The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-16

the way in which you handled your
division yesterday. / could not rest
satisfied until you had permanent COM
mand of 1t. j teiegraphed the Presi-
that you have been commissioned
major general to date from the 18th of
May" 1t was Gordon whose genius
suggested and skill executed the daring
plan which passed Jackson's old corps
by swift night march along the base
of Massanutten Mountain. despite the
obstacles with which nature beset the
movement, and hurled that corps at
dawn, with the sweep and power of an
avalanche, upon Sheridan's army. shat
tering two of its corps and driving all
In disorder to the rear. where Its situa-
tion doomed II to destruction, If the
concentration he ordered against 1t had
been left to the hands which struck
the first blow.
Commands Jackson's Corps.
Next he is promoted to the command
of Jackson's old corps and placed by
Lee to defend his right, In the days of
his extremity at Petersburg. There
with rare skill he drove back a turn
Ing movement on the banks of Hatch
ers Run, little less formidable than
the effort which afterwards\ wrought
our ruin, when Five Forks fell When
the end was nigh. Lee, who held In
check what was in the front, but was
threatened in rear by the disasters
l
Confederate arms, selected Gordon to
devise and head the last desperate Of
fensive movement of the Army of
Northern Virginia. to save the failing
attack failed, after great initial sue
, cess. from untoward causes, which
human foresight could not prevent He
held his lines on the fatefuI Sunday,
when our right was crushed, and such
was the fury of his cunter-attack that
the engineer brigade from City Point
was hurried to the support of the
troops who held the only point on his
lines which he did not retake that day.
He Is ordered to protect the rear on the
memorable retreat from Petersburg
When the time was nigh for the last
attempt of the army to cut through en-
circling foes. Lee brings him from the
rear to the front With the small
Hill and Andersons corps and a body
of cavalry under Fitz Lee, Gordon. as
the sun rose on that fateful morning
to look on nation dying there, dashed
furiously against superior forces OF
artillery and cavalry, driving them
back in confusion on the solid masses
of Ord's infantry, and then stood
ready to die until Lee ordered a cessa-
tion of battle. without any military
trining or outside influence to heip
him upward, Gordon, at the age of 49,
had won Lieutenant Generally and
immortal fame in one of it's grandest'
armies.
What are the chief characteristics
of a great Captain? He must have
power to compel the affections and in
spire the blind confidence of his fol-
lowers. He must be able to impress
upon them that he sympathizes with
them, watches over their welfare, cares
for their lives as for precious Jewels
while always ready to give his own
life and reputation for them He must
nave the insight to discern the strength
and designs and moral atmosphere of
his opponents. and correctly to forecast
their conceptions of their own sur
roundings and dangers and the design.
strength and situations, moral or phy-
steal. which they ascribe to
him. He must have an abiding
to think clearly and decide quickly,
| in time of disaster. conflicting informa-
ton. or sudden or unexpected situa-
s lSnS' d re -. must us nave serenity Of char
and the moral courage to grasp oppor-
trnity and risk life, reputation and
command, on the hazard OF the die,
when the good of his cause justifies risk
o" untoward events impeI instant de-
cision and action. He must have that
Judgment which tempers but does not
vlction which does not halt or vacil-
late. or suspend its purpose. in the face
OF obstacles and doubt, when he has
done his best, and the wisdom which
sees all obstacles in planning and none
in execution. save those which are in
superable. He must be liberal of
praise and chary of blame, willing to
Weld his glory to others and to as
sumo faults not his own. He must be
unselfish in the large sense, Welding
hearty loyalty to superiors, and show
| ing generosity and kindness to inferi-
lors. When to these we add profound
| belief in the necessity and Justice Of
| his cause, the purpose to die rather
| than be beaten. and belief and practice
of the highest code of religion and NOR
ality of his time. we have the subtle
qualities which make the commander
ard his army one. molding it the will
ling instrument of his will, unquestion-
| ing. despising odds. and death, follow
ling blindly to immolation. to sustain
his efforts. These are the SOVEREIGN
| gifts which make the great comman-
der, and crown men monarchs of the
battlefield. -
Full Stature of Greatness.
Measured by these tests, Gordon
came up to the full stature of military
greatness. Nothing presents more
strikingly his possession of the fine
fiber of manv of these traits, than his
conduct on the 5th of May in the VIII
derness, when after a fierce counter
charge. piercing the enemy's long ad-
lvancing line of battle, which had driv-