CSA Bios Two Other Gordons

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. James B. Gordon (b. 1822, d. 1864) While his more famous distant relative John Brown Gordon made his career commanding infantry, James Byron Gordon was a cavalry man. James B. Gordon was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, No. 2, 1822. Educated in Virginia at Emory and Henry College, Gordon operated a mercantile business and was a farmer. In 1850, he was elected to the North Carolina legislature. When war came, Gordon enlisted as a private in the Wilkes Valley Guards. In officer elections, Gordon was elevated to first lieutenant. He later became captain, but left that unit when he was appointed major of the First North Carolina Cavalry, the first full regiment of cavalry organized in defense of the Confederacy. Four of its original officers (Robert Ransom, Lawrence Baker, Victor Barringer and Gordon) later were promoted to brigadier general or higher. This unit was sent to Virginia as part of the Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia from Oct. 1861 through March 1862. In April and May of the year, it was back in North Carolina as part of Ransom’s Brigade. In June, most of the unit was part of the cavalry brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia. In July of 1862, the Fighting First became part of Gen. Wade Hampton’s brigade of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry corps in July of 1862. Meanwhile, Gordon had been promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1862. The regiment saw limited action in the Seven Days Campaign. Its first major action was during the Second Manassas Campaign, in which the Confederates drove Gen. John Pope’s forces back into the Washington defenses, and the campaign into Maryland, which culminated in the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). Along the way, the regiment was involved in the successful siege of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. In the spring of 1863, Gordon was promoted to colonel. The Fighting First played a major role at Brandy Station (June 9, 1863), fighting both dismounted against infantry and mounted against cavalry. One charge drove the 10th New York Cavalry out of line and resulted in the capture of that unit’s flag. The regiment fought again June 21 at Upperville, Virginia, an action against Gen. Judson Kilpatrick’s Federal cavalry, which ended with hand-to-hand combat. During the big cavalry action east of the main battlefield at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, the First North Carolina was one of the units which broke through the Federals and hit the reserve force. Once the Confederate forces retired back to Virginia, Gordon was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Sept. 28, 1863. Commanding the North Carolina cavalry brigade, Gordon’s men played a major role in the “Buckland Races” near Buckland’s Mills, Virginia, Oct. 18, 1863, part of the Bristoe Campaign. There, forces of Stuart whipped Kilpatrick’s Federals, chasing them for five miles and capturing 150. In May of 1864, Gordon’s men were the first to meet the advance of Gen. U.S. Grant after the Federal leader crossed the Rapidan River. The brigade opposed Gen. Philip Sheridan’s cavalry raid against the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, in May of 1864. The unit suffered at Yellow Tavern, where their charismatic leader, Gen. Stuart, was mortally wounded May 11, 1864. The next day, Gordon was wounded near Meadow Bridge, Virginia. He was struck in the arm with a bullet, which exited at the elbow. At first, the wound did not seem to be major. But erysipelas (an acute, infectious skin disease with local inflammation and fever) set into the wound and on May 18, Gordon died in Richmond. He was buried in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Found this site, http://firstnccav.home.mindspring.com/home.html very helpful in tracking the movements of the First North Carolina Cavalry as both “Generals in Gray” and the “Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War” were a little short in information on Gordon.

George Washington Gordon is next

[Gil R.]

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[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. George W. Gordon (b. 1836, d. 1911) Many of George Washington Gordon’s major accomplishments came well after the final action of the Civil War. Gordon was the last Confederate general to serve in the U.S. Congress, earning his first term more than 40 years after the war (1906). He twice earned reelection to the office. He also served two terms as commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans. Born in Giles County, Tennessee, Gordon spent his early years in Mississippi and Texas. He went to the Western Military Institute in Nashville, where he studied under another future Confederate general, Bushrod Johnson. He graduated in 1859 and became a surveyor. With war coming, Gordon became drillmaster of the 11th Tennessee Infantry. After training, this unit was sent to garrison the Cumberland Gap with Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer. Gordon moved up through the ranks. The 11th Tennessee went to Frankfort, Kentucky, and back. Many of the men made that 400-mile trip in their bare feet. When Col. James Rains was promoted to brigadier general, Gordon was elevated to colonel just prior to the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) at the end of 1862. The 11th Tennessee was part of the attack which crushed the Federal right on Dec. 31, 1862. The suffered most of its casualties while attacking concentrated Federal artillery near the Nashville Pike later in the day. Suffering 83 casualties, the regiment was not engaged for the remainder of the battle. When Gen. Braxton Bragg reformed his units near Tullahoma, Tennessee, the 11th Tennessee was brigaded into Brig. Gen. Preston Smith’s brigade of Tennessee regiments and wintered in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Engaged in the first day at the Battle of Chickamauga, the 11th Tennessee was hit hard near Brotherton Road. In a night attack, Gen. Smith and two staff officers were killed. Col. Alfred Vaughan took charge of the brigade, leading it into a successful charge which bagged several hundred Federal prisoners. The unit fought again the next day near Horseshoe Ridge. Two days later, routed a Federal picket at Missionary Ridge. The regiment missed part of the Chattanooga siege, being sent away with Gen. James Longtreet. But by November, it was back in the rifle pits of Missionary Ridge. When the Federal assault began Nov. 25, 1863, half of the unit was helping to construct fortifications up the ridge. Driven off the ridge, the regiment went into winter camp at Dalton, Georgia. On March 22, 1864, a heavy snow covered the camp. Leading Tennesseans in a charge against Walker’s Georgians, Gordon earned the title “Snowball Colonel.” The 11th Tennessee was engaged for the next 100 days against Federal forces in the Atlanta Campaign. After seeing light action, the unit was thrust into the “Dead Angle” at Kennesaw Mountain, where it suffered few casualties during a costly Federal assault. At the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, Gordon was wounded, but he was able to resume command. He was promoted to brigadier general to fill in for the wounded Alfred Vaughan. At Jonesboro, Georgia, Sept. 1, 1864, Gordon’s brigade suffered horrible losses while filling a void in the lines made when the Federals overran Brig. Gen. Daniel Govan’s brigade. Following this battle. Gen. John Hood led his army into Tennessee. At the Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864, Gordon’s brigade enjoyed early success, but could not take the main Federal works. Gordon was wounded and captured near Carter’s cotton gin. He spent the rest of the war in the Fort Warren prison, being released in July, 1865. Gordon moved to Memphis after the war and became an attorney, starting a successful postwar career. He died in Memphis, Tennessee, Aug. 9, 1911, and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery there.

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.