The Republican journal., 1899-01-19

charge broke the line guarding the
right flank of the Federal army, after an
almost hand to- hand conflict, and then
struck the tlanS, pressed heavily for
ward, broke everything in his front and
turned the tide of battle. cit was most
brilliant charge" as officially reported,
and the results showed an amount Of
execution greater, perhaps, than was
ever accomplished in similar circum-
stances of the war by the same number of
men. Gordon left on the field, counted
| by the inspectors, more than 400 dead of
the enemy
1t was on the stormy lines of the Rapi-
dan that he performed his chief part in
history and achieved his great renown.
In the first days fight he was in a position
that drew all eyes upon him. On May 9TH
| his command was on the pike leading from
Orange Court House to Fredericksburg
The Confederate troops in his front
had been engaged some time, when they
We're overpoNered and forced to retreat
rapidly. Gen. Ewell rode up to Gordon,
who was quietly moving down the pike
at the head of his column, and said:
"Gen. Gordon, they are driving us; the
fate of the day depends on YOU" Gordon
replied: "We will save it, General" and
Immediately wheeling into line, he told
his men what was expected of them, and
ordered them forward, riding in their front
The charge was successful.
At Spottsylvania Court House, Gordon
was conspicuous actor in one of the
most memorable and dramatic passages
of the war. 1t was here that, put in com
mand of Early's division early taking
command of A. P Hill s corps, he gave
the first check to the enemy advancing
after taking the salient held by Gen.
Johnson and it was here occurred the
affecting and noble scene when he seized
the bride of Gen. Lees horse and re-
fused to let him lead the Georgians and
Virginians, placed in line fer desperate
counter charge upon the enemy. In the
dark and misty morning, Gordon had
been guided to the point Of danger by the
volume of fire. Checking the enemy and
throwing bis little command against the
heavy tide of his numbers he afterwards
recaptured all the Confederate line to the
right of the salient some of the artillery
| lost in the morning, and held during the
day the salient, and all to the right OF it
to A. p. HIPS line.
After this battle, marked by its monu-
ment of carnage, and illuminated with 50
much glory to the Southern arms, Gordon
took part in the various engagements be-
tween the two armies until June Is, when
he was sent with Early to Lynchburg to
moot Hunter ana .ftorvards To the valley
of Virginia and into Maryland.
Returning to the Army of Northern
| Virginia, IN front OF Petersburg, Gen.
Gordon found but little opportunity to
gather additional laurels in the decH ing
/ fortunes Of the Confederacy, and it only
remained for him to share the fate which
onor,,- boa ,,., I,,nnT,,s ira,,i+aI,Ia 10 tI,at
or,,1.' ,-r,iofI l,7s .o,i,a,ra al,i,-,l,11 md
GOOD General anal sbir-bad 80 D,ostIv adornad
III ,,9r, ,,,as hi,,,ie 60 I,oIaSt If WINS
/ raria,,5 ,I,iot1,, ol,ra,,od in tha
l,+,I.. - H. nan niauai- - 1et5l
ysber, +ha tr.,o,,s t.f,,+l+ n,itI, . vi'y1r
and hriIiiann,r +i,at ra,,,iT]sd ,nn Of 80
|ld a,l,iioy - 'lS
,,la,,d IKE Iai5 4l ,as+ HAAS ~, fron+ nf
1341rei'''rl, ,,l ~ ,,.n Tria,,,s aor1
,na,,4 tlat9 T,.a, f,,aI o,,d fata1 rotr.a+
,,os s+ +I,a fra,,+ o,d riIdod tba l.st scano
of s,,r,.o,,a,. MIX H. e,,oo+aaI, ~ } 400
,ao,, ,f,,aI>arad 80 ol1+ +hroYnl1 Sbor;dan,S
Iia Gr7 1ons and
"s % pfo ppm 1. CIV
"Glo quiy s'tse" 81 .Ie al,dad
r. e. - ~ 'iie O. 49, 80 -;a,l
tto a1oso IS tlo ,,,o,
Gordon retired to the pursuits OF private
life. In 1865 he was nominated Tor the
position of Governor of Georgia and ran
against the Republican candidate, X. b.
Bullock. The campaign was warm one,
and 1t was generally thought, and IN
many quarters positively asserted, that he
was elected by some 1000 OF 1000 ma
jority, but was counted out"
Ia 1878, when the Legislature came TO
elect United States Senator, he was
put in nomination. Hon. Alexander H.
Stephens, Benjamin IL. Hill and others
were also candidates. After a number OF
ballotings Gordon was chosen.
At the end of his term Senator Gordon
was reelected, but served only one year,
when in 1880, he resigned to engage in
railroad business. His career in the ma
tional councils had been conspicuously
able and influential
After period of nearly six years de
voted to railroad enterprises, Gen. Cor
! don was nominated for Governor in 1856
after campaign unprecedented perhaps
IN Georgia politics Tor personalities and
ISLANDERS He was elected, and was re-
elected in 1888 In 1890 he was again
elected to the United States Senate and
4 his term of SpTYice aYnirp6 March - 1897