The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-06-09
GGyERAL JOHN B GORDON.
70 GREATEST LIVING CONFED-
ERAIE.
+ of A Brilliant Galaxy of Southern
Generals Only a Few
Are Left.

The old school of southern gentlemen
ast passing away. | refer to that dis
oot class. those cultivated, chivalrous
orosentatiyes of the old southern aris-
cacv, who, when the report of Fort
bmter's guns echoed throughout their
Ioved southland, went forth to battle
home and honor. The sun never
me on Drawer soldiery and finer
he of manhood has never written it's
crd in blood upon the pages of histo-
lust as King Richard and his fellow
psaderS we've a distinct class, just as
Lomwell and the roundheads were a
stnct class, in history, SO are these
suatOn barons of ante bellum days in
south we'll marked type. They
ere largely an OutgrOwth of the condi-
ODs Of the ole regime no doubt, and
men OF today may be just as admira-
e in their way, but the characteristics
the hot bloOded secessi0nists were
ade part of the worlds history in the
eaeSt war of modern times, and no
le can read its pages without recogniz-
b the imprint of rare and high-mind-
gentry The new conditions will
eCeSSarily make, and the world needs.
leB men, in many respects, but true
lwgesS should not substitute a sboddv
AeWfOr first class old, and it is to be
Oped that the southern manhood of the
FnTe, in the march of material progress,
III not fall one jOt below the standard
% them by their predec essors in that
gh and sensitive love of honor. that
pivaIrous regard for wOmanhood which
ded such lustTe to the cavaliers of
Ol The qualities which l speak were
pStrated in the persOnelle of the con-
era'e commanders in nearly every in
pee, and this it was that enabled them
INSPIRE such unparalleled valor and de-
Jon IN their ranks. It. is but necessa-
70 mention the name of cluster of
81 heroes for y u to catch my full
ming; Lee, Stouewall Jackson, "Jeb''
war; AShOy, Mosby, Pelham, Beaure-
d Joseph E. Johnston, Gordon, Fitz-
% Lee, Hill-a few froln out a glori-
host.
Pnly few stars still shIue with us in
out OF brilliant galaxy of confeder
generals, the larger part of then
nTadeS having, in the words of Stone
j Jackson, 'passed over the river and
III Tie shade OF the trees" OF the
mat are left us che foremost name is
@'0' John B. Gordon; he whose star
glory waXed as the confederacy waa.
IV"chl9g It's Tesplendent zenith in
z ~ last great charge of Gordon's and
'sS''ee' divisions at AppOmattox
y" 'oiaon, the meteor, shot through
pu' Gordon of bayonets, aud after
"uS his way triumphantly through
nI'eS OF federal troops was ordered
'''o nag of truce by General Lee:
'HuS the very last scene of that
struggle against overwhelming
was only an additional tribute the
D"olI'ty of the southern soldiery,
'''lN the flag of truce was raised
'Oe victorious onslaught of the
ping Gordon.
~ right here l am reminded Of an
LEM connected with Appomattox
'''o"S some light on the condi-
one confederate laundry at that
"neh General Gordon was hand
order from General Lee to cease
ISL ruu raise a flag of truce in pursu-
! an understanding lust had witb
j. i. ~ Ezra Grant General Gordon turned
49, ''' and ordered him to ro;so =
\, ,a'ss hag, The man replied ", "c ra,se
]. u. zen got one" "A band, GENERA
s,ss. SAL sad the general. NO n narVm'or'
81 . EITHER general" even D s;r tear
4 n oo5 "it's flannel Shirt ''a gsU rSa.
r oTt9red'" well, sir, don't Stand
IS. Shirt s "AIl the otber n' a peo in
ne % fix as myself" rep ,ied' tb Are sol M
sbiob last ne succeeded in finding 4.
p palon might have been wbitn a.
to ,ou Oh Its existence, and it hap
!. 50 serve serve the purpose. zap
70 b osen the good fortune of the
10 nave been associated with u c 'no
, 1oraon in the close relation an " of =
f. 'p 55 to his chief, and as % one
'J bt mad every opportunity Of oh.
Ill., I',D as a public man in his deal
Il III, tn public men, as business s m uY",-
Tue citizen at ks own e,a ,-l",