The Grenada sentinel., 1904-01-16
GEN. JOHN B. GORDON.

l
"Chevalier Bayard of the Confedera.
cy," " as he was called by Gen. D. III.
Hill, himself one of the starkest fight
ers that war has known, was fated to
enter the estate OF man at the very
beginning of an epoch-marking period
in the history of his country, and in
both civil and military life measured
up fully to the requirements of the
time. After reaching more than the
allotted term of life, he has passed to
his reward, mourned by his entire
people, respected by his former ene-
mics and loved with a sons love by
every man who wore the gray.
The foundation of the great soldier IS
life was laid in filial affection. The
affection that existed between the
Gordons, father and son, was so beau
tiful as to become a tradition in the
section where they lived. The young
mans attitude toward his father was
that which the most devoted sons bear
toword the mother, and in his direst
poverty he always found means to
insure the comfort of his parent. This
affection was returned in kind. The
elder Gordon did not believe there was
another such in the broad world as
"John," and, indeed, there were and
are unfortunately few. There has
| never perhaps been Il greater soldier
in the more modern wars, outside that
remarkable cotcric Of marshaIs that
Napoleon gathered around him, with
out the list of those who had spent
years Of previous training in the art
of war.
Gen. Gordon was born in Upson
county. Ga, July s, 1892, the son of
Rev. L. II. Gordon, who came Of Il
Scotch family OF Wilkes county, y. G.
He graduated at the head of his class
at the Georgia State University, and
soon thereafter was admitted to the
practice of law. At the outbreak of
the civil war he enlisted in company
known as the "Raccoon Roughs, 'and
was almost Immediately elected cap
tain. His desire was to enter the
cavalry arm, but such command
would not be accepted, and the young
soldier changed his command to in
fantry and was soon at the front. So
apt was Gordon in the profession of
arms, for which he had had no previ-
GUS training, that his merits were
almost instantly recognized and he
was field officer before the close of
the year of his enlistment. At the
Seven Pine fight the wounding OF Gen.
Rhodes threw the command of a brig
ade upon Gordon, and he developed
such intelligent handling of troops as
a general officer that he was thereaf-
ter placed in command OF a brigade.
1t is at this point that the most intel
ligent volunteer soldiers career is
checked in actual warfare, but Gordon
was now engaged in campaigns that
brought out the best as we'll as the
worst in man, and the merit OF the
soldier could not be hid. In the great
battles in Virginia, Gordon was part,
and considera Die part, and in May,
1864, he was made a Major General,
his command of a division having pre-
viOusly shown his capacity for that
command.
was shown by the battle at Sharps-
burg, where, with four bullets in his
body he retained command Of his fight
ing line, relinquishing it by compul-
sion only when a fifth bullet entered
the face and rendered him unconscious.
His qualities as soldier are shown
by the fact that he was selected by
Gen. Lee to hold the last line at Pc
tersburg, and to guard the retreat of
the army toward Appomattox. At
this final fight Gordon commanded
one half of the Confederate army. and
was selected to lead the torlorn hope
that was to cut through Grant s army
that Lee might have a way Of escape
westward. When the surrender had
been determined on, he called his he
roic men around him, advised them to
bear the fate that was theirs heroic
ally, 90 home in peace, obey the laws
and work for the future. He himself
was compelled to sell his warhorse to
secure funds with which to reach his
home.
Scarcely had the career of the soldier
ended when the career OF the states
man began. He threw himself earnest
ly into the new struggle that his people
had entered, and was elected Cover
nor of his State in 1868, but was rob-
bed of the Office. He was elected and
seated as Governor four years later.
and in 1873 was elected to the United
States Senate, resigning his seat after
a second election. In 1886 he was a.
gain elected Governor and again in
1888, and on the expiration of the Sec
ond; term was again sent to the Sen
ate, remaining in that body until
1906. Since that time he has devoted
his talents to the welfare OF the org