The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-06-09

his face to the foe. General Gordon
promised to see that the message was
delivered if he himself lived through the
battle. He then left Barlow, as he sup
posed, to die. That night Mrs. Barlow
came to the confederate camp in search
OF her husband and Gordon delivered
his message. A year later Barlow, who
had in the meanwhile decided not to die,
read in the papers ttat General j. B.
Gordon, of the confederate army, was
killed in certain battle. The Gordon
referred to was a North Carolina man
ADD cousin of General Gordon of Geor-
gia. Barlow, however, not knowing this.
took it for granted that it was his Get
tysburg friend.
Fourteen years after this Gordon of
Georgia was hOnOred with seat in the
United States senate. At this time he
and Barlow had been dead to each other
fourteen and fifteen years respectively,
Congressman Clarkson Potter of New
York invited Gordon to be present at a
banquet in honor of his friend, General
Barlow, of New York. "Barlow?" said
Gordon to himself. Eyes, that's the
name. But it can't be my Barlow.
left him dying at Gettysburg. It's some
body else's Barlow, surely" At the ban
quet, however, the dead Barlow and the
dead Cord on were each resurrected. Up-
on their learning the truth, in General
Gordon'S words, "the scene that follow
ed beggars description" Surely, truth
is stranger than fiction.
When Lee made that famous advance
into Pennsylvania, which ended with
Gettysburg, Gordon's command pushed
further into the interior than any other
part of the army. When he reached
the town of Wrightsvile he found con-
siderable part of it in flames, the retreat
ing federals having fired the bridge over
the river at that point and the fire had
caught the town. The inhabitants
were completely terrified when they
found themselves in the hands of the
| hated confederates, whom they felt sure
would complete the work their own SOL
diers had unintenticnally begun, besides
committing every conceiu able atronitv
upon their persons and property. A
party Of brave Pennsylvania women de.
cided to try the effect of their tears and
entreaty upon the confederate chieftaiu
n defense OF their homes, and sought
him out with this end in view. Much &c
| their surprise they were received with
the utmost gentleness ard courtesy
| They could hardly believe their senses
when, making known their appeal, the
gallant leader assured them that they
were as safe from harm as if their tow1
we're occupied by Grant himself, anc
that he had already ordered his men tC
surround the burning district and pu
out the fire. And he added Ladies'
while, as true southerner, l cannO
make war on women and old men,
have just been advised that the town OF
Darien, Ga, my home state, defended al
this one is, has been burned TO thu
SlOuhut ny Tue nJFIn6rn troops.
Having made such wonderful record
rs military leader in the civil" war
having since served his native state
| twice as United States senator and twice
as governor, never being defeated at the
polls, and having come through all will
honor and credit; who can question the
right Of his friends 20 term him "tht
greatest living confederate" now tha
| those who stood above him in point o.
military rank have passed away?
And, in conclusion, there is still less
room for doubt OF the statement that the
magnificent manic ID Of the old sOutt
referred to above has not left us a more
creditable representative than we have
in the person of the brave and generous,
the noble and knightly John B. Gordon.
ARNISTEAD BROWN