The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
CHINESE ORDONASAREB
now THE FAMOUS MAN BECAME
A CONFEDERATE COLONEL.

a CONFEDERATE COLONEL.
His Appearance n Riehr-ous-Csrr,es Hi-
Credentials n Hts shoe Hsei-His First
Hsttie Gsined n Co-uission Tor HI- o.
ths weaker side.
From the Washington Post.
The city of Washington Is a sort Of Valha1le,
TO which old heroes. military and naval, come
20 enjoy rest and ease after long service, hard
knocks. often hard luck. and few thanks; and
here. when they have hung up their swords Or
hauled down their flags. the fine old fellows con-
Vregate to pass the placid evening Of their lives
in well-earned comfort and quiet. People who
are fortunate enough to be on Intimate terms
with these ripe and Jolly generals and admirals
OF the generation that is passing away. hear
many a stirring tale of camp. campaign. or
prison, many q thrilling narrative OF sea eight,
cyclone. or wreck upon desert shores; for the
dear old boys love TO fight their battles DER
again, and live over their adventures amid the
gentle roar OF the chsHng-dish. the sanRuinary
discharge of grape" and the smoke and Are Of
right Havana.
Among such royal companions and charming
raconteurs few are better known In the veteran
set than stout and hearty old Gen. B, whose
modesty would resent q closer Identification.
His career as q soldier has been long, varied,
and brilliant. II commenced with Scott. when
InHI COMMANDER was btut W NUt ITOhIltF
during the Canadian rebellion Of 1887. and con-
tinued through Indian outbreaks. the Mexican
war, and the civil war, in which last the subject
OF this sketch was prominently identified with
the losing side.
One evening a short time ago. after an enjoya-
BILE small but not early bachelor dinner. the GEN
eral happened to be In storytelling humor. when
somebody made reference to the late Gen. Cor
don in connection with current and historical
events in China. The reference at once ELECTED
the following Incident In Gordon's adventurous
life. which I do not think has ever been published
before. | give the anecdote in the language of
Gen. b rs nearly as I can rccollect II:
Early In the autumn OF 1862 ! wa, stationed
In Richmond. havinE been wounded and In
enough sound men to Ro around, even that early
In the war. and fellows circumstance rs | was
until we could recover sufficiently to pitch In
again. so, at the time mentioned, ] was acting
MS Provost Marshal OF the Confederate capital.
I remember that we were not feeling ~particu-
larly happy one day, because Longstreet, who
was operating against, and advancing toward
Harper's Ferry. could not be communicated
with. On the day before and the day before
that, the secretary of War had despatched
messengers had been killed; and one morning
very early was on my way to the Secretary's
Walking up the street | noticed a man APP
preaching me. who. when, within q short dis
lance. halted and removed his hat with u gesture
and salute that have been more or less familiar
To men of certain affiliations ever since Solomon
had n supervising architect, Well, the stranger
OF her Britannia Majesty's artillery service. whu
had slipped in the night before to see something
asked him how he managed to get across the
lines, and he informed me that he had cut away
from the nnds In ,hm gd iGfess ana nSa s sT q i hns S James
faithfulness. Then I told him that he came to me
very appropriately, as | happened to be Provost
Marshal of the district, and was even then on
my way to the Secretary, Of War. TO whom
an opportunity to identify himself I should be
compelled TO consider him as under arrest
since we had been much troubled with people
from Great Britain, but who had turned out to
be something quite unpleasantly different. He
10 ssrt sSe 70 %s sn'' once Sars' t S%ssilp SnS S Sem Msnso ON
looked every inch a soldier, notwithstanding his
ali old battered straw hat. a suit OF blue jeans,
and a pair Of coarse brogans. However, we were
not critical on the subject OF clothes In those
days.
Arrived at the secretary's Office. we found the
place crowded. although II was not yet so'clock.
Minister at once. and to him ! detailed my meet
ing with the strange guest who had managed 80
my's lines and through and within. our owns-
both being very strictly and carefully, guard
ested. and had the young EpgIishman brought
before him. The peculiar SolomOnic salutation
who himself was high up in the cult. We then
questioned the intruder closely. asking him how
he proposed 70 satisfy us that he was what he
only required a small ~screwdriver To dispose. of
amy doubt we might entertain as to his identity
The screwdriver being forthcoming, he scraped
away a patch Of black cement from the heel of
one of his shoes. disclosing the head of a screw,
which he removed with a few turns OF the
screwdriver. The screw out, the heel dropped,
being hinged to the m shank Mhfc Of the Rslhi9ae, and dis,
a small packet covered with thin India rubber
and oiled silk; We examined the contents.
tials certifying the bearer to be Capt. Gordon
OF the Royal Artillery, on leave with priv
dence was complete. and that matter being
satisfactorily arranged, took Capt. Cor
fast. OF which he stood badly in need. such a
modest repast rs the famous hostelry could pro-
duce in war times was easily disposed Of and we
were soon back with the Secretary, who heard
the account OF GOrdon's successful raid into
our stronghold with great interest, but FASTENED
soldier and a gentleman your lips are sealed,
and we shall ask you nothing about matters on
spent several months with the Federal army,
and had been present at a number OF battles, but
he had reached the eonclusion that we had the
more serious work of the two armies cut out for
us, and so he had determined To get over and
join MS. He had about two years Of his leave
unexpired, and he meant to see all he could In
The secretary told him that we had a better
but what we could always use was men who
could fight and undertake special duty. reqnlr-
ing military training and high intelligence. The
young Englishman replied that he was not am
bilious OF rank In the Confederate service, but
wanted a chance 70 see the fighting and study
this end he was willing TO take any duty that he
might be allowed TO. The Secretary then ex-
planned his anxiety TO get dispatches TO Gen.
longstreet, and spoke Of the fate of the ~cOuriers
who had essayed the same duty and persisted.
He asked Gordon II he thought he could ind
LOngstreet, TO which the young man responded
that he felt sure he could II he could see a topo-
map Of the country to be traversed, |
and, further. could have the company OF one
OF those splendid black fellows OF yours" ia
with the territory.
In another hour the future hero OF the Chinese
rebellion and OF Khartoum had his dispatches
securely fastened In his blue jeans and was on
his way to the front. His route was besieRed
with difficulties. The direct line toward Long
street was, at the best, debatable ground, with
the enemy across IL in many places to a certain
~. This made IL necessary for Gordon TO de- |