General John B. Gordon

General John Gordon

Biography (Written and Submitted by Mr. Gabe Weaver)

General John Brown Gordon was born on February 6, 1832 in Upson City, Georgia. In early May of 1861 Gordon was commissioned a captain of the 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment and rose to the rank of Colonel by April 28, 1862. Colonel Gordon was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General on November 1, 1862. He was then put in charge of General Jubal Early's Division in the Army of Northern Virginia from April 11, 1863 to May 8, 1864. On May 14, 1864 General Gordon was promoted to Major-General and was given the command of Johnson's Division in the Army of Northern Virginia. General Gordon fought at the Battle of First Bull Run.

General John Gordon

He also led the 6th Alabama at the Battle of Antietam.  General Gordon  was wounded in the head at the Battle of Antietam, and he later he showed how a hole in his hat, from a different bullet during the battle, kept him from drowning in his own blood. After General Gordon returned he was put in command of a Georgia brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg. General Robert E. Lee would praise General Gordon on his attack on the Union right flank at the Battle of the Wilderness. During the Battle of Spotsylvania General Gordon earned the rank of Major-General. General Gordon also led the last charge of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. Eventually John B. Gordon became a Lieutenant-General but when is unclear. Lieutenant-General John Brown Gordon died on January 9, 1904 in Miami, Florida. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery Atlanta.

Many thanks to Mr. Gabe Weaver for Writing and Submitting this Biography.