Background
GORDON, James Byron was born on November 22, 1822 in Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States, United States. Son of George and Sarah Lenoir (Gwyn) Gordon and a first cousin of Major General John B. Gordon.
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James Byron GORDON
Edit Profilefarmer General merchant military
Education
Private school.
Career
He attended the school of Peter Ney in Iredell County and Emory and Henry College in Virginia before entering the mercantile business in the late 1840s. He later became a farmer. He was an Episcopalian.
In 1850, he was elected from Wilkes County to a term in the North Carolina House. At the beginning of the Civil War, Gordon volunteered in the Wilkes Valley Guards, and he served in the 1st North Carolina Cavalry in the Army of Northern Virginia, earning the admiration of General J.E.B. Stuart. In March 1862, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was sent to North Carolina, and in June he went to Virginia, where he served under General Wade Hampton during the Seven Days battles and fought at Second Manassas, in Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania, and at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Brandy Station.
He was promoted to brigadier general on September 28, 1863, and he led the 1st Brigade of North Carolina Cavalry at the battles of Auburn, Bethesda Church, and Culpeper Court House. He participated in the Mine Run campaign in Virginia in November and December of 1863, and during the Wilderness campaign he stopped Union General Phillip Sheridan’s raid on Richmond, which saved the city. Gordon lost his life on May 18, 1864, at the battle of Spotsylvania, near Richmond.
Religion
"Peculiar institution" of slavery was not only expedient but also ordained by God and upheld in Holy Scripture.
Politics
Stands for preserving slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites. Every individual state is sovereign, even to the point of secession.
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Born
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Nationality
United States -
Religion
Episcopalian