Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-13

exposed, and though others teu on
every side of him he remained unin-
jured. He was bruised many times,
but never once was drop of his blood
spilled. His clothes on several occa-
sions were pierced and rent by bullets,
his hat was twice lifted from his head
and his canteen was shot from his side
without his being hurt. Finally SUI
perstition grew among the men that
their leader bore o charmed life. And
when the opening shot at the battle of
Sharpsburg was fired it 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
lets had found their billets in his body.
and the Sixth Alabama Regiment,
which he then commanded, mourned
bitterly because they believed that
their leader, who knew not what fear
meant, was beyond all hope. In that
one fight General Gordon had more
narrow escapes than almost any other
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 fair
1y in the chest. A bad bruise was in
ficted, but Gordon never showed that
he felt the pain of it, and continued at
the head of his men. Shortly after the
explosion Of the shell bullet passed
through the heshy part of his right
leg, but still he made no moan. A
handkerchief tied about the limb alb
sorbed the blood and served to set an
example of endurance to the men. One
hour later ball passed through the
same leg, between the leaders and the
knee joint; another bandage was APP
piled, and still the commander contin-
ued at his post. Only half an hour
later and the left arm, raised to en-
phasize an order, fell useless, ball
having passed through it, severing in
it's passage every tendon and also a
small artery. The constant loss Of
blood made him weak, but the mighty
wall conquered pain, and all requests
to retire from the fight were refused
with scorn. Fifteen minutes later and
MIME ball tore through his left
shoulder, breaking it in two and leav-
ing half the lead buried in the bone.
Tottering 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, coming out under the ear. Al
last the wonderful physical energy
gave way, and the dauntless comman.
der fell forward, with his mutilated
face buried in his cap, and so he would
have died, drowned by the blood that
flowed so freely, but for bullet-hole
which had pierced his cap unnoticed
and allowed the red fluid to escape.
How long General Gordon lay there
unconscious he never knew, but the
sensations he experienced, as he him
self describes them, must have beer
terrible. He says he felt that /
six-pound shot had carried away hi.
head. He argued with himself that i
his head was gone he could no Longer
think, as the brain must have been de
stroyed. Then he concluded that. h,
was dead, and it was only the i'm
material part of the man still hoverin(
over the useless clay that was think
ing; finally he decided that if he wer'
alive he could move his legs, but If b,
were dead he had no legs. With ,
great effort he did move his limbs and
pierced as they were, he drew then
almost to his chest. The effort sen
the little blood remaining in his bod,