The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-14
PERSONAL.

Gen. John Brown Gordon died at his
home at Biscayne, near Miami, Fla, Jan.
first trouble was acute Indigestion, which
then turned into uremic poisoning. Gen.
Gordon, who, after Gen. Longstreet, was
the ranking surviving officer of the South
ern Confederacy, was born in Epson Coun.
ty, Ga, July 6, 1882, of Scotch ancestry
which had been prominent in the Revoiu-
tionary War. He graduated from the
Georgia State University in 1862, was adj
mitted to the practice of the law, and in
1861 entered the rebel army as Captain
of a company. He rose rapidly to be Lieu
tenant-Colonel of the 9th Ala and was
made Brigadier-General for his services
on the Peninsula. He took prominent
part at Antietam, Charlottesville, Gettys-
burg, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania.
Everywhere he showed boldness and dash,
combined with good Judgment which led
Gen. ID. I'll. Hill, his Corps Commander,
to term him .'the Chevalier Bayard of the
Confederacy." He became Major-Gen-
eral, commanding a division at the begin
ming of 1854, and he'd the distinction of
striking the last blow for the Southern
Confnderacy. He was ordered with his
division, on that Hateful morning at APP
pomattox to drive away the cavalry and
open the road for the retreat of Lees army
to Lynchburg. The cavalry opened up be-
fore his advance, and revealed to him the
solid line of infantry behind them, which
Gen. Gordon promptly recognized as the
end. He and Longstreet sent out flags Of
truce at once and negotiations for the sur
render began. Gen. Gordon Immediately
accepted the situation, and advised his men
to 60 home. become good citigens, and try to
build up the country. He was a political
leader thereafter, though frequently defeat
ed in his aspirations. He was elected to
the Senate of the United States from
Georgia in 1873. and again in 1879. but
resigned to embark upon the building of the
Georgia Pacific Railroad. In 1886 he was
elected Governor of Georgia, and served
two terms, after which he was reelected to
the United States Senate. He had become
very well known all over the country by
his lectures and writings on ''The Last
years had been Chief of the
United Confederate Veterans. He was a
man of high principles, and affectionate,
lovable character.
Breyet Brighten. Victor Yifquain. died
at his home in Lincoln, Neb, Jan. z. He
entered the army in 1862 as First Lieuten-
ant and Adjutant of the 9th Iii. Being
an educated soldier and accomplished drill
master, he speedily rose until he reached
the Lieutenant-C olonelcy of the regiment.
He received two brevets, and a special
medal of honor for his distinguished SER
vices, particularly in the Mobile campaign.
He was a consistent Democrat, and upon
Cleveland's entering office he was APP
pointed Consul at Barranquilia in his first
administration, and at Colon during his
second. He was for many years editor OF
the Lincoln (Neb) Democrat Upon the
breaking out of the Spanish War he be-
came Leutenant-Colonel of the Sd Neb.,
of which William Jennings Bryan was
Colonel. Bryans lack of military instincts
and training made it difficult to discipline
the regiment. but during his absence and
after his resignation Vifquain became
Colonel, and brought it up TO the highest
state of efficiency. Representative Bur
kett of Nebraska. introduced bill early
in the session to give Gen. Vifquain pen
sion of $50 per month, which he much
needed Mr.. Burkett succeeded in hurry
ing he bill through, and the moment It
passed, left his seat to go to the telegraph
office to wire the news to the aged vet
eran. On his way he met a messenger
boy who handed him telegram announc-
ing Gen. Vifquain's death. He was born
in France, 90 years ago.
DIR. James Francis Ferguson, one of the
most eminent Surgeons In the country,
died at his home in Central Valley, N. u,
Jan. Z. He went to the front in 1861
as Assistant Surgeon OF the I'd N. 4. >.
NJ
in the 165th n. Y. cd Duryea Zouayes),
and was brevetted Colonel. He was a
man of great wealth, and spent $JO0,OO0
i'm building the Ealkirek, an institution for
the treatment of mental and nervous dis
eases. -
A career of singular interest was closed
in New York Dec oy the me saa Of Of tbe
Order of Paulists. Father Desh0n grad
uated from West Point in 1885, in. the
same class with Gen. u. 3. Grant, whose
roommate and intimate friend he was. He
had brilliant course at West Po.af, com
ing out second in a class of which Ten.
VIM, B. Franklin was the head. His high
stanfling caused him to be assigned to the
Typographical Engineers. but he later Sc
cured a transfer to the Ordnance Bureau,
and then returned to West Point as an
mental Philosophy. After a period of
duty as an Ordnance Office, he then re-
turned to the Academy for three years as
Assistant Professor of Geography, History
and Ethics, when he went back to duty
he became converted TO Catholicism, and
resigned Oct. 81, 1851. He was ordained
a Roman Catholic priest four years later,
becoming a member of the Redemptorists,
and then a member of the Paulists. This
latter is an order OF converts from Pro-
testantism. and with them he was identified
for the rest of his life. Other members
of the class of 1S43 beside Franklin, Davis
and Grant, were Gems. Peck, J. j: Rey-
nolds, Hardie. III. +. Clarke. French, Au-
ger, Potter, G. s. Hamilton. Fred Steele.
Rufus Ingalls,. II. ID. Dent, and III. nj.
Judah, of the Union Army, and Gems. r.
s. Ripley and Franklin Gardner, of the
Confederate Army. While his classmates
were thus gaining prominence and honors
in the great war. Father a,;h Desnon wen, went
he had chosen instead of the brilliant mill
tary career which undoubtedly would have
been his.
.Comrade John l.. Glenn, at present in the
Philippines in the Quartermaster's Depart
ment. writes us that the work there Is
health hopes to make great success Of
that Department. He still has 10 Years
OF active service. and viii be the last Of the
old war veterans to retire. His beautiful
young wife is with him, and they are en-
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