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[704] were driven back to the base of the ‘Bloody Angle,’ where the fight continued with unparalleled fury during the day. On May 14, 1864, Gordon was promoted major-general and put in command of a division composed of Evans' Georgia brigade, Hays' and Stafford's Louisiana brigades, and Terry's Virginia brigade, made up of the remnants of the Stonewall brigade and others. With this command he joined Breckinridge and Early, after the battle of Cold Harbor, in the repulse of Hunter, moved to Harper's Ferry, attacked Maryland Heights, and at Monocacy led the attack on the right which routed Lew Wallace. After this campaign closed before the defenses of Washington, Gordon had a prominent part in the fighting in the Shenandoah valley under Early, and was especially distinguished in the surprise and defeat of Sheridan's army early in the day at Cedar Creek. Returning to the lines before Petersburg he was assigned to the command of the Second corps, army of Northern Virginia. In March, with about half the depleted army at his disposal, he made a desperate sally and captured Fort Stedman and parts of the line to the right and left of it, but did not have sufficient strength to hold the position. He held the last lines at Petersburg and fought with stubborn valor for every inch of space. He guarded the retreat from the fated city with brave resistance to the attacks of the enemy, and at Appomattox Court House was put in command of half of Lee's army, who were intended to cut through Grant's line, had not the surrender been determined upon. In an official report of General D. H. Hill, General Gordon was designated ‘the Chevalier Bayard of the Confederate army,’ an apt characterization of the brave and chivalrous commander. When hostilities had ended, he called his heroic men about him and advised them to bear the trial, go home in peace, obey the laws, rebuild the country and work for the future of the country. With the same policy, that ‘peace hath her victories no less renowned than war's,’
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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