John Gordon
1832–1904
Source: Library of Congress
Biography
John Brown Gordon was a prominent Confederate general and post-war political figure who rose from relative obscurity to become one of the South's most respected military commanders. A Georgia native with limited military training before the war, Gordon demonstrated exceptional tactical ability and leadership at battles including Antietam and Gettysburg. After the Civil War, he served as a U.S. Senator and Governor of Georgia, becoming a leading voice in the New South movement and a controversial figure in Reconstruction politics.