gave him better setting upn than
he could have acquired at West Point, and
he looks every CHI q soldier" The scar
is one Of five "reminiscences Of Antietam
which he carries. In that bat le he was on
the front line encouraging his men when a
mimic ball ploughed through the calf of his
right leg. Without stopping even &c
bandage he kept on. A ball went through
a little higher, and two red streams trick ed
down. Then he was shot through the left
arm, and n few moments afterward a
furrow was turned IN his shoulder.
Fire on and fire fast, boys, I'm not
going to leave you" he said, as he saw his
men looking anxiouslv at bis dripping
wounds. Then the fifth ball struck him
fairly in the face, crashing through the
cheek bone. Gordon was carried off the
field for dead. He was so far gone that he
did not know what vas occurring for DAYS
atterward. He came to consciousness il
Winchester, and got back to the army
after months of nursing.
The United Confederate Veterans chost
Gordon to be the general of the organiza-
tlon for the ensuing year. And then the
Raccoon Roughs presented him with t
'coon-skin for luck. His reply TO them was
Il had rather live and die with place il
your hearts than be commander of all the
world. My only hope is that when | die il
may be written on my tomb: Here lies the
body of confederate soldier who did hi.
duty"
Inc presence of the Raccoon Roughs al
the reunion was surprise to everybody
but the man who planned it. Mai. j. L.
McCollum, one of the substantial and pros
porous citizens of Chattanooga. wore tn,
'coon-skln cap in his early fighting DAYS
He conceived tho idea of putting m so1nf
tents on his lawn, bringing the noun
tanners to Chattanooga for the reunion
and making them his guests. The plan was
carried out. The r. Rs. took the CITY
W neneVer The strains on their minds be
came too severe some of them would saw
Come on, boys, let's go back to Mack's.
ana away the Roughs would trail to theil
camp and rest awhile The cnlminatin,
event OF the reunion for the Roughs wa
Wnen they, had group photograph taker
WIN Ctordon IN their midst upon the Nc
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