The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-06
GENERAL
J..B, GORDON
His "reminiscences of the Civil
War, Published by Charles
Scribner's Sons.
Is AN INTERESTING {: BOOK 'l''',
Life in the Army Of Northern
Virginia Responsible for
Defeat at Gettysburg.

Virginia Responsibility Tor
Defeat at Gettysburg.
;& The personal "reminiscences Of General
John B. Gordon. of Georgia, npw present
ed In book FORM. have awakened a deep
interest in the public mind and have met
with cordial reception. especially from
veterans. The General says that in this
work his purpose has been to make
brief 'but dispa ssionate and judiciilly
fair analysis OF the divergent opinions
and ceaseless controversies which for hall
a century produced an ever widening
alienation between the sec1ions, ana
which finally plunged them into the
fiercest and bloodiest Of fratricldal wars.
He has endenvored ITO demonstrate that
the courage displayed and the ratio OF
losses sustained were unprecedented IN
modern warfare" and he 8hns recorded
in this volume 20 large number OF those
nractcrlstlcs and thrilling Incidents
which Illustrate unique and hitherto TN
written phases OF war, the story OF which
should not be lost because It is luminous
with the noblest lessons, i55
General Gordon went into the Confed-
formed In a mountainous corner near the
State lines Of Georgia. Tennessee ana
Alabama It was originally intended that
the command should go out with the
Georgia troops as a cavalry company. but
that State being too slow In accepting
their services, they offered them to the
Governor Of Alabama and were accepted
and assigned to the Sixth Alabama IN
fa1,try Gordon was soon elected major
10 ~ ant IAN hhpon ttnOSS
r1 emotions which did not cease until they
found him in command of an army corps.
General Gordon grlwife leaving her
two children with their kinsfolk at home.
followed him to every battlefield on which
ne fought. AppomattoX alone excepted.
She was prevented from ACCOMMODATING
him there by sickness. which compelled
her to remain in Petersburg. ana wen
indeed was It that she went With him. for
the General received six wounds and
therefore, at times. sorcly needed her
nursing.
BATTLE AND WOUNDS.
We cannot follow General Gordon In
the description given by him OF the bat
ties In which he was engaged FltZ Lee
says Gordon was "always cranmed with
courage and full of enterprise" and SO
he was except when Incapactated BY
wounds, he was In the thlckest OF the
fU2ltleS iQuEnl ny LsIlS .tII!lS ~ ASpiNilN'A
Virginia. At sharpsRurs she received five
wounds, the last bullet striking him fair
$Iy in the face and passing out. barely
missing the jugular vein Said he, y
fell forward and lay unconscious with my
face In my lap, and It would seem that
might have been smothercd by the blood
running into my cap from this wound
but for the act at some Yankee. who u.
1T to save my life, had Mt 4 previous hour
4,-l,< t,o1 1orNJ Jyt
the cap which let the blood out"
LEES SISTER.
n Describing how the war divided fani'
lies, General Gordon says:
t&"General Lees own sister was Union
woman the wife of n Union officer: bn
that fact did not deprive her of the af
fectionate interest Of her family no
Eof the chvalric regard Of Southern sol
oilers 1t did not ohlitarate or apparent!
lessen In any degree her devotion T.
her brother. Robert r. Ice, nor her np
&prcciat!on Of him as .a5great soldier; y
II expressing her loyalty TO her HUSBAND
and the Union cause, and her hopn 70
thu triumph OF the Federal armies, sh
would usually add n doutt us to thei
ability to whip Robert"
H. General I.ee's sister mnrr!ad Judg'
! Marshall, OF Baltimore, who was
&Unionist but we do not think he was
authority on such subjects. does not sa
80. But they had son who was Yves
u Pointer, and who hnld n commission J
tie Union army. On one occasion m
young man canle into the confederat
\ lines with flag OF truce party, and INA
~ fact having been stated tn General i.e
tic General remarked jocosely that undo
the circumstances he could forgive Lou
for serving, IN the Federal army. bl
a&could not excuse him for being on Pops
#staff!
~ with respect TO tbs battle Of Getty
H burg General Gordon saya:
@ "ITrom tie situation plainly 70 be sec
ION the first afternoon. and from fac
that afterward cane 10 light as 10 Il
mention of the different corps OF Ge'
#arai M,eade's army. II seems certo ain tho
@if the Confcderates had simply move
Az forward following VII the advantage
f8;gained, and striking Tho separated l'nte
commands in succession the victor
VI would have been Lees Instead
eMeade's,"
SBs". : .Whateyer differences Of opinio
may nov or hereafter exist as 10 the re
suits which might nave followed d.
iffeat OF the Union arms al GettyShur
8 there Is universal concurrence In =
81 Judgment that this battle was the turl
Il ing point In the South's fortunes. III
4 point where Picketts Nirglnana, pnd
ISemper. Garrett and Arnistead, In the
SirnmGr,aI charge swept Oyer the rot
wall has been appropriately designate
4 by the government as the high-Wat
3s mark Of the rebellion"
# "ssBs Nothing occurred at Gettysbur
"a nor anything that has been written sin
chat battle has lessened the conyictit
shat. had Lees orders been promptly a.
cordially executed, Meodes center on u
VIZ khtrd dav would have been penctra ted al