Happy Birthday John B. Gordon



By: Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
1064 West Mill Drive
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152
Phone: 770 428 0978

What a ex-Confederate soldier said about Gen. John B. Gordon:
"He was a devout and humble Christian Gentlemen. I know of
no man more beloved in the South, and he was probably the most
popular Southern man among the people of the North."
—–Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief, United Confederate Veterans

February is Black History Month. It is also the birthday month of
George Washington, our first president and father of our country…
And it is the birthday month of Gen. John B. Gordon of Georgia.

Please share this story with your children. I dedicated it to the late
Tom Watson Brown. Brown loved American history and spoke on
several occasions in tribute to Gen. John B. Gordon. He was proud
and knew the true history of the South.

And who was Gen. John Brown Gordon?

John B. Gordon, born February 6, 1832, was an orator, lawyer,
statesman, soldier, publisher and governor of the State of Georgia.
He is best known as one of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s generals. At the
South’s surrender at Appomattox, his corps encounter with the
soldiers under Gen. Joshua Chamberlain is a classic story that began
the healing of this country after four years of terrible bloodshed.

Would it surprise you that Carter G. Woodson, father of Black History
Week, would have much in common with Gordon? Both of these men
believed that true-accurate American history should be taught in the
schools. Woodson supported the study of Black history should include
those African-Americans who fought on both sides of the War Between
the States.

Black History Week came Black History Month in the 1960s.

Woodson, eleven years after the first Black History Week, founded the
Negro History Bulletin for teachers, students and the public.

Gordon also stressed the importance of telling the true story of those
who fought for the Confederacy, After the war, only the Northern
version of the War Between the States was taught to Southern children.

Gen. John B. Gordon supported the South’s Constitutional right to
secession, but after the war, he worked to unite the nation and help
white and black Southerners that were made poor by the war.

in Gordon’s day there were no skyscrapers, telephones, automobiles,
bright lights or polluted air to block the view of heaven’s stars. The
American Revolution was in the past only as far back as the Great
Depression is today. It was during these times that American history
was still taught in public school. It is ironical, today there are those
who would hide both heaven and history and we accept their
censorship of our birthright.

It was on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, February 6, 1993, when a
Gen. John B. Gordon birthday celebration was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
It was held in front of Georgia’s state capitol and close to a statue
of Gordon that was dedicated 100 years ago.

An estimated one thousand people came to Atlanta to remember
Gordon from as far north as Maryland. Rain and cold weather was
forecast, but it was warm and sunny. Good laugher came from the
crowd when someone remarked that God must be a Southerner.

When the band played "Dixie," the people arose to their feet. The
band gave the melody, but the crowd sang the words.

Many spoke in praise of Gen. John B. Gordon that included the
late attorney at law, historian and friend—-Tom Watson Brown.
Another speaker turned to the statue of Gordon and asked "Gen.
Gordon what would you say about those who would change the
history of America?" Gordon, the American, the Southerner and
the Confederate would have answered firmly, "Take your history
and teach it to your children or others will teach their history!"

John B. Gordon set up a publishing company after the War
Between the States to help teach Southern children Southern
history. Oh, that Gordon was alive today!!!!

A third annual Gen. John B. Gordon birthday celebration was
held at Atlanta’s Capitol in 1995. This time the weather was very
cold and snowy. This year a young African-American man joined
the list of speakers. Eddie Page knew his Southern history and
did not parrot "Political Correct" history.

John B. Gordon descended from an Scottish lineage. He was
born in Upson County, Georgia. Gordon was the fourth of twelve
children born to Zachariah and Malinda Cox Gordon. Young John
was said to be an excellent student at the University of Georgia.

He left the university before graduating and came to Atlanta, Ga.
to study law. It was here that he met and married Rebecca
Haralson and their union was long and happy.

September 17, 1862, is known as one of the bloodiest days in
American history. Gen. Robert E. Lee assigned Gen. Gordon to
hold the sunken road, also known as "Bloody Lane", during the
Battle of Antietam. Gordon was shot five times. First, a mini ball
passed through his calf. Then a second ball hit him in the same
leg. A third ball went through his left arm. He continued to lead his
men even though he was badly wounded. He was shot a fourth
time. He continued to lead his men as they pleaded for Gordon to
go to the rear. A fifth ball hit him in the face, passing through the
left cheek and out his jaw. He fell with his face in his hat and would
have drowned in his own blood except for a hole in his hat.

For years the Gen. John B. Gordon celebration in Atlanta, Georgia,
was concluded by a mile long march to historic Oakland Cemetery
where he is buried. Not since earlier Confederate Memorial Day has
there been a scene of Atlanta’s streets of soldiers in gray and women
and children in black mourning dress.

The parade route was by Martin Luther King, Jr Drive. Many black
Atlantans watched the parade and some followed to Oakland Cemetery
and watched the Gordon birthday memorial.

The spirits of Carter Woodson and John Gordon were there with us
during those days of February. Though 130 years separated today
from yesterday there was a spirit that transcended time and color. It
was a American thing and it was a Southern thing.

When John B. Gordon died in 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt
said of him, "A more gallant, generous, and fearless gentlemen and
soldier has not been seen in this country."

Woodson and Gordon are still with us—in spirit and, if you listen,
they are saying: "Teach your children the whole and true story about
America."

Happy birthday Gen. John B. Gordon!!!