The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-24
MRS, JOHN B, GORDON
TALKS OF WAR EXPERIENCE

cided to carry him to Winchester, 81
miles. SO an ambulance was fitted up
with straw and mattress, and thus we
! moved our patient-the physician. the
J nurse detailed soldier and I-all with
him in the ambulance, and little Frank
we made the trip stopping at night at
some place on the way, and moving him
! with great difficulty out and into the
| wagon.
i "How desperated i'll he was! For sew
| eral weeks he grew worse. His system
was exhausted. You see, he had fought
all day at Sharpsburg, with four wounds
bleeding freely, without so much as STOP
! ping to wrap a handkerchief around
them. And so the last wound, which
was i'm the face. and which knocked him
senseless, found him also with great loss
of blood.
But in three months we had him well
again, and again came the battlefield and
| the suspense and horrible anxiety.
1T was at Sharpsburg that he won his
title of general, was it not, Mrs. Cor
| DOM"
Yes. at Sharpsburg," was the reply;
and there was pardonable note of pride
in the simple words.
Mrs Gordon. did you have no trying
times in the way of lack of money some
times?"
mo; / always held to my gold. And
even after the last sad battle | had a
ten-dolar gold piece. That piece of gold
| kept, too. for years: and only short
l,,t OF
.'Would it he too much to ask for a
glimpse of the silver service presented
to General Gordon by the people of
South Carolina" ! asked presently.
sWhy. certainly not" was the cordial
reply: and passing through the spacious
hall Mrs Gordon took from Il closet the
beautiful tribute from grateful people
| A heavy. elegant set it is, with the pal
| metto tree design in gold browning each
piece. and engraved on each the words:
s.Presented to General John b. Gordon
| by some of his friends in South Carolina
in grateful remembrance Of his sympathy
and aid in restoring TO their State the
| rights of self government, 1SI6-U.
"Ths baptismal font also has pretty
story" said Mrs. Gordon, taking out the
| handsome piece of silver sent 10y the la
dies of Columbia. Around the bowl OF
the front were engraved the words OF
General Hamptons telegram to General
| Gordon. THE troops have been with
drawn Perfect peace prevails. South
Carolina thanks You"
This You know said Mrs. Gordon,
twas sent by these ladies on the birth Of
my little daughter, whom at the urgent
| suggestion of numbers of friends IN
South Carolina, we named Carolina, for
that State. She lived only few
| months.
| Afterwards we walked about the beau
| tiful home, enjoying the open spacious
ness of the interior and the lovely PIC
lures seen through every window and
| from every veranda.
There are 100 acres in the place. The
house is on the crest of knoll, which
slopes charmingly i'll every direction. In
front is the lawn, shaded by great oak
4 trees. and under these a tent and a
! swing and other features betoken the
/ frequent presence of childhood. In the
4 rear is the picturesque slope to the love
4 ~ lovers walk. a tree-embowered, wind
i ing path that leads to poetic fances--
and the electric car station. From the
northwest veranda is the wide distant
view over lawn and trees to far hori-
zon. where the blue, wavy lines of the
Blue Ridge may be family seen.
4 For thirty years Sutherland so call
J, ed from the name of Mrs. Gordon's ma
i ternal grandmother, has been the home
of General and Mrs. Gordon. An idea!
home it is. a sweet resting place in the
j intervals of most stirring life, which
included war and politics, the hardships
of the camp and the gaities of the ma
tional capital
/ What II full life this woman has had,
/ / thought, as together we strolled along
the pretty shaded walk. Verify she has
i been her husbands companion in every
/ yicissitude, in sorrow as in joy, in times
of danger as in a peaceful and happy
home.
i And with it all, time has dealt very
/ gently with her.
i You are a Daughter of the Confed-
Ieracy," of course, Mrs. Gordon!' / said
Iinterrogatingly, as we parted.
II am mother of the C0nfedefacy,
she responded, laughingly.
i Listening to her recountals of war sto-
Iries. one would heartily endorse that SEN
tjment. but looking at her fair, smooth
face and erect, stately figure, not thus
would be called this heroine of the SIX
ties EMEL JAY.