Gordon was born on October 5, 1836, in Pulaski, Tennessee. His father was Andrew Gordon and his mother, Eliza K. Gordon. He grew up in Mississippi and Texas. Gordon graduated from the Western Military Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1859. He worked on the Nashville & Northwestern Railway.[1]
Civil Waredit
At the start of the Civil War, Gordon enlisted in the military service of the Confederacy and became drillmaster of the 11th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, which saw action defending the Cumberland Gap during the winter and spring months of 1862. Gordon became regimental commander when James E. Rains assumed command of Carter L. Stevenson's brigade, and fought at the Battle of Tazewell on August 6, 1862. In November 1862 he became the regiment's colonel. Gordon was promoted to brigadier general in August 1864, and was one of the youngest Confederate generals.[2] Gordon led Vaughn's Brigade, in Maj. Gen.John C. Brown's division, at the Battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864), where he was wounded and captured. Many of the men he led are buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee. Gordon was sent to the prisoner-of-war camp at Fort Warren until he was paroled in the summer of 1865.[3]
Postbellum careeredit
After the war, Gordon studied law at Cumberland University, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Memphis, Tennessee, until 1883.[3] He was appointed one of the railroad commissioners of Tennessee. He received an appointment in the Department of the Interior in 1885, as special Indian agent in Arizona and Nevada, and he served until 1889. He returned to Memphis and resumed the practice of law. He was the superintendent of Memphis city schools between 1889 and 1907.[1]
The KKK (the Klan) was formed by veterans of the Confederate Army in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1866 and soon expanded throughout the state and beyond. Gordon was an early initiate and likely wrote the organization's original Prescript[4] in 1867 and its revised edition[5] the following year. Following Gordon's death, his widow, Minnie, claimed that he had been the original Grand Wizard of the Klan and that it was he, not Nathan Bedford Forrest, who disbanded it.[3]
^ abAllison, John (1905). Notable Men of Tennessee. Personal and Genealogical With Portraits. Vol. 2. Atlanta, Georgia: Southern Historical Association. pp. 51–53. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
^Martinez, James Michael, Carpetbaggers, Cavalry, and the Ku Klux Klan, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2007, ISBN978-0-7425-5078-0, p. 15. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
^ abcCheathem and Taylor, "Confederate General George Washington Gordon," 41.
^Ku Klux Klan (1915- ) (1867-01-01). Prescript of the * * [order of the Ku-Klux klan]. [Pulaski? Tenn., n.p.]{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Revised and Amended Prescript of the Order of the * * * [Ku Klux Klan] :: Alabama Textual Materials Collection". digital.archives.alabama.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
Referencesedit
Allison, John. Notable Men of Tennessee. Personal and Genealogical With Portraits. Volume 2. Atlanta: Southern Historical Association, 1905. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
Cheathem, Mark R., and Emily J. Taylor. “Confederate General George Washington Gordon and the Ku Klux Klan.” West Tennessee Historical Society Papers 67 (2013): 36-57.
History of 11th Tennessee Infantry Regiment (Confederate), American Civil War 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
Horn, Stanley F. Invisible Empire: The Story of the Ku Klux Klan from 1866 to 1871, Patterson Smith Publishing Corporation: Montclair, NJ, 1939.
Hubbard, John Milton, Notes of a Private. By John Milton Hubbard, Company E, 7th Tennessee Regiment. Forrest's Cavalry Corps, C.S.A..
Martinez, James Michael, Carpetbaggers, Cavalry, and the Ku Klux Klan, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2007, ISBN978-0-7425-5078-0, p. 15. Retrieved June 20, 2009
Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4.
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9.
