Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-11
DEATH OF GEN. GORDON

ultf VI. tue OOuicucIdC1j "a NS"N' 'J
few DAYS ago he followed to the grave
the remains. of General Longstreet. He
died at his winter home at Biscayne, Fla,
at 1905 O'Clock Saturday night, after
being unconscious nearly all day.
Death was not unexpected, and for "a
hours the doctors had almost given up
hope.
General Gordon was for many years
grand commander of the Confederate
Veterans. and at the last meeting was
reelected with Unprecedented enthusi-
asm. Mrs. Gordon, one son and two
daughters survive him.
General Gordon was born in Epson
county, Ga July G, 1882, of Scotch
ancestry. Young Gordon graduated from
Georgia State University in 1852, and a
few months later was admitted to the
practice of law. Early in 1861 he en-
listed in the volunteer Confederate serv-
ice and was elected captain OF his COM
pany. He rose rapidly by promotion to
be lieutenant colonel of the Sixth Ala
bama Infantry. in December 1861.
He participated in the struggle on
the Peninsula, had part in the battle at
Malvern Hill, and was commissioned
brigadier general November, 1862, and
with his command was at Chancellors-
vile and in the Pennsylvania campaign.
He wasat the battle of Gettysburg, the
battle of the Wilderness, and at
Spottsylvania Court House.
In May, 1864, he was promoted to be
major gs neral and took part in the I'M
portant battles which marked the clos
ing scenes Of the civil war. His bear
ing was characterized by boldness and a
dash which made him the idol of his
soldiers. In an official report of Gen.
d. IT.. Hill, Gen Gordon was charac-
terized as "the Chevalier Bayard of the
Confederacy. When the army OF Lee
surrendered at Appomattox, General
Gordon was in command of the Second
Army Corps.
General Gordon participated with
Generals Lee and Longstreet in the last
council of war held by the Confederate
generals at Appomattox. There he, too,
made the last attempt to break through
Grants lines. With 800 men he made
charge, but was met with such heavy
resistance that he sent the following
message to Lee: "My command has
fought to FRAGILE and the attack is a
failure" When Lee received the mes
sage he said: ''Then there is nothing
left for me but to see General Grant. ."
Gordon's command was recalled from
the attack, and the capitulations which
ended the greatest strife known to the
world were begun and soon closed.
During hostilities he was wounded
eight times and bore on his face an ugly
scar made by union musket ball until
his death.
When hostilities were ended, he called
his men about him and advised them to
bear trial of defeat, to go home in peace,
obey the laws, and rebuild the wasted
country.
He has taken prominent part in the
councils of his party since 1866. He
was defeated candidate for governor OF
Georgia in 1868, and in 1878 and 1879
was elected to the United States Senate.
Resiguing that position in 1880, he par
ticipated actively in building the Georgia
Pacific Railroad. In 1886 aud 1888 he
was elected governor of Georgia, and in
1890 entered again the United States
Senate for the full term. Since his re-
tirement from political actively, he has
devoted much of his time in leeturing,
presenting to the North, as we'll as the
South, his lecture upon 'The Last Days
of the Confereracy."
Since the organization OF the United
Confederate Veterans, he had held the
position of its commander-in-chief and
his frequent reflections to that position
have testified to the warmth of ELECTION
in which he has been held in the South.