The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23
A CLOSE CALL.
Gen. John b. Gordon Tells Thrilling
Story Of Escape.


Story Of Escape.
ga story of close CALL. said Gener-
al Gordon, as he leaned back in: his
office chair, and looked musingly out
of the window. He had laid aside his
papers and for few moments he sat
quietly his head inclined slightly and
his expression changing quickly as his
mind reverted to the stirring incidents
in a history in which he played 30 large
q part.
In an instant his keen eyes and COM
manding features assumed the express.
ion of a soldier and one could almost
see him on his horse, the excitement
of war before him and the prospect of
immediate smoke and plenty of it.
Then he smiled and said
"Well, we'll, you wanta story of the
war? I saw many moments during
that four years when it looked as if my
time had come. but possibly the mar
rowest escape ever experienced was
one spring evening shortly before the
close of the war.
ut was on the 9Th of May, 1864, a
day which will probably never be for
Union and Confederate armies.
"Shortly before dark my command
had assailed the right flank of Grants
army, scattering it into confused de-
tachments and literally destroying
Sedgewick's corps. Every command
on our front, as my troops swept down
the line, was thrown into the widest
disorder and when night lowered over
the two great armies the ranks of the
enemy were tangled into an almost
helpless condition.
1.-THE darkness grew deeper and
placker and the smoke of battle aided
by the shadows of pight made it utter
ly impossible for my command to do
more than grope it's way through the
heavy underbush of the wilderness,
where the engagement had occurred.
II saw that it would be necessary to
halt for the night and 1 accordingly
ordered one of my brigades to cover
our front as q skirmish and picket line
until morning and instructed them to
report to me it's position at the earliest
moment.
1.-THE inky blackness rendered more
gloomy by the dense shade of the for
est greatly impeded the progress of
the brigade, and while they endeaver-
ed to get into position began to grow
uneasy. Time passed and I heard
nothing from them. My anxiety in
creased each moment and finally real
izing the danger of delay and restive
under the suspense, I decided to per-
sonally look into the cause Of the de-
II took with me only one courier,
William Beasly, who had enlisted from
LAGRANGE.
"Silently and cautiously we began
our ride toward the front. Neither of
us spoke. Even the horses seemed to
realize that much depended upon them
and they walked almost noislessly
over the soft earth, avoiding every tree
and limb.
"Suddenly without any premonition
we found ourselves in the midst of
large body of troops without alignment
or definite formation, which believed
to be my own brigade.
mot for a moment did Irealize that
I had missed the position of my own
command and ridden into the very
r.idst of the blue coats.
Satisfied that was among my own
men and desiring to know how the
officer in charge had gotten the troops
into such q tangled condition, I eau
toned Beasley to make no remark
which would indicate my identity.
"There was only the faintest twinkle
of a star in the heavens and according
ly the color of their uniforms was not
distinguished to my eyes.
"For several moments we stood, un-
decidedly, hardly knowing what
course to pursue when Beasley, who
had ridden close by my side, leaned
over to me and said in a whisper
General, these are not our men !;
they are Yankees"
"Hugh, Beasley,' I replied.
THAT is nonsense. How could we
miss the brigade. which, according to
my order, should be here, and get
among the enemy's lines ?"
A moment more we stood, and then
Beasley seized me earnestly by the arm
and said:
General, I tell you, sir, these are
Yankees. I have just been looking at
their coats and then at yours. I can
plainly see that theirs are blue.
II again cautioned him not to speak.
Our only safety now lay in turning
our horses heads slowly in the direc-
ton of the camp and get OH the outer
edge of the men and then ascertain
definitely whether they were Union or
Confederate soldiers.
II had scarcely breathed my order
to Beasley when we were halted by
three soldiers, who had evidently
made the discovery that we had, and
had learned that we did not belong to
their side of the line.
"When the words of the sentry rang
out over the stiffness Of the night q
hundred men We. on their feet and
in a seconds time we were surrounded
by body o. Union troops on every
II saw ti.At Cur time had come, eth.
er to submit - capture or to dare q
most hazarGnAs effort to escape.
"As is usually the case in such emer.
gancies, the brain acts with lightning
rapidity. In a few seconds ] had
weighed the narrow chance of escape
simultaneously, however, there rush.
ed throug my brain the horrors Of
prison life, and I resolved to take the
risk.
1T was a move which meant either
liberty or instant death from fifty, pos
siably hundred, bullets. I'decided
to make the dash through and over
the men who had gathered around u.s.
trusting to chance, which sometimes
takes care of us when it seems least
possible.
"I was riding a magnificent horse
which had but few hours before been