Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-07-23
Gen. Gordon's Charmed Life.

At the recent Confederate reunion |
in New Orleaus the hearts Of the old |
soldiers were saddened by the state
ment of their comrade, Gen. John B. !
Gordon, that his health was failing
and that he was about to wind up his
career.
The wonderful part Of it all Is that
he has survived until this day 1t Is
almost miraculous that be should nave
passed through such an ordeal during
the war between the States and come
out with hisiie. In the June number
of ofScrlbner's Magazine General Gordon
has an article on "Antletam snd
Charlottesville IN which be recalls
the fact that in the former battle he
was wounded no less than five times
General Gordons troops held the
most advanced position on that part OF
the field where they We're stationed,
and there vas no supporting lines be-
hind them. He soon saw that most
desperate attempt would be made by
the Federais to break the line at that
point, aud It was to be through sheer
force. Il was General Gordons 3 busl-
ness 10 prevent this, and so he gave
orders luat hls men not to fire until
be should give the signal The FEEDER
ais came forward with uuloaded guns,
their purpose beng to charge with bay
onets aud thus by their superior num-
beis break though. In spite OF the
lmpauence ol AIS men, General Gordon
waited until they should see the
whites OF the enemies eyes. When
the Federals were almost upon hlm
he ordered his men to fire, and their
rifles famed aud roAred IN the face OF
the Yankees like d binding blaze OF
lightning, accompanied by the quick
and deadly thunderbolt. 1t WAS I'M
possible for any body OF men to with
stand this fire, and the Federals with
drew, but only to renew the attack
again and again, IN the same way, and
thus the battle ragged turlously until
suudown.
During this engagement General
twice through the leg, once through
the arm, once through the shoulder
and finally through the face. In spite
of four wounds, from all of which he
was suffering and bleeding, he held
his position at the front, giving his
commands and rsllying his men. At
the last shot, however, he fell forward
and lay unconscious with his face in
his cap, and he thinks that he would
have been smothered by the blood
from his last wound but for the act
OF some Yankee, who, as If TO save my
life, had at a previous hour during
the battle shot hole through my cap,
as if to let the blood out. He was
borne to the rear In an unconscious
condition aud the surgeon despaired
ofhis life.
But General Gordon declared that
he would not die, and afterwsrd, when
his devoted wife arrived, he greeted
her in an afectionate, jocular way aud
assured her that be would get well
Thanks to faithful watching and nurs-
ing be did get well, and Was, by and
by, after seven months, restored TO his
command.
1t il no wonder that Gordons men
said and believed that be had a
charmed life" 1t is inconceivable
that a man should have been shot five
times during a single engagement and
survived the shock; it is equally re-
markable that a man who suffered 80
terribly from the enemies bullets
should have preserved his life and
lived to a good old age.