The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-12

men, and many men achieved greatness
through It, but there were few equal to
John B. Gordon. All the schools in the
world could not have developed such
great men as Gordon and Forrest. 1t re-
quired some great event to bring out the
| greatness of these men.
General Gordon first showed his great
ness by his anxiety to participate in the
great struggle when only caption of the
Raceoon Roughs, which served him as a
stepping stone to the greater things. We
should remember that it was as an Ala
bamian at the head of the Sixth Alabama
regiment that he first achieved great
ness. when at the battle of Sharpsburg
he displayed that bravery which litter
ally shot him from a colonel to briga-
der general. 1t was General Gordon,
who at Spotsylvania turned the Federal
flank and relieved the Confederate front
of the awful pressure which might have
meant defeat
Again at Cedar Creek. General Gordon
executed a flank movement which defeat
ed General Sheridan, and had it not been
for the misjudgment of other command
ers. Sheridan would never have occupied
the place In history which he has.
"Of all the heroes of the south 1t was
General Gordon whom General Lee chose
at Appomatix to make the last charge and
endeavor to break through the army of
Grant and turn defeat to victory. He
led the last forlorn hope of the south.
Who will ever forget the sight as those
5000 men with shining bayonets made that
charge.
while the spirit of the south was
broken, that of Gordon stood the test, aud
1t was his wise counsel which carried
the south through the awful days follow
ing the war General Gordon was the
truest of men, and his counsel to the
broken and sattered south to commence
work at once to rebuild the fair land
which had been swept by the storm of
war.
But of all things when the south was
hopelessly defeated and discouraged, his
voice rang out through the entire south
| land calling the battle-scarred veterans
to unite in bodies to hold sacred the
memories of the times through which they
organized the United Confederate Vet
Grams. over which he had held command
| since 1t was organized. 1t was Gordon
who stood in the senate and defended the
south against all attacks in the recon-
struction days. He was knight without
fear, with record without shame Moth
ing can be said to his detriment and all
to his honor
'Al this great south can stand up and
join in saying, This, this was a man.
N. II. Graham who served through the
war under General Gordon, gave some
personal recollections of the commander
telling of his bravery on different occa-
sions, especially at Malvern Hill, when he
| led a charge of an Alabama brigade to
capture a battery of fifty guns which
were pouring shot and shell into the ranks
, # the confederates He said it was Cen
eral Gordon's brigade, with two Alabama
companies as a skirmish line which first
put foot on Maryland soil when the first
invasion was attempted.
Ex-Governor Sims.
Ex-Governor Sims of Mississippi spoke
on the character Of General Gordon. and
specially on the greatness of the deceased
| in civil life. Judge Houghton said that
shortly after returning from the New Or
leans reunion he was asked why General
Gordon was always elected commander.
In reply he said: Il can't exactly explain,
but it is just impossible to have any other
man. It's something no one but a vete-
ran can understand" w ]. Miner and
several others also spoke for few min
| utes.
Commander Roden issued a call for a
meeting of Camp Hardee on January 10,
in Tomllnson hall, for the purpose of
celebrating the birthday of Gen. Robert
e. Lee, programme will be arranged
for the occasion and the members of Pei
ham chapter, U. d. c., will give crosses of
honor to a number of the veterans.
General Bush moved that a delegation
be sent to the funeral and Commander
Roden asked that all who can go will re-
port to his office today and he will ap-
point them. 1t is thought that about
forty members of the camp will attend
| the funeral.
Adjutant ]. Lawler Darby has made ar
rangements for floral offering to be
sent to Atlanta. He was instructed to
do so by the camp yesterday afternoon.
| The camp unanimously requested Com
mander Roden to go to the funeral.