The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-04-07


placed, he was made colonel upon its reor-
ganization. This famous regiment. Sixth |
he made famous in short order.
At Seven Pines, its frs, serious engagement,
1896 men out of 600 were killed and wounded.
Every horse ridden, into the charge was
killed. and every mounted officer save
Gordon slain. bullet went through his
pistol butt, his canteen and his coat, and it
was here that his soldiers said: ''The bullet
was never moulded that could kill Gordon -
A. Sharpsburg Gen. Gordon (then' a
colonel) furnished the sublimest spectacle of
endurance and courage that think is fur
nished by the annals. Before the battle
Lee rode down the lines and expressed doubt
as to Gordon's being able to hold his posi-
ton, and conveyed to him an idea of the
Importance of his doing SO. Gordon talking
so that his men could hear him, said: ''Gen.
Lee, my men are determined that they will
stay here?'
Then the battle opened. Line after line
was thrown upon Gordon's front. But from
the dauntless front they were thrown back
as often as they marched against it. The
slaughter was terrific. The ground was
literally blue with the corpses of the enemy,
while only six men of the right wing of the
regiment were left. But the line
wavered. The men had come to s'stay.'
and dead or alive they were determined TO
ssstay.''
Gordon was wounded early in the fight.
A minnie ball passed through the calf of
his leg, tearing the flesh in most fearful
manner. The flow of blood was incessant
but he had no time to stanch the wound
In about half an hour another ball plunged
through the same leg about foot above
where the other had gone. The loss of
blood from these wounds weakened him,
but he still kept to his feet and gave his orders
calm and clear to his men who were lying
on their faces. An hour later he was shot
again. the ball tearing through his left arm,
making hideous wound and cutting a small
artery. This disabled his arm, and helped
drain his weakened SYSTEM but still, hag-
gard and bloody, he staggered up and down
the line encouraging his men. a fourth
ball entered his shoulder knocking him from
his feet. His men who his crimsoned
uniform and pale face go down thought their
heroic leader was killed. With sublime
courage, however, he struggled to his feet,
and though he had hardly strength to stand,
waved his sword to his men to remain firm.
Some one ran to him hastily and said it was
rumored up the line that he was dangerously
wounded and that the men were wavering.
'sTell them am not hurt,'' he said. And
SO, through those dreadful hours of
slaughter with four unstanched wounds,
drawing blood from his body, he stood de-
termined to die with his men, and in de-
Tense of the part that Lee had con6ded to
his trust. Was knightiier courage ever
shown on field or embalmed in letters? Was
knightlier heroism ever disPlayed? All,
great heart of gold! All, splendid gentle
men, All, lustrious and shining soul! On
that day ddst thou win immortal glory
even though all else of thy life were blotted
out!
At length fifth ball struck Gordon full
in the face, and entering his cheek knocked
him senseless. He fell and for some time
his prostrate body was wrapped in the
smoke of battle.
a CURIOUS STORY.
We hear from Gen. Gordon's own lips a
story that in metaphysical point, is exceed
ingly interesting. He says that when he
fell he was utterly incapable Of moving.
He gradually began to think of his condi-
soliloquy that he carried 81 have been
shot. 1t has carried away my head. On
the left side there is little piece of skull
left. But the brain is gone entirely. There
fore, am dead And yet 1 thinking.
How can man think with his head shot
off. I may have consciousness while dead,
but no motion. If can lift my leg, then
I am alive. I will try that. Can I? Yes,
there it is, lifted up! Pm all right!''
The general says that every stage of this
soliloquy is indelibly stamped on his mind,
and that in his exhausted stage the reason
ing was carried on logically ever man
reasoned at his desk. Doubt succeeded ar
gunaent and argument displaced though just
logically could be He says he will
never forget with what anxiety he made the
test of lifting his leg-with what agony he
waited to see whether not it would move
in response to his effort, and how he hest
tated before trying it for fear it might fail
and that his death be thereby demonstrated.
BRILLIANT AND MAsTERLY MANEUvER.
From the ed of May, 1864, Carbon was
engaged in almost incessant fighting all sum-
mer and made himself famous throughout the
army On the 5th of May he executed a
maneuver new in the practice of war, start
suddenness. Gordon was on the LETT of the
army on the Fredericksburg road He was
commanding Lawton's old brigade, having
won his Generals stars at Sharpsburg. Being
ordered to carry q ,,oinf in front IF bic