Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-15
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GEN. JOHN B. GORDON DEAD.
Last Of the Confederate Lieut.. Generals
Passes Away. -.,,. 40


Passes Away. ~an
RI Gen. John B. Gordon, gallant so
$ dierof the Confed eracy, is dead. Onl
a few days ago he followed to grav
! the remains of General Longstreel
j He died at his winterhome at Biscayne
Fla, at 1905 O'Clock Saturday night
after boing unconscious nearly all day
Death was not unexpected, and TO
"a hours the doctors had almost give
up hope.az 15f'2,3 frei atroe =
i General Gordou was for many year
|, grand commander OF the Confederat
Veterans, and at the last meeting wa
reelected with unprecedented enthusi
asm. Mrs. Gordon. one son and tw'
daughters survive him. .4
| General Gordon was born IN Upsol
Icounry, ga. July 6, 1882. of Scotch
ancestry, which had a prominent par
lin the Revolutionary war. Younf
EGordou graduated from Georgia State
! University in 1852, and few months
later was admitted to the practice OF
/ law. Early in 1851 be enlisted in the
| Volunteer Confederate service, and
was elected captain of his company
He rose rapidly by promotion to be
| lieutenant colonel on. the Sixth Ala
bama infantry in December 1851. dc
participated in the struggle on the
Peninsula, had part in the battle at
Malvern Hill, and was commissioned
brigadier.general November, 1868.
He served gellantly at Chancellors
Vile and in the Pennsylvania Cam
p4ign He was at the battle of Gettys,
burg, the battle of the Wilderness, at
Spottsylvania Courthouse In May,
1854, was promoted to b- major general
and took part in the important ba ties
which marked the closing scenes Of the
Civil war, earning, perhaps, during
those trying days, his greatest reputa.
ton. a
n The retreat of what remained of the
Confederate army was continued, Gnr-
don g troops at the High Bridge going
into bivouac on the opposite side OF
the river from Longstreet's command.
At early dawn the Federals made an
attack on Cor .On at rhe bridge, and
on Longstreet on the hills near Farm
vile. Firing the bridge, and leaving
one brigade to check the enemy, the
of Gordon's crops took the1
railroad track to Farmville, leaving
The brigade skirmishipg sharply. On |
The ligh hills Oh the upper side OF the
just beyond FarHnville,
It appeared as If the Confederates in
,ended to give battle. The artillery
was placed in position and lines of in
antry were formed; but 1t was only
lone to cover the movement of the wa
,ons as the army took up it's line of
'etreat.
During all day of the 18th of April
he Confederate army marched without
nolestation in the rear Occasionally
be enemy g cavalry would dash down
N the wagon train, kill a few horses,
righten the drivers and quartermas-
ers, and then scamper away. Lee q
rmy dwindled down to 5000 armed
nen, and he was in a position from
which it was impossible to extricate
lis command without battle, which
t was no longer capable of fighting
ieneral Gordon was thrown out with
bout 1000 men in front; the wreck OF
command covered the
ear. Such was the condition and dis
POSITION of General Lees army when
Sordon attempted the last desperate
ask of cutting himself through Sheri-
ans lines. The Confederate cavalry
7as drawn up in mass 10 the village of
Courthouse. The fields.
ardens and streets were strewn with
roops bivouacking in the line of bat
lie in the early light of morning Cor:
on's troops marched through and to
be west of the village Dispositions
,ere made for attack. and about 10 q.
j Gordon's line was ordered forward
uccess seemed to follow his initiatory
lovement, but before long Gordon sent
'ord to General Lee that the enemy ,
'as driving him back. Just as bis d. t
isions had formed anew to resist a
aux movement of Sheridan, flag Of
ruce appeared. and the action sud.
emily ceased.
His bearing was characterized BY !;
oldness, and dash which made him
ne idol of bis soldiers. |,
In an official report of General D. b.
ILL, General Gordon was characterized
8 1.-THE Chevalier Bayard of the Con-
,deracy."
When hostilities were ended be called
is tmen about him and advised them
D bear the trials of defeat, TO go home i,
q peace, obey the laws and rebuild the
tasted country. l.
II - udu UdhCh q PiOAihOho P@'o IL 4
he councils of bis party since 1866.
lie was defeated candidate for gov ,
rnor of Georgia in 1858, and in 1873
nd 1879 was elected to the United
Jtates Senate Reslgning that posi-.
ion In 1880, he participated actively Il
q building the Georgia Pacific rail-
governor of Georgia, and in 1890 enter
d again the United States Senate for
he full term. After his retirement
rom political activity be devoted much
Il his time to featuring, presenting to
be North as we'll as the South his lee
ure upon The Last Days of the Con- {
ederacy."
Since the organization of the United