John Brown Gordon

Soldier, Southerner, American

Ralph Lowell Eckert

• Publisher: LSU Press
• Year: 2015
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9780807164952
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

John Brown Gordon's career of prominent public service spanned four of America's most turbulent decades. Born in Upson County, Georgia, in 1832, Gordon practiced law in Atlanta and, in the years immediately preceding the Civil War, developed coal mines in northwest Georgia. In 1861, he responded to the Confederate call to arms by raising a company of volunteers. His subsequent rise from captain to corps commander was unmatched in the Army of Northern Virginia. He emerged from the Civil War as one of the South's most respected generals, and the reputation that Gordon earned while "wearing the gray" significantly influenced almost every aspect of his life during the next forty years.
After the Civil War, Gordon drifted into politics. He was elected to the United States Senate in 2873 and quickly established himself as a spokesman for Georgia and for the South as a whole. He eloquently defended the integrity of southern whites while fighting to restore home rule. In addition to safeguarding and promoting southern interests, Gordon strove to replace sectional antagonisms with a commitment to building a stronger, more unified nation. His efforts throughout his post-war career contributed significantly to the process of national reconciliation.
Even in the wake of charges of corruption that surrounded his resignation from the Senate in 1880, Gordon remained an extremely popular man in the South. He engaged in a variety of speculative business ventures, served as governor of Georgia, and returned for another term in the Senate before he retired permanently from public office. He devoted his final years to lecture tours, to serving as commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans, and to writing his memoirs, Reminiscences of the Civil War.
Utilizing newspapers, scattered manuscript collections, and official records, Ralph Eckert presents a critical biography of Gordon that analyzes all areas of his career. As one of the few Confederates to command a corps without the benefit of previous military training, Gordon provides a fascinating example of a Civil War citizen-soldier. Equally interesting, however, were Gordon's postwar activities and the often conflicting responsibilities that he felt as a southerner and an American. The contributions that Gordon made to Georgia, to the South, and to the United States during this period are arguably as important as any of his career.

Index

Aberdeen, Miss., 242

Aberdeen, Scotland, 6

Academy for the Blind, 292

Akerman, Amos T., 156

Alabama, 11–12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 141, 142, 148, 226, 230, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246

Alston, Robert A., 264–65

Altgeld, John P., 310

Amelia Springs, Va., 116

American Railway Union, 310

Americus, Ga., 277

Anderson, George B., 33

Anderson, Joseph, 243

Anderson, Richard H., 117

Antietam, Battle of. See Sharpsburg, Battle of

Appomattox Court House, 117, 125, 126, 149, 162, 215, 321

surrender at, 121–22, 342

JBG’s reference to spirit of, 149–50, 160

Appomattox Court House, Battle of, 118–21

Appomattox River, 114, 115

Athens, Ala., 148

Athens, Ga., 8, 230

Athens Southern Watchman, 230

Atlanta, Ga., 8, 133, 135, 140, 148, 149, 154, 170, 189, 199, 221, 230, 246, 247, 262, 268, 270, 273, 281, 288, 291, 298, 329, 330, 337, 341

