Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-01-20
Gen. eordon's Record.

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occurred last week at Miami, Fla, was
one of the South's greatest soldiers and
statesmen. His death closed a very
active and honorable life. His public
and military life covered q long period
of years, and is partially as follows:
In 1852 Gordon, as colonel, led his men
into the famous battle. of the Seven
Pines, during which two thirds of his
command were either killed or wounded.
When Gen. Rodes was wounded he re-
linquished his brigade to Gordon. The
battles before Richmond and at Malvern
Hill followed, and the gallaptry of Cor
don's brigade was conspicuous in each.
During Lees march into Maryland Cor
don was the first to GROSS the Potomac
and for his GOODNESS, bravery and skill
was highly ycomplimented by Gems. Rodes
and Hill. He also achieved great dis.
tinotioD at Sharpesburg, Va, where
position in the Confederate line.
He was wounded five times during
the engagement, and but for the
heroic attentions of his wife would have
died. In speaking of this battle Gen.
Hill called Gordon the Chevalier Byard
of the army, character given the Ia
mented Kearney on the Federal side.
Upon recovering Gordon was made
brigadier general and invested with the
command of the Georgia brigade. A
month later he was in command at
Marye's Hill, in front of fredericksburg,
where he captured the heights by bril-.
liant charge.
In 1864 he won his richest laurels on the
stormy lines Of the Rapidan. The Con-
federate troops had been obliged to re-
treat after long engagement. Gordon
saw the condition of affairs and, sud
denly turning his men, he charged upon
the Federal troops, broke their line and
captured the entire regiment.
immediately after entering York, Pa,
he met large body of excited women
and made them as gallant speech as
was ever spoken by conqueror, con-
Guiding with tho assurance: "I pledge
you that not one private dwelling will be
burned or robbed. So we'll do 1 know
these men, can safely promise the head
of any one of them who insults lady,"
In 1867 Gen. Gordon was the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor of Georgia.
His party claimed his election by large
majority, but his opponent, Rufus b. Bull
lock, was declared elected.
He was a member of the National
Democratic Convention of 1868 from
Georgia, and delegate at large to the
convention of 1872.
He was elected to the United States
Senate in that year, and took his seat in
March following, succeeding Joshua
Hill, Republican.
His noble, untiring and successful eff
forts in behalf of South Carolina during
the great campaign of 1875 aud the mo-
mentuous months that followed can
never be forgotten there. In that tre-
mendous crisis, quitting his home and
laying aside all other duties, Gen. Cor
don went to Columbia. and remained
there, working with Hampton and their
leaders until the Palmetto State was re-
deemed.
He was reelected United States Sena-
tor in 1870, but resigned his seat in 1880.
In 1886 he was elected Governor 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 to the South, his lecture upon the
"Last Days of the Confederacy"
Since the organization of the United
Confederate Veterans he has held the po-
sition of 1t commapder-in-c chief, and his
frequent reflections to that position have
testified to the warmth of affection in
which he has been held in the South.
Only few months ago his most enter
tanning and instructive book of reminis-
cences of the War for Southern Inde-
pendence was published. Il has received
very favorable notices from critics in all
sections of the Union. Gen. Gordon
was speaker of great eloquence and
was physically and mentally distingue.
OF splendid physique, intellectual fore
head and strikingly handsome face,
only slightly marred by scar on one
cheek, caused by a wound received in
battle, he would have been selected from
among a thousand of his fellows as head
and shoulders taller than all the rest.