The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-01-13
GEN. JOHN B. GORDON DEAD

Commander In. Chief or United Conftd-
crate Veterans Died Saturday Night.
Miami, Florida, January 8, 1904
General John B. Gordon died at his
winter home at Biscayne, at 1905
o'clock tonight, after heing unconscious
nearly all day. The beginning of the
end occurred this afternoon, serious
complication setting in, and by night
his physician had abandoned all hope,
| as his kidneys refused to secrcte and
death was quiet. He fell peacefully
to sleep and all was over.
Gen. Gordon became ill Wednesday
AFTERNOON with acute Indigestion He
| had suffered from tho same trouble in
mississippi many months ago. AT II
O'CLOCK Thursday morning u consultn-
ton OF physicians was held and it was
found that he was seriously :.i,a crit;-
cally Ill. His son, Major Hugh Gordon,
who resides at Biecayne, was with
him. "A telegram was sent TO bis
daughter, Mrs. Burton Smith, of At
lanta, calling her to his bedside. She
was with him when ho died. General
Gordon grew steadily worse until to-
day, when he was unconscious most of
the time.
Gen. and Mrs. Gordon had been in
Florida this winter only three weeks
before his death. His health had
been unusually good prior to his fatal
attack. He had bought winter
home at Biscayne three years ago, and
his winters there.
Gen. Gordon's body will be shipped
to his home at kirkwood. near Atlanta,
| ia, tomorrow night, leaving mere nj
8 o'clock. They will reach Atlanta
Monday afternoon.
Gen. John Brown Gordon wac born
in ugs.m County, Georgia, February
U, 1889. He was educated at the Uni
versity of Georgia, atudied law and
was admitted to the Bar, but had prac-
tlced only short time when he enter
ed the Confederate Army. He raised
Regiment OF Cavalry for the Confed-
crate service, but as that branch Of the
military force was not then required
he organized body of Infantry, offer
ed 1t to the Governor Of his State, and
went ipto the field with his troops,
who received the nickname of "Rac-
coon Roughs," all tho men having
been raised On the Racc0on Mountain.
In 1867 Gordon, as Colonel, led his
men into the famous battle OF the Sew
on Pines. during which two-thirds Of
hle command were either killed or
wounded. When Gen. Rodes was
wounded he relinquished his Brigade
to Gordon. The battles before Rich.
mond and at Malvern Hill followed
and tho gallantry. of Gordon's Brigade
was conspicuous in each.
During Lees march into MARYLAND
Gordon was the first to cross the % Pn.
tomac and for his coolness, bravery
and skill was highly c0mplimented by
Gems. Rodes aud Hill. He also
achieved great distinction at Sharps-
burg, .where his Regiment occupied
the salient in the Confederate line.
lie WAS wounded five times during the
engagement, and but for the heroic
attention OF his wife would have died.
In speaking of this battle Gen. Hill
called Gordon the Chevalier Bayard of
the army, character given the Ia
mented Kearney on the Federal side.
Upoh recovering Gordon was made @
Brlgadler General and invested with
the command of the Georgia Brigade.
a month later he was in command at
burg, where he captured the heiehts
by brilliant charge.
LII 1854 ne won his richest laurels on
the stormy lines Of the Rapidan. The
confederate troops had been obliged
20 retreat after long engagement.
Gordon saw the condition Of affairs
eha,osG eng, sGGaasniy 1,ma tuning ilis men. he
broke their line and captured an en-.
tire Regiment.
Immediately after entering York,
"a, he met large body OF excited
women and made them US gallant q
speech as was ever spoken by CON
queror, concluding with the assurance:
II pledge you that not one private
dwelling Will be burned or robbed. SO
well 90 know these men, can snfely
who insults O. lady"
In 1867 Gen. Gordon was the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor of Ge0r-
gia. His party claimed his election by
largo majority, but his opponent,
hufus Is. Bullock, was declared elect
He was member of the National
Democratic Convention of 1868 from
Georgia, and q delegate Mt large tn
the Convention of 1872.
he was elected TO the United States
senate in that year, and took his aeat
Hill. Republican. -
efforte in behalf Of South Carolina
during the great campaign Of 1875 and
the momentous months that followed
can never be forgotten here. III that
tremendous crisis, quitting his home
and laying aside all other duties, Gen
Gordon came to Columbia. and remain
ed there, working with Hampton and
our leaders until the Palmetto State
was redeemed.
He was reelected United States
Senator in 1879. but resigned his seat
in 1880. In 1886 he was elected Gov
ernor Of Georgia.
Since his retirement from political
activity he has devoted much of his
time in lecturing. presenting to the
North, as we'll as the Sonth, his lecture
upon, 1.-The Last Days of the Confeder-