Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-01-20

ANoNhNN oVhNOh lOchliOAh llt CIV
alric Georgian called out in clear
tones, which were heard by all of
his men: General Hill you need
not fear for this part of the line.
These men are going to stay here"
The men caught the spirit of their
commander and responded with a
yell that ran down the line; Yes,
we have come to stay Alas,
their words were indeed prophetic,
for many of those ragged heroes
did stay there dead on the field
of glory
They held their line against over
whelming odds, and contributed
no little towards keeping back Me-
Clellan until after Harper's Ferry
had surrendered, but the slaughter
among them was fearful.
Colonel Gordon himself was
wounded twice early in the battle,
two balls passing through his right
leg, but he refused to leave the
field; an hour later, ball passed
through his left arm, and little
while after another ball penetrated
his shoulder, and he was covered
with blood, faint and haggard. but
still held his place and cheered his
men, until at last fifth ball struck
him. passed entirely through his
left cheek, and brought him sense
less to the ground. He was now
carried to the rear 10y some of his
men, and the surgeons pronounced
his wounds mortal, but the tender
nursing of his devoted wife, who
who remained near him during the
whole OF the war, and his own un-
cOnQuerable spirit, brought him
safely through the crisis and he
was enabled to return to the army
| in April, 1863, as brigadier-gen-
eral and assigned to the command
| of Lawton' Georgia Brigade. Gen
eral Lawton, after his wound at
/ SharpSburg. having been made
quartermaSter-geneTal.
In his official report of Boons-
boro. General K. +. Lee said: Col
onel Gordon handled his regiment
i'm manncrsI haven seen or heard
Iequaled during the war General
ID. II. Hill. in his report, called
| Gordon the "Chevalier Bayard of
the army" and said of him: Col
onel Gordon, the Christian hero,
eXcelled his former deeds at Seven
Pines and in the battles around
| Richmond. Our language is not
capable ofcXpreSsing n higher COM
pliment."
General Gordon soon improved
greatly the discipline and efficiency
of his splendid brigade, and they
covered themselves with glory in
the charge which recaptured Ma
rye's Hill, and in other operations
against Sedgwick during the Chan
cellorsville campaign of May, SO.
His brigade belonged TO Early's
| Division, and shared all the glories
of those veterans in the capture of
Winchester, and in the Gettysburg
campaign. AtYork, Gordon made
a stirring little speech 10 the fright
ened women and children. in which
he said: we have come to fight
your armies, and not defenseless
women and children. Ipledge you
that not one private dwelling will
be burned or robbed: and so well
do | know these men, that | may
safely promise the head of any one
who insults lady" At Wrights-
vile, Gordon and his men extin-
guished the flames of burning
houses, which had caught from the
bridge burned by the retreatins
Federals, and thus saved the towI
from destruction.
"On the first day at Gettysburg
Gordon came in on the enemy
, flank, and by brilliant charge hi
brigade of only 1920 muskets pu
. hors du combat In less than al
hour at least 4 900 of the enemy
After the return of Lees arm,
from Gettysburg and their loni
rest along the line of the Rapidan
Gordon was a prominent actor i
those great revivals which sweep
through the camps and resulted i
the professed conversion and pull
, lie acknowledgement of faith i
Christ of over 1000 of Lees so
T diers. Gordon not only helpe
the chaplains and missionaries i
D every way in his power, and wrot
J letters to religious newspaper:
f urging the sending of more char
Ioinc md roicciOpo rioc 70 Tho o,.Y,, 4,