REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR BY CS GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON, AUTOGRAPHED

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Item Code: 804-78

This volume is a first edition that was published in 1903 by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Tipped in on the first page is the autograph, “JB GORDON”. Three portraits of Gordon are featured- at 33 years old as a Confederate General at the close of the war; at 22 years old, taken from a daguerreotype; and from 1896 when he represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate.

John Brown Gordon (February 6, 1832 – January 9, 1904) was one of Robert E. Lee's most trusted Confederate generals by the end of the American Civil War.  In 1864, Gordon was described by General Robert E. Lee in a letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis as being one of his best brigadiers, "characterized by splendid audacity". After the war, he was a strong opponent of Reconstruction during the late 1860s. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from 1873 to 1880, and again from 1891 to 1897. He also served as the 53rd Governor of Georgia from 1886 to 1890. Following the publication of this book, he engaged in a series of popular speaking engagements throughout the country. General Gordon was the first Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans when the group was organized in 1890 and held this position until his death. He died while visiting his son in Miami, Florida, at the age of 71, and was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia; upwards of 75,000 people viewed and took part in the memorial ceremonies.

In the introduction, Gordon states that he was urged for many years to record his memoirs. This is a very detailed history of The War Between the States with battle history and strategy. Gordon participated in the battles of First Bull Run, Seven Days Battles, Malvern Hill, the Maryland Campaign, Antietam /Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown, Gettysburg, Overland Campaign, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Valley Campaigns of 1864, Opequon, Cedar Creek, the Siege of Petersburg, Fort Stedman, and Appomattox Courthouse. Gordon was wounded multiple times throughout the war.

This is an interesting story that Gordon recounted. At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, Gordon's brigade smashed into the XI Corps on Barlow's Knoll. There, he aided the wounded opposing division commander Francis Barlow. This incident led to a story about the two officers meeting later in Washington, D.C., unaware that Barlow had survived the battle. The story was told by Barlow and by Gordon and was published in newspapers and in Gordon's book. “Seated at Clarkson Potter's table, I asked Barlow: ‘General, are you related to the Barlow who was killed at Gettysburg?’ He replied: ‘Why, I am the man, sir. Are you related to the Gordon who killed me?’ ‘I am the man, sir,’ I responded. No words of mine can convey any conception of the emotions awakened by those startling announcements. Nothing short of an actual resurrection from the dead could have amazed either of us more. Thenceforward, until his untimely death in 1896, the friendship between us which was born amidst the thunders of Gettysburg was greatly cherished by both.”

Book has a dark blue cloth cover with gold gilt lettering of the book’s title on the front cover and spine. Front cover also features the Great Seal of the Confederacy. Back cover is completely unattached to the spine but front cover and pages are tight. Blue boards have light rubbing and wear, especially on edges of spine and corners. Pages have yellowed with age. Book measures 9” x 6” x 1 ¾”. Text contains 474 pages.  [sm]

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