Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-28
GEN. DAVID GORDON
DIES AT AGE OF 81
Veteran Was Oldest Retired
Officer in the Army at Time
of His Death.

Brig Gen. David Stuart Gordon,
U. S. A., retired, the oldest retired
officer of the American Army. died to-
day at private sanitarium at SO4
Flower avenue, Takoma Park, Md.
Gen. Gordon had been suffering for
many months from the infirmities of
advanced age. He was 81 years of age,
and had he lived four more days he
would have attained the Oldest age ever
reached by an officer of the Army.
Twenty years ago Gen. Daniel H.
Rucker died at the age of 81 years, 8
months and days. Gen. Gordon had
lived 81 years. months and days.
Funeral arrangements were being
completed today by telegraph between
Robert v. Fleming, president of the
Riggs National Bank, a stepson of Gen.
Gordon, and the two children of the
late Army officer, both of whom live
in California. Interment probably will
be at Arlington Cemetery.
Gen. Gordon was well known Wash
ington character and had been ex-
tremely vigorous even at his advanced
age, frequently going downtown and
walking through the streets. He was the
last survivor of the famous Frontier
Guards" was twice brevetted for bra
very, was captured by the Confederates
during the Civil War and served with
distinction in many of the battles of
the war between the States. He was
retired "a years ago from the active
list Of the Army and on April %, 1904,
was advanced to the rank of brigadier
general, retired.
Twice Brevetted.
As a captain in the Union forces he
was brevetted major July 3, 1863, "for
gallant and meritorious service" in the
Gettysburg campaign, and again bre-
vetted lieutenant colonel "for gallant
service against the Indians at Miners
Delight, Wyo., May 4, 1870"
He had served with the famous
Frontier Guard" which was organized
after the inauguration of President Lin
coin to serve as a bodyguard for the
Civil War President. Under the COM
mand of the late Senator James H.
Lane as captain, the guard had its
headquarters In the White House until
1t entered active service. At the time
of Lincoln'S assassination Gen. Gordon
was stationed at Winchester, Va, and
hearing Of the tragedy, posted pickets
along the roads leading in from Wash
ington in the hope Of capturing the as
Sassin.
Born May %, 1882, in Franklin
County, near GreencaStle, Pa, Gen.
Gordon was appointed a second lieuten-
ant in the I'd Dragons, April 10, 1851.
Within two months he had attained the
rank of first lieutenant. He opened the
first fight at Fairfax Court House, June
l, 1861, and served throughout the
war. On July 81, 1861, he was captured
at the first battle Of Bull Run, after
being wounded In the leg. Incarcerated
for Is months in various prisons in the
South, including the famous Libby pris-
on, he was exchanged october 3, 1862,
at Annapolis, Md.
Indian Campaigner.
At the end of the Civil War, Gen.
Gordon served in the Indian campaigns
on the then wild frontier in the West,
serving with Buffalo Bill Cody at Fort
Leavenworth. Gen Gordon engaged
in active service and campaigned with
Gray Fox" Crook, Custer and other
famous Indian fighters. He was a
member of the unit which went to
punish the Sioux for the massacre of
Custer and his men and later led the
expedition which relieved Maj. Fetter-
mans command at Fort Phil Kearney,
aICer the massacre OF LIlaC OuCer Dy the
Sioux under Red Cloud.
Gen. Gordon covered many hundreds
of miles in all kinds of weather during
these rigorous campaigns against the
plains Indians. On one expedition he
reached Fort Phil Kearney without the
loss of man, after long march, al
though every horse died or was killed.
After the Indian campaigns he served
four years in command Of Fort Myer
and in 1896 was automatically retired
from service with the rank of colonel.
Shortly after his retirement Gen.
Gordon moved to San Francisco and
was in that city during the earthquake
and the fire which followed. After the
earthquake he moved to Washington,
where he had since made his home.
Gen. Gordon was twice married, but
both wives have died. He married the
widow Of Robert I. Fleming, whose son,
Robert v. Fleming. now is president of
the Riggs National Bank.
He is survived, in addition to Mr..
Fleming, by son, G. H. Gordon of Los
Angeles, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis
N. Shook Of Oakland, Calf.