GORDON, GEORGE HENRY (July 19, 1823--Aug. 30, 1886), Union soldier, author, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Carlisle) Gordon, was born in Charlestown, Mass. When he was five years old his mother, then a widow, moved to Framingham, Mass. After graduating from Framingham Academy he entered West Point July 1, 1842, graduated in 1846, and became brevet second lieutenant in the Mounted Rifles. Then, following a short service in Jefferson Barracks, Mo., he was sent to Mexico, where he engaged in all the battles fought by Gen. Scott. He participated in the siege of Vera Cruz in March 1847, was wounded the following month in the battle at Cerro Gordo, and fought in the battles of Contreras and
Chapultepec. For bravery at Cerro Gordo he was brevetted first lieutenant. He took part in the capture of Mexico City in September 1847 and two months later was severely wounded in a hand-to-hand engagement with two guerrillas near San Juan Bridge. After his recovery he was on frontier duty in Washington (1850-51) and at Fort Scott, Kan. (1853-54)
Gordon resigned in October 1854 and returned to Massachusetts. After attending Harvard Law School for two terms in 1855-56 he was admitted to practise in 1857. Having foreseen the probability of civil conflict, in April 1861, when news of the attack on Fort Sumter came to Boston, he immediately began to raise the regiment which became the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry. It was modeled upon the plan of the regular army and quickly became noted for its efficiency, bravery, and discipline. He was appointed colonel May 24, 1861.
Although he was strongly recommended for appointment as a brigadier, he did not receive advancement until June 9, 1862, following his distinguished services in the retreat of Gen. Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. He was engaged in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Chantilly, South Mountain, and Antietam.
Early in 1863 his health failed but he had recovered enough to command a division in the siege of Suffolk and in the expedition toward Richmond. Late in 1863 he was engaged in operations around Charleston Harbor, S.C., and in July of the following year he was entrusted with keeping communications open by White River with Gen. Steele in Arkansas. In March 1865, he was placed in command of the Eastern District of Virginia and continued until relieved because of ill health in June 1865. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers Apr. 9, 1865.
Gordon had married Mary Elizabeth Scott in June 1864. When he was mustered out in August 1865 he returned to the practise of law in Boston. He was one of the founders of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts and devoted the last years of his life to the military history of the Civil War. His Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain...1861-62 (1883), History of the Campaign of the Army of Virginia...from Cedar Mountain to Alexandria, 1862 (1879), and War Diary of Events...1863-1865 (1882), form a continuous and valuable history of the campaigns with which he was associated. His strong opinions and trenchant criticisms which hindered his promotion in the army are evident in these volumes. He possessed a sense of humor and a large fund of anecdotes, but though his narrative is vivid and animated, he frequently wrote too much.
Get your own Free Home Page