The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-31
GORDON'S MEN.
An Incident Showing Their De
votion to Him.
" Tho 1'ires.DIspntch:

Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
sir,-The death OF General Gordon brings
to mind an Incident OF the Civil War
which think is worth relating. because
II showed the active mind ami quick
perception. amidst surroundings or great
danger. which he possessed. ana whlcn
enabled him to do successfully, with about
and and men had failed 10 do when Improperly
directed, and, furthermore III these tW9
OF Jacksons old division at that time,
and suppose were as good soldiers w
any In the army. ,,,,,.,o -. oo,,
manded by General Edward Johnsons and
occupied that portion Of our lllea at SPOT,
syivania in which was the salient. and
which after the 18th OF MAY. was s. d tha
The Incident wish to speak, Of 90.
Cured on May 10th, about shutdown q
denly sprang over their works, and rush
thfou ighwf poos S't Brisade, Of Rodess 81
vision, almost before our mon Knew ~, tn {, :
prisoners and a company OF the Rch-
mond Howitzers,
The ground sloped 10 the rear from the
hundrod i yurds Vide and down ths slope
the enemy poured. but apparently h9vlllsi
no supports. soon returned to our lines.
ana IucllR ABOUT OIl lVC lIoIll olNo W wv
breastworks. determined to hold them
TO the right and left OF the break our
men still held 1rmly 49,,
a HOPELESS CHARGE, = o,,or,
over to retuke tho broken line. General
johnson sent the Second and Third Bril-
Gades.
The Second Brigade, to which I was At
tachcd having lost Its commander. Gen
eral John NJ; Jones. az the Wild E,r Inss S
Wo new a u"fe The NJ TG ds @aa udor GEN
'' The brigade brisades had about half u mile t.
march and md In odsS Hnf 10 ihc heae
mixed rnS d' up in inextrcabie Confusion. ON
= GERS were separated from their CON-
I 4 1i loose and dfIsjointed line advanced Vi
| the slope through the pines, the enemy
elated at their success st', pouTedi ia N III
Vas thrown back with, heavy loss -
! il was now about dusk, and It nppearet
impossible to get line Of men With SUN
Ing some ten feet above our heads, bu
the enemy evidently made no alloWanc
re H9ps damaK s Wes son enq Tor
SAHARA ShS MGasa r. sHake IT,, who ha
recently oyer The Fyep 10 re-
L uVuGl kVC olbhoV W Wy NASN',i SSN'-'-'S''NI
my company. and although we prougf
but small contingent from the Wilder
ness, the last man OF them had jus
fallen In the pines close up TO the breas
works, for Captain SkInker was Away
brave always aggressive, always well
to the front In every hght ever saw hi!
As came out of tho pines, ! happenc
to see an officer on horseback, with se'
eral others, near, and. taking, ndvanlae
Of the gathering darkness, walked up al
found Generals EWell twho was on rhors
back), Rodes and Gordon. rested y
| elbow on the rulnp OF the horse and il
tened 10 the discussion OF their plans,
The first thing that struck Inc was tn
J General Ewel's head was very near tn
stream OF bullets mentioned above, and
fully expected to see him tumble fro
his horse I have since doubted wheth
he heard them, and still the stream w
J thick and continuous, and we were b
N little over two hundred yards from I
h enemy.
: brigade. keeping them intact. and ma
: ing another assault, They were his lin.
: and no officer In The army would fees mo
Z keenIy the loss Of u. position than he d.
. CiORDONfS PROPOSITION.
: 1t was at this time that Gordon got
> that before another assault. With