Evening star., 1903-07-01
GEN. GoRDoN's CHARMED LIFE.
Wounded Five Times Before He Went
Out of the Battle of Antietam.

Out VI Tie oaCL1o OF AnC1eLdm.
From the Richmond Times Dispatch.
At the recent confederate reunion in New
Orleans the hearts of the old soldiers were
saddened by the statement of their COM
rade, 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 mir
aculous 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 Scribner's Magazine Gen
Gordon has an article on "Antietam and
charlottesville" in which he recalls the
notable fact that in the former battle he
was wounded no less than five times.
Gen. GordOn's troops held the most ad-
vanced position on that part of the field
where they were stationed, and there was
no supporting line behind them. He soon
saw that a most desperate attempt would
be made by the federals to break the line
at that point, and it was to be through
sheer force. 1t was Gen. 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 for
ward with unloaded guns, their purpose be-
ing to charge with baynots and through
their superior numbers break through In
spite of the impatience of his men Gen.
Gordon waited until "they should see the
whites of their enemies eyes" When the
federals were almost upon him he ordered
his men to fire. and their rifles famed and
roared in the face of the Yankees like a
binding blaze of lightning, accompanied by
the quick and deadly thunderbolt. 1t was
impossible for any body of men to with
stand this fire and the federals withdrew,
but only to renew the attack again and
again, in the same way. and thus the bat
tie ragged furiously until sundown.
During this engagement Gen. Gordon 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
position at the front, giving his commands
and rallying his men. At the last shot,
however. he fell forward and lay uncon-
sciOus with his face in his cap, and he
thinks that he would have been srnothered
by the blood from this last wound but for
the actof some Yankee. who, as if to save
my life. had at previous hour during the
battle 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 Gen.
Gordon declared that he would not die, and
a little later when his devoted wife ar
rived, he greeted her in an affectionate,
jocular way and assured her that he would
get well. Thanks to her faithful watching
and nursing he did get well. and was. by
and by. after seven months. restored to
his command.
/. It is no wonder that Gordon's men said
and believed that he had charmed life,
It is fnconceivable that man should have
been shot five times during single engage
ment and survived the shock: 1t is equally
remarkable that man who suffered SO
terribly from the enemies bullets should
have preserved his life and lived to q good
old age.