JBG moves to, 10, 11, 128, 133, 139

Raccoon Roughs arrive in, 16–17

and railroads, 224, 225, 226, 232, 242–43, 244, 245, 246

Hill ceremonies in, 269, 271, 272

JBG’s inauguration in, 282–83

funeral of JBG in, 339–40

Atlanta Constitution, 177, 184, 217, 218, 219, 225, 242, 243, 303, 304

praises SLIC, 134, 135

praises JBG, 135, 195, 215, 216–17, 221, 223–24, 245, 272

JBG explains actions in, 219, 220–21, 261

activities in 1886 race, 271, 272, 273, 275, 276, 278–79, 281

Atlanta Daily Post, 217

Atlanta Evening Capitol, 282

Atlanta Ring, 155, 275–76, 278, 279

Atlanta University, 131n, 291–92

Augusta, Ga., 278, 322

Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist, 197–98, 221, 279

Austell, A., 135

Bacon, Augustus O., 273, 279, 280, 282

front-runner for governor, 268, 269, 274

and primaries, 274–76

criticism of JBG, 277–78

defeated, 281

Baltimore Gazette, 162, 214

Barlow, Francis C., 53–54, 54n, 315–16

Barlow, Mrs. Francis C., 53

Barlow, Samuel L. M.: financial dealings with JBG, 129, 175, 241, 241n, 256, 257

political considerations, 180, 260

Barlow’s Knoll, 52

Barnesville, Ga., 311

Bayard, Thomas F., 175, 235, 258

Beasley, William, 71–72

Beauregard, P. G. T., 19, 253

Beechwood, 262–64

Belle Grove, 95

Belmont mines, 246

Benning, Henry L., 154

Bingham, C. C., 285

Birmingham, Ala., 226, 230, 242, 245

Biscayne Bay, 338, 339

Black, J. C. C., 271

Blackshear, Ga., 142

Blaine, James G., 259

Blair, Francis P., 86

Bleckley, Logan E., 10, 11n, 250

Bleckley, Mrs. Logan E., 10, 11n

Bloody Angle, 79–80

Bloody Lane, 33–36, 274

Blount Springs, Ala., 242

Bogy, Lewis V., 254

Bourbon Triumvirate, 239–41, 283

Bower’s Hill, 44

Bowker Fertilizer Company, 222–23

Bowman’s Ford, 95

Breckinridge, John C., 82, 83, 86, 90, 105n

candidate for president, 13, 14

praises JBG, 85

Brown, John Young, 181, 183, 184

Brown, Joseph E., 16, 221, 223, 224, 230, 235, 238, 265, 295, 297

as “Citizen,” 184–85

appointment as senator criticized, 215, 217, 218

sketch of, 216

defends himself, 219

involved in secret negotiations, 225, 226–29, 231, 232–33, 234

election as senator, 237

member of Bourbon Triumvirate, 239–41, 283

Brunswick, Ga., 128, 129, 130, 132, 133

Brunswick Colored School, 130

Brunswick Railroad, 128

Bullock, Ruf us, 140, 143, 145

Bull Run, 19, 20

Burgess’ Mills, 106

Burnside, Ambrose E., 65, 66, 67

Butler, “Beast,” 23

Calhoun, Patrick, 300, 303, 304

Camp Bingham, 284, 285

Candler, D. G., 230

Carnegie Music Hall, 316

Carolina Life Insurance Company, 174

Carter, Thomas H., 97, 99

comments on Cedar Creek, 104

describes JBG, 123

Cartersville Free Press, 197, 256

Cashtown, Pa., 50

Castle Rock Coal Company, 11, 128, 133

Cedar Creek, 92, 95

Cedar Creek, Battle of, 92–104, 103n

Cemetery Hill, 54–55, 56, 57

Central of Georgia Railroad, 139–40

Central Pacific Railroad Company, 187, 252, 254

Central Presbyterian Church (Atlanta), 340

Chamberlain, Daniel H., 177, 186

Chambersburg, Pa., 50

Chancellorsville, Battle of, 40–41, 64, 92

Chantilly, Va., 30

Charles S. Scribner’s Sons, 332

Charleston, S.C., 6, 131, 158

Charlottesville, Va., 87

Chattanooga, Tenn., 225

Chester Gap, 42

Chicago Tribune, 252n

Chickahominy River, 22, 25, 28

Chickamauga, Battle of, 7

“Citizen,” 184–85, 238

Clark’s Mountain, 61

Clay, Henry, 9

Cleveland, Grover, 308, 310

advised by JBG, 258–59

considers cabinet appointments, 260–61

visits Atlanta, 288

Cobb, Howell, 239

Cold Harbor, Battle of, 81