george, gordon, civil, general, george, gordon, redirects, here, jamaican, businessman, politician, george, william, gordon, this, article, about, confederate, civil, general, union, civil, general, george, henry, gordon, george, washington, gordon, october, 1. George W Gordon redirects here For the Jamaican businessman and politician see George William Gordon This article is about the Confederate Civil War general For the Union Civil War general see George Henry Gordon George Washington Gordon October 5 1836 August 9 1911 was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War After the war he practiced law in Pulaski Tennessee where the Ku Klux Klan was formed He became one of the Klan s first members In 1867 Gordon became the Klan s first Grand Dragon for the Realm of Tennessee and wrote its Precept a book describing its organization purpose and principles He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 10th congressional district of Tennessee George GordonMember of the U S House of Representativesfrom Tennessee s 10th districtIn office March 4 1907 August 9 1911Preceded byMalcolm R PattersonSucceeded byKenneth D McKellarGrand Dragon for the Realm of TennesseeIn office 1867 1871Personal detailsBornGeorge Washington GordonOctober 5 1836Pulaski Tennessee U S DiedAugust 9 1911 aged 74 Memphis Tennessee U S Resting placeElmwood CemeteryPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materWestern Military InstituteOccupationengineer lawyer Indian agent railroad commissioner school superintendentMilitary serviceAllegiance Confederate States of AmericaBranch service Confederate States ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankBrigadier GeneralCommands11th Tennessee Infantry Regiment Vaughan s BrigadeBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War 3 Postbellum career 3 1 Ku Klux Klan involvement 3 2 Political career 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editGordon was born on October 5 1836 in Pulaski Tennessee His father was Andrew Gordon and his mother Eliza K Gordon He grew up in Mississippi and Texas Gordon graduated from the Western Military Institute in Nashville Tennessee in 1859 He worked on the Nashville amp Northwestern Railway 1 Civil War editAt the start of the Civil War Gordon enlisted in the military service of the Confederacy and became drillmaster of the 11th Regiment Tennessee Infantry which saw action defending the Cumberland Gap during the winter and spring months of 1862 Gordon became regimental commander when James E Rains assumed command of Carter L Stevenson s brigade and fought at the Battle of Tazewell on August 6 1862 In November 1862 he became the regiment s colonel Gordon was promoted to brigadier general in August 1864 and was one of the youngest Confederate generals 2 Gordon led Vaughn s Brigade in Maj Gen John C Brown s division at the Battle of Franklin November 30 1864 where he was wounded and captured Many of the men he led are buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery in Franklin Tennessee Gordon was sent to the prisoner of war camp at Fort Warren until he was paroled in the summer of 1865 3 Postbellum career editAfter the war Gordon studied law at Cumberland University was admitted to the bar and practiced in Memphis Tennessee until 1883 3 He was appointed one of the railroad commissioners of Tennessee He received an appointment in the Department of the Interior in 1885 as special Indian agent in Arizona and Nevada and he served until 1889 He returned to Memphis and resumed the practice of law He was the superintendent of Memphis city schools between 1889 and 1907 1 Ku Klux Klan involvement edit Further information Ku Klux Klan The KKK the Klan was formed by veterans of the Confederate Army in Pulaski Tennessee in 1866 and soon expanded throughout the state and beyond Gordon was an early initiate and likely wrote the organization s original Prescript 4 in 1867 and its revised edition 5 the following year Following Gordon s death his widow Minnie claimed that he had been the original Grand Wizard of the Klan and that it was he not Nathan Bedford Forrest who disbanded it 3 Political career edit Gordon was elected as a Democrat to the Sixtieth Sixty first and Sixty second Congresses He served from March 4 1907 until his death in Memphis He was interred in Elmwood Cemetery See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portalList of American Civil War generals Confederate List of United States Congress members who died in office 1900 49 Notes edit a b Allison John 1905 Notable Men of Tennessee Personal and Genealogical With Portraits Vol 2 Atlanta Georgia Southern Historical Association pp 51 53 Retrieved January 14 2016 Martinez James Michael Carpetbaggers Cavalry and the Ku Klux Klan Rowman amp Littlefield Publishers Inc 2007 ISBN 978 0 7425 5078 0 p 15 Retrieved June 20 2009 a b c Cheathem and Taylor Confederate General George Washington Gordon 41 Ku Klux Klan 1915 1867 01 01 Prescript of the order of the Ku Klux klan Pulaski Tenn n p a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Revised and Amended Prescript of the Order of the Ku Klux Klan Alabama Textual Materials Collection digital archives alabama gov Retrieved 2016 11 17 References editAllison John Notable Men of Tennessee Personal and Genealogical With Portraits Volume 2 Atlanta Southern Historical Association 1905 Retrieved January 14 2016 Cheathem Mark R and Emily J Taylor Confederate General George Washington Gordon and the Ku Klux Klan West Tennessee Historical Society Papers 67 2013 36 57 Eicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 978 0 8047 3641 1 History of 11th Tennessee Infantry Regiment Confederate American Civil War Archived 2007 09 29 at the Wayback Machine Horn Stanley F Invisible Empire The Story of the Ku Klux Klan from 1866 to 1871 Patterson Smith Publishing Corporation Montclair NJ 1939 Hubbard John Milton Notes of a Private By John Milton Hubbard Company E 7th Tennessee Regiment Forrest s Cavalry Corps C S A Martinez James Michael Carpetbaggers Cavalry and the Ku Klux Klan Rowman amp Littlefield Publishers Inc 2007 ISBN 978 0 7425 5078 0 p 15 Retrieved June 20 2009 Sifakis Stewart Who Was Who in the Civil War New York Facts On File 1988 ISBN 978 0 8160 1055 4 Warner Ezra J Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1959 ISBN 978 0 8071 0823 9 United States Congress George Gordon id G000310 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008 10 13 George W Gordon late a representative from Tennessee Memorial addresses delivered in the House of Representatives and Senate frontispiece 1913External links edit George Gordon Find a Grave Retrieved 2008 10 13 Political GraveyardU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byMalcolm R Patterson Member of the U S House of Representatives from Tennessee s 10th congressional districtMarch 4 1907 August 9 1911 Succeeded byKenneth McKellar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Gordon Civil War general amp oldid 1191200250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
