Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/755

Rh brigade and led it in the magnificent charge delivered against the Federal position by Hill s division. Commissioned brigadier-general November i, 1862, he was assigned to the command of a gallant brigade of Georgians, the Thirteenth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-first, Thirty-eighth, Sixtieth and Sixty-first regiments, which he commanded at Chancellorsville and in the Pennsylvania campaign. Leading in Early s advance upon Harrisburg, Gordon reached the Susquehanna at Wrightsville, making the most extended advance into the United States territory achieved in the East during the four years war. Recalled on account of the concentration at Gettysburg, on the first day of the struggle there he participated prominently in the determined attack from the north which, drove the Federals through the town to the strong positions which they subsequently held. During- the November operations of that year he with his brigade participated in the fighting below the Rapidan. On the memorable fifth of May, when Swell’s corps struck the first blow upon the advancing columns of Grant, in the Wilderness, Gordon s brigade, after Jones had been driven back, advanced, repulsed the Federals and re-established the Confederate line. On the following day, in command of two brigades, he made a sudden attack at sunset upon Sedgwick’s corps, with such gallantry that the enemy was driven from a large part of his works and six hundred prisoners captured, among them Generals Seymour and Shaler. In the succeeding struggle at Spottsylvania Court House, General Gordon was particularly distinguished as the commander of Early’s division. Immediately after Johnston was overwhelmed by Hancock he threw his division in front of the victorious enemy. General Lee rode up and evidently intended to lead the men in the charge, so imminent was the peril to the army. Gordon remonstrated, the men cried &quot;Lee to the rear,&quot; and one of them seizing the General s bridle, led his horse back, while the charge was made with fury, and the Fed-