Cole, Edwin W. “King,” 225, 227

Colquitt, Alfred Holt, 38, 201, 219, 221–22, 223, 224, 295

business partner of JBG, 135, 242, 245

criticized for appointment of Brown, 215–16, 217, 218

involved in secret negotiations, 227, 230, 232, 233

runs for reelection, 235–37

member of Bourbon Triumvirate, 239–41, 283

recommends JBG for cabinet post, 260

Colquitt’s Salient, 109, 110

Colton, David D., 252, 253

Colton Letters, 252, 255

mention Gordon, 253–54, 256

Columbia, Pa., 48

Columbia, S.C., 177, 178, 186

Columbus, Ga., 126, 128, 217, 236, 262

Columbus, Miss., 242

Columbus Enquirer, 217

Columbus Times, 217

Commercial Club (Boston), 191–92

Compromise of 1877, 254

JBG’s role in, 3, 181, 182–85

Confederate Survivors Association (Augusta), 322–23

Congressional Record, 190

Conkling, Roscoe C., 163

nearly duel swith JBG, 189–90

Convict lease system, 277, 280, 288

JBG’s participation in, 4, 263–65, 263n

JBG’s investigation of, 283–87

Conyers, Ga., 278

Corinth, Miss., 17

Coulter, E. Merton, 138

Cox, Edward, 264–65

Coxey, Jacob S., 308–309

“Coxey’s army,” 308–309

Crédit Mobilier, 252

Creek Indians, 6

Culpeper Court House, 42

Culp’s Hill, 56

Curtis, Newton M., 311

Custer, George A., 119–20

Dade County, Ga., 11, 265

Darien, Ga., 130

Davis, Jefferson, 126

as president of the Confederacy, 60, 79, 105n

used in JBG’s gubernatorial campaign, 269, 270–71, 272, 273, 277

Decatur, Ga., 8n

Decatur Presbyterian Church, 8n

DeGive’s Opera House, 221

Demosthenian Literary Society, 8

de Vere, Scheie, 138

Dos Passos, John R., 266

Dougherty County, Ga., 263

Dwinell, Melville, 271

Early, Jubal A., 39, 42, 47, 52, 60, 72, 80, 86, 105

at Chancellorsville, 40–41

at Winchester (1863), 44–45

at Gettysburg, 55–57

at the Wilderness, 65–69

troubles with JBG, 65, 92, 98, 99, 101–104, 103n

on Washington raid, 82, 83, 85–86

at Winchester (1864), 87, 88, 90, 91

comments on Fanny, 90

at Cedar Creek, 92, 93—95, 96–98, 99–100

Eatonton, Ga., 278

Edmunds, George, F., 163–64

clashes with JBG, 165, 166–67

Elections: 1860, p. 13

1868 gubernatorial, 141, 143–45

1868 presidential, 150–51

1872, pp. 151–53

1873, pp. 154–56

1874, pp. 162–63

1876, pp. 175–86

1878 congressional, 193, 194, 195

1878 senatorial, 195

1880, pp. 235–37

1884, pp. 258–59, 260

1886, pp. 268–69, 272–82

1888, p. 289

1890, pp. 297, 300–305

Electoral commission, 180, 181, 183

Electoral controversy, 3, 177–86

Erie Railroad, 243

Evans, Clement A., 86, 88, 97

at Spotsylvania Court House, 75, 76, 78, 79

at Monocacy, 83–85

Ewell, Richard S., 19–20, 42, 44, 73, 80, 116

praises JBG, 44, 54

at Gettysburg, 55–57

at the Wilderness, 61, 63–64, 65–66, 67, 68–69

Fairfax Station, Va., 19

Fairfield, Va., 57

Fair Oaks, Battle of. See Seven Pines, Battle of

Farmers’ Alliance movement, 283, 297–98, 300, 301, 302

Felton, Rebecca Latimer, 193, 194–95, 199, 230, 265,...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Illustrations
• Maps
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• I • The Early Years
• II • Initiation
• III • Brigadier
• IV • Evening Star of the Confederacy
• V • In the Valley
• VI • Toward Appomattox
• VII • In Search of a Livelihood
• VIII • Emerging Politician
• IX • Southern Spokesman
• X • Post-Reconstruction Politics
• XI • A Breath of Scandal
• XII • New South Businessman
• XIII • Governor of Georgia
• XIV • Return to the Senate
• XV • The Southerner as American
• Epilogue
• Bibliographical Essay
• Index