The Family of Andrew Gordon during the Civil War
by Ric Gordon

David Martin Gordon was born January 07, 1835 in Pulaski, Giles Co., Tennessee. He was the seventh of eleven children of Andrew Gordon and Eliza Kerr Goff who are both buried in eastern Williamson Co., Texas. David had joined the 8th Texas Cavalry, Company "A" , Terry's Texas Rangers from Milam County, Texas and was killed as a Private in or near Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, most likely of desease. The following is from "Terry's Texas Rangers" , The Campaigns.

The late fall and winter of 1861, in Kentucky, was both wet and cold. Camp sanitation among Confederates about Bowling Green was as bad as imperfect medical knowledge and lax discipline could make it. Epidemic outbreaks began early and continued through the winter, scourging the Rangers with the rest. Men to whom the war had been an unprecedented lark were now sobered as comrades died with measles, camp fevers and respiratory infections. Hospital facilities, irregularly organized and staffed, were inadequate, and the sick overflowed into private homes in Kentucky and Tennessee. Others were transported by rail to hospitals at Nashville. According to a contemporary newspaper account penned by Ranger Chaplain Robert F. Bunting, by the end of January, 1862, eighty four Rangers had died, only five from enemy action. At no time during the winter months were more than half the Rangers available for duty."

David died January 30, 1862 in Pulaski, Giles Co., Tennessee and is buried among many of his kin in Brick Church Cemetery, Giles Co., Tennessee.

David had a brother, William Henry "Harry" Gordon, that had also joined the 8th Texas Cavalry, Company "A" , Terry's Texas Rangers. Born January 29, 1840 in Pulaski, Giles Co., Tennessee, he died May 27, 1864 while on a skirmish line near New Hope Church, Georgia. The following is some notes I have for Harry.

He was killed on skirmish line near New Hope Church, Georgia, and was buried on the battle field. Harry had recently been transferred to this regiment from the 8th Texas Cavalry, Company "A", Terry's Texas Rangers which he had joined from Burleson County, Texas, and when shot said to his brother ( Gen. George Washington Gordon ), "Tell father (who was living in Williamson Co. at the time) that I died in a glorious cause", his last words, taken from "Military Annals of Tennessee", vol.1, page 298: a chapter written by Gen. George W. Gordon.

Although their brother, Gen. George W. Gordon, was not attached to Terry's Texas Rangers, I feel I should at least make mention of him here for you benefit. George Washington Gordon was born October 05, 1836 in Pulaski, Giles Co., Tennessee and died August 09, 1911in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee. He's buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee, Lot 180, # 7, Fowler section. The following is some brief notes I have for my cousin, George.

The volume of "Memorial Addresses in Congress" contains biographical information and vivid characterizations of his personality and should be read by members of the Gordon family.

MILITARY: Graduated from Western Military Academy in Nashville; when the Civil War broke out he enlisted and became Drill Master of the Eleventh Tennessee Infantry; he became Captain, Lieutenant, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel; in 1864 he was made Brigadier-General, Vaugn's Brigade, Cheathams Corps; he was wounded and captured in the Battle of Franklin and sent to prison at Ft. Warren, MA; at the time of his death he was commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans.

He was the youngest brigadier general in the Confederate Army; civil engineer, lawyer, superintendent of public schools of Memphis, TN for 17 years; in 1907 was elected to Congress where he remained till his death in 1911; became a member of the Klu Klux Klan and in 1867 was chosen as Grand Dragon of the Realm of Tennessee.

DOCUMENTATION: Taken from the "Tennessee, the Volunteer State 1769/1923: Volume 2", page 132.

George Washington Gordon was born in Giles County, Tennessee, on October 5, 1836. After receiving an excellent preparatory education he entered the Western Military Institute, at whose head was Bushrod Johnson, and was graduated in 1859. When the war between the states began, he offered his services to Tennessee and was assigned as drill master to the Eleventh Tennessee Infantry, which was in a camp of instruction at Camp Cheatham in Robertson County. After several weeks of assiduous drilling this regiment was sent to East Tennessee. Here Gordon was elected captain of Company I, in which capacity he served from August 1, 1861, to May 27, 1862, when he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and, in August 1864, he was appointed Brigadier General and was serving as such when he was captured at the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864. After his capture he was held as a prisoner of war, principally at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor, until his release on July 24, 1865. He took part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain and most of the battles between Sherman and Johnston, between Sherman and Hood, and in Hood's campaign in the fall of 1864. After the war he practiced law at Memphis. [p.132] In 1883 he became one of the state railroad commissioners. In 1885, he was appointed to a position in the Department of the Interior at Washington. In 1889, he returned to Memphis and, in 1892, was chosen superintendent of schools of that city. In 1906 he was elected representative in Congress from the Tenth District of Tennessee and was re-elected in 1908 and 1910. He died in Memphis on August 9, 1911.

It has also been said that their father, Andrew Gordon, was known to many as Major Gordon. During the Civil War, Major Gordon trained soldiers for the south at this place. This was an ideal place as it had plenty of water, trees, and was away from the main field of battle.

Submitted on the 20th day of January 2001,by Fred (Ric) Gordon, 2nd cousin three generations removed to David, Harry and George Gordon, and a very proud cousin I am.

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