The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-08
Gen. George w. Gordon and
Eleventh Tennessee Regiment
Historic Battle Flag and Sword Worn by Great
Confederate Communicative Career Of Fam
Gus Command-Notable Battles of the Civil War.
Life of and Tribute to Brave Leader


the retreat OF the army TO Lovejoy
station. The concentration Of Hoods
army at Palmetto then followed, prep
aratory 10 entering upon the iil-starred
campaign into Middle Tennessee Hers
the Eleventh. Tennsssss was consoii-
dated with the Twenty-ninth Tennss-
see anA placed under the command OF
Colonel Horace Rice. with Major Binns
second in command.
DAek - Hsme ssfs.
The Invading army finally reached
Florence. Ala. on the Tennessee River.
and for the third time the grand army
OF Tennessee trod and fought upon her
soil. On this advance from Florence
the enemy were fret encountered At
Columbia Thanking him at this point.
his rear was struck at Spring Hill
Here one OF the great oiunders Of the
war ooourred- The chagrin felt by the
army at the failure to capture the en-
envy at this place 10 believed 10 have
augmented the hercensss o. the battle
at Franklin the next day, November
30. 1864. In this bloody engagement
Gordon's Brigade was placed in the
Cheatham's division. commanded by
Mator-Genersl John C. Brown. General
Chatham then commanding Hardses
Corps. General Carriers Brigade being
on the left Of Gor3on's in the front
line. Strahl's and 9ists Brigade con-
etituting the rear line Of battle sup
porting Gordon and Carter.
After charging and taking the enc
my,s advance line. some 500 PAGES in
front OF his main line. a furious charge
was made upon the routed enemy as
he sought shelter IN his main and
strongly fortified line OF defense In
this charge the left regiment OF Cor
don's Brigade, the Eleventh Tennessee
broke the enemy's main line, passed
over II and had men killed 100 PAGES
within his works. At this critical
junoture Q fresh brigade OF the enemy
advanced in front of the breach and
drove back the shattered column OF
Gordon to the works they had TAKEN
when position they held to the last
During the night the enemy retreated
upon Nashville. This was . desper-
ate conflict Considering the number
OF men engaged and the time spent In
actual contact, II was more desperate
and destructive to the Southern army
than any c< the many great eatties
In which II was ever engaged ~ 10
dlcating the Aerceness of the assault
ana the destruction Of iffe that fol-
lowed. every brigade commander ex-
e.ot General Gordon was kilied-car-
ter, ssrshi and Gist--Genersl John {.
Brown, the division commander. being
badly wounded. General Gordon. the
subject OF this sketch. VS. also badly
wounded and captured This ended his
S,flffary career.
Colonel Horace Rice. commanding the
consolidated regiment-the Eleventh
and Twenty ninth-w1s severely
wounded inside OF the rnA:n line. while
the gallant ensign. Sergeant Dru. OF
the Twenty ninth, bearing the old bat
tlensg Of the Eleventh. was killed as
he mounted the main line OF the enc
mys works, falling inside and dying
on the coIors. upon whose folds may
still be seen the faded blood
The Two Flags.
The Eleventh Tennessee had the
honor OF having two regimental Tags
during its active military life and ser
vice. The first was the beautiful silken
banner presented BY the women OF
Nashville as IL passed through the city
from Camp Cheatham IN July, 1851. TO
the seat of war This 10 still extant
and is now. or was the property OF
Captain ". IT. McConley. OF Montg on-
cry County The battlefag that
nosted at NUrfreesboro and SChicka-
Inaugua, that fell the fourth time but
as oftne rose at Missionary Ridsr: tina.
with perforated folds led the regiment
in all the battles of North Georgia,
Atlanta and Jonesb oro. and was con-
secrated At the battle Of Franklin
with the blood OF its ensign. is the
ore presented to the society.
Jus. before the final surrender at
BentonvIlie. V c. in 1855 Captain r
W. Clarke. OF Company p. took n from
the stan ard wrapped IL around his
BODY beneath his ciothing. brought II
home and gave IL 10 General Gordon
upon his return from prison IN fsts.
II SIS priceless relic TO him. its son
timenfal value being beyond all price.
No man ever knew had q kindEer
hear. with sentiment and feelfne
pressed down. shaken together and
running o~e-. thsn General George W
Gordon. C7Icrel Sherwood. OF the
llith Ohio infantry. was a corteusoo-
-s-v of General Gordon in Congress and
was associated with rim for four Years
an the Committee on Military Anaira He
was in command % his regiment Al
the battle % Franklin and held the
p,ir, IN the Federal works oopoeits
20 the CHARGE % Sordous Bridsaoe
Speaking 90 General Gordon. he ssic;
4 perhaps knew him ss we'll arc
as snfsmatei- ss any one outside OF DIS
own state. As soldier he was the
reer % shy oficer who wore tire gray
or ever drew = sword siouz hettie
lire None knew him but 70 love him !.
none knew his record % civic achieve
mca,s but 70 praise. In the beauf'tul
cemetery az Memphis all that Is NOR
tai Of him sleeps well. Every rccur-
ring year. WITH the birth OF he glow
Ing May. gentle hands VIII scatter TIE
choicest Covers over his grave. IN
grateful recognition q his wholesome
Christian ife and IN honor 81 MS
name and fame. And above the green
sod where he sleeps the snowy mag
uoiia viii dinuse q sweetcr balm and
the Wild passion flower. winding its
sweet fendriis asovc the WaNina
grasses viii gather tears beneath The
stars snd shed them N the sunlight.
Surely Tits 81 No small soconisn