The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-08-10
GEN. GORDON
ENDS HIS LAST
GREAT Fight
coMMANDER-IN-cHlEF OF CON-
FEDERATE VETERANS is
DEAD IN MEMPHIS.
SOLDIER, LAWYER AMI. STATESMAN
Long Life of UsefuIness-Served With
Distinction Through Civil War-or-
ganzed ku klux kIan in Tennes-
SOLDIER, LAWYER and D.STATESMRN
(By Associated Press.)

Memphis, Tenn, Aug. 10.-George
Washington Gordon, soldier. lawyer,
statesman, is dead Worn by an i'll
ness dating from his last political
campaign, when he was reelected to
the national house of representatives,
the last general of the Confederacy
to serve in that body answered the
summons to join the invisible major
| ity. Funeral arrangements have not
been announced but the obsequie5
will be, it is expected, of a military
character and the body will be laid
to rest in this city probably Sunday.
| Weakened by the heat of the past
"a hours and his feeble frame wasted
by the ravages of a slow illness, the
light of Gen. Gordon's life grew dim
mer hourly today, When, followed by
restless night he awoke from fitful
sleep in the early morning hours. the
loving watchers at his side saw that
the end was but a question Of hours,
perhaps minutes. AS the end ap-
preached, peace seemed to envelope
his face. for he smiled as with COM
forting words he bade relatives adieu.
He died at O'Clock yesterday after
noon.
At the bedside of Gen. Gordon when
he died were his wife and other rela-
tives.
Family Moved to Mississippi.
George Washington Gordon was
born in Giles county, Tenn, Oct. s,
1886. In his early boyhood his par
ents removed to Texas and later to
Mississippi, but as a youth he re-
turned to Tennessee and entered the
Western Military Academy, from
which he was graduated in 1885. His
activity was as a civil engineer.
At the outbreak of the Civil war
Gen Gordon enlisted as drill master
of the Eleventh Tennessee Infantry,
c. S. A. Within a few weeks he
was made a captain and later pro-
NOTED to a lieutenant coloners rank
and in about year was commissioned
colonel. In 1864 he was named brigs-
t der general He participated with
distinction in a number Of engage
ments and at one time was taken
| prisoner but was exchanged at the
end of ten days.
y At the close Of the war Gen. Cor
o don studied End practiced law, becom-
ing attorney general of this (Shelby)
:. county. In 1888 he was appointed
+ member of the Tennessee Railroad
. Commission and in 1885 an attache
d. of the federal department of the inter
ior. serving four years In the Indian
country At the end Of Grover Cleve'
lands first presidential term he re-
turned to Memphis and resumed the
practice of law. In 1892 he was elect
ed superintendent of the Memphis
Al public schools He was elected
N member of the Goth congress from
the Tenth Tennessee district and re
elected to the 6lst and 62nd con
40 crosses. He was the only Confeder
is ate general numbered in the presen
On congress.
no Gen. Gordon was chosen comman
RI der-in-chief of the United Confederate
ne Veterans at the reunion of 1910 a
ed Mobile. Ala.
,et He was reelected to that position
a. the 1911 reunion at Little RocF
an Ark, last May.
ed Gen. Gordon was credited with hay
d. ing been one of the organizers of tn
Ku KluX Klan in Tennessee.
Health Began to Fail.
IN. Immediately following the close
his last political campaign, Gen. Go
rly don's health began to fail. Asthma
severe form developed. Notwithstan'
up ing the poor state Of his health }
ing attended the sessions Of congress an
lie. his vigor was partially restored. Jul
an before the Little Rock reunion, he su
and lfered an attack Of ptomaine poiso
ere ing, and against the advice Of phys
fCouffnued on IT.