The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-12
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
PAY GORDON TRIBUTES.
Meeting of Confederate Veterans at
the Capitol.

~ AN' NA' A@cll lACl'
Washington. Jan. 1.-THE Confeder-
ate Veterans of Congress held a large
ly attended meeting in the House mi
nority room this afternoon, at which
committee to draft resolutions upon
the death of Gen. Gordon was named
and other action appropriate to such
an occasion was taken.
The initiative in bringing about the
meeting was taken by Judge Maddox
of Georgia, at the instance of fellow
nessee acted as chairman.
In stating the purposes of the meet
ing Gen. Bate spoke feelingly of his
acquaintance with Gen. Gordon from
the outbreak of the war, of his mag
nificent qualities as a soldier and of
the close relationship enjoyed during
their term of service in the Senate.
Tribute from Bacon.
Senator Bacon paid an eloquent trib-
ute to the memory of the great Geor-
gian. He told of his first acquaintance
with Gordon when the latter be-
gan the study of law in the office of
/ the uncle of the Senator at LAGRANGE;
of Gordon's first military command and
the arrival of the "Raccoon Roughs'
in Atlanta. He well recOllected that
| he went with Capt. Gordon, as he then
was, when the latter ordered his first
military uniform. He traced briefly
| Gordon's remarkable military career,
! eliminating when at the age of 80
he was the trusted lieutenant of the
| great Lee and commanded the right
wing of his immortal army.
| He believed the history of warfare
| could show no such fortitude as that
| shown by Gordon in the battle of
Sharpsburg, or Antietam, as it is also
called, when he received no less than
five wounds, each of a character that
would have warranted his relinquish-
| ing command; but he fought on
throughout that day, refusing to give
up. The first wound, as he recollected
it, came early in the day. He was hit
| again, and again, and again, and each
time seriously wounded, but he would
not give up and fought on until the
fifth wound, in the face, rendered him
| insensible, and he had to be taken
from the field late in the afternoon.
! Speaking of the high regard in which
he was held by Georgians Senator
Bacon said no man in the state was
so universally beloved. There was nc
man whose taking away would be sc
| deeply mourned. He did not believe
| there had ever been a citizen of Geor-
| gia so universally beloved as Gen.
| Gordon.
Gordon and Forrest.
Senator Berry of Arkansas and Sen
| ator Morgan of Alabama also spoke
with great feeling of their admiration
and love for Gen. Gordon. Senator
Berry said it had always been his
| Judgment that with the possible ex-
ception of Forrest, Gordon was the
greatest soldier who had ever start
/ ed in from civil life, a far greater
soldier than many of those who had
the advantage of scientific military
training at West Point.
Judge Maddox was authorized to
| order at Atlanta an appropriate floral
offering.
The committee to draft resolutions
will report at another meeting to be
held tomorrow afternoon. This COM
mittee consists of Senators Bate OF
Tennessee, Bacon of Georgia, McEnery
of Louisiana, McCreary of Kentucky
: Daniel of Virginia, Cockrell of Mis-
souri,, Pettus of Alabama, Berry of Ar
kansas, and Blackburn of Kentucky
and Representatives Maddox of Geor-
gia, Davis of Florida, Talbert of Mary
| yand, Bankhead of Alabama, Pierce OF
| Tennessee, Field Of Texas, Croft OF
South Carolina, Livingston of Geor-
gia, Lamb of Virginia, and Spight OF
| mississippi It will be determined at
| to-morrow's meeting whether it will be
possible to send a delegation represent
ing the Confederates in Congress to the
| funeral.
The Georgia delegation will meet to-
morrow morning and take appropriate
action.
In his prayer opening the Senate's
session, Rev. Edward Everett Hale
the chaplain, made touching reference
| to the death Of the great leader OF
men, referring to the distinguished
| Georgia soldier and statesman.