The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-10
aoRDoN's CHARMED LIFE.
The Wonder is That He Lived
 Though the War.

Richmond (va.) Times-Dispatch.
 At the recent Confederate :e-union in New Orleans the hearts of the old soldiers
 were saddened by the statement of their comrade, General John B. Gordon, that his health was failing and that he was about to wind up his career.
 The wonderful part of 1t all is that he
 has survived until this day. It Is almost
 miraculous that he should have passed
 through such an ordeal during the war
 between the States and come out with
 his life. In the June number of Scrib-
 ner's Magazine. General Gordon has an
 article on "Antietam and Chancellors- ville," in which he recalls the notable 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 were stationed, and theI 9
 was no supporting line behind them. He
 soon saw that most desperate attempt
 would be made by the Federals to break
 the line at that point, and that 1t was
 to be through sheer force. It was Gen
 eral Gordon's business to prevent this.
 and so he gave orders that his men were
 not to fire until he should give the signal The Federals came forward with un-
 loaded guns, their purpose being to charge
 with bayonets. and through their superb pr
 numbers break through. In spite Of the
 impatence of his men General Gordon
 waited until they shoul see the whites
 of the enemies eyes" When the Fed ,ral
 were almost upon him he ordered his men to fire, and their rifles f1amed and loared in the face off the Yankees like a blindt- ing blaze of lightning. accompanied by the quick and deadly thunderbolt." It was impossible for any body of men to withstand this fire and the Federals with drew, but only to renew the attack again and again in the same way, and thus the battle waged furiously until sundown During this engagement General Cor don was shot five different times, 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 rallyfng 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 this last wound but for the act of some Yankee. who. as if to save my life had at a previous hour during the bat tie shot a hole through my cap, as if to let the blood out" He was borne to the rear in an unconscious condition, and the surgeon despaired of his life. But General Gordon declared that he would not die and little later when his devoted wife arrived he greeted her in an af-
 fectionate, jocular way and assured her that he would get well. Thanks to hel faithful watching and nursing he did gel | well, and was by and by, aften sever months restored to his command.
 It Is no wonder that Gordon's men said and believed that he had a charmed life" It is inconceivable that mar | should have been shot five times during shock; 1t is equally remarkable that a | man who suffered so terribly from the l enemies bullets should have preserved l his life and lived to a good old age.