The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-12-05
TOLD BY GEN. GORDON.
"Reminiscences OF the Confederacy as Mar
rated by one OF its Leaders.
From the Wheeling mtelIigencer.

uldJUI u1ltCuCll OluAOl bhUlS Ouoo o"J
he entertained the guests present with
anumber a of rcminisceces that were not
so much as touched upon in his lee
ture. In response to request from
Judge Melvin he told Of an expert
ence he went through in the Shenan-
doah Valley at time that Gen. Early
ordered him to storm Federal fort in
their front.
"I never was more indignant in my
life" said Gen. Gordon, ethan
when I heard that order. l knew it
was perfectly unnecessary thing to
do, and explained to Gen. Early that
we could accomplish our plan Of cam
paigh without slaughtering my COM
mand by this attempt to storm a strong
position, a position that would fall of
itself when we should make our pro-
per movement. Early took no other
notice of my explanation than to send
me word that if I did not care to exc
cute the order he would delegate its
execution to some one else. You may
guess this reply made me boil with
fresh indignation. I felt it to be an
insult, but inasmuch as it was my place
to obey his orders, regardless Of conse-
quences, I issued the necessary in
struction for a movement at daylight
next morning.
"I began on my own account max
ing every preparation for death, for |
had presentiment that [ would this
time meet my end. So I wrote fare
we'll letter to my wife, told her what
to do about my affairs, handed over
my watch and other personal effects
to friend, and then walked up and
down quarters, waiting for day to
break and my command to move.
That was o solemn night for me, for |
had this firm presentiment that it was
my last night on earth. [ felt almost
as certain Of this as man condemned
to death, and can now pretty well un-
derstand how man feels when he is
to be executed in few hours. | al
ways had, in every battle of my life,
a sense of the danger to which l was
exposed. I never knew what it was
to forget it; but this time [ felt as |
never had before, that my time had
come, and no mistake.
$50 at daylight I took up my line
of march to my death, as l fully ex-
pected. On we went, closer and
closer to the fort, until at last we
were within closed range Of it's guns.
I wondered that they did not open on
us, and every second 1 expected to
see them belch forth shot and shell
and play havoc in our ranks. On we
went my eyes were fixed on the guns
and my mind excited to its highest
tension with wonderment why they
did not open fire. On we went until
our advance struck the fort and rush
ed upon it's defenccs, when to our
utter amazement, we discovered that
it had been evacuated and not Fed
eral was anywhere in sight, inside or
out. You can imagine my sense OF
relief as I saw my boys in possession
of the fort without so much as a
scratch. So you see what a PRESENT.
ment is worth. I have never much
believed in them since that night. .
Col. Robert McEldowney, who was
present, referred to the attack on Fort
stedman, at Petersburg, just before
the close of the war, (where, by the
way, he was wounded } which attack
was made by Gen. Gordon's command: |:
"Tell US about that, General" said
genial Col. Bob, and SO the Genera!
proceeded to answer another demand
on on him for experiences. (All the
dining party agreed that they could
listen to him for week.) 'That at
tack" said the General, "was made
in February, 1865, when we were IN
our last gasp and very desperate.
Gen. Lee had sent for me in the night
after midnight-to come to his
quarters. It was bitter cold night,
and 1 set out on a gallop to get out OF
the intense cold as soon as possible.
Lee occupied little brick house in
the environs of Petersburg, and as
opened the door of his room, after he
had answered my knock, I found him
standing by an open fireplace, resting
his head on his arm on q hlgh-uI
mantle, and apparently in deep and
sad study over the situation.
"'I have sent for you, said he, to
look over these reports from our varl'
GUS commands. I have spent the
night on them and on these maps,
pointing to long table covered with
papers; on which a light was burning
'You will see,' he said, that they are
very discouraging. The men have
scarcely anything to eat. A single
ration is made to supply six men, and
the camps are full Of sick and starved
soldiers. Our horses are also dying
for food, and when we lose horse
we practically lose his rider, for VIC
can make no further disposition Of
him Of course I was more or less
familiar with the situation in my OWL
command, but did not know that II
was so bad in all the rest. Sol said t(
Gen. Lee that Of course the situation
was very desperate, and that l sup
posed we would have to do something
very soon. We'll, said he, fixing hi
eyes very intently upon me, what d'
think we ought to do ? I replied
'One Of three things, General, righ
away. Either to make the best term:
we can get from Gen. Grant, or to re-
treat and try to unite with Gen. John
ston, or to fight. And which woule
you advise p said he. I would frs
try a fight I replied. He medita
lively remarked, as if to try my ear
nestness in the matter (Which was
habit he had), so you would advls
fighting p Yes, I said as cholc'
Of three evils He had been to Rich
mond and had laid the matter befor'
Mr.. Davis. I asked him what tn
President thought. 'Oh, he remark
ed, he is pertinacious as to the ide
of holding out longer and fighting fur
ther. And as for the members o
Congress, they do not know nor appre
ciate the situation at all. So I SUI +
pose the only thing left for us to do
to fight, and I will let you arrang
for an attack on Fort Stedman a
once.
NCo rotnrnnd To nv nuarterS an