City of Gordon, Georgia

continued from page two of History....

Civil War

As the 1860's came into view, Gordon was a small community hardly large enough to be labeled a town. In an election, it along with the rest of Wilkinson County had gone on record as opposing secession, but with the advent of war, Gordon sent forth her best young men as the Ramah Guards. They were commanded by Robert W. Folsom, a born leader and rigid disciplinarian. David Solomon, Joel Rivers and others helped equip the company with uniforms and it made a splendid appearance training at old Ramah Church. The services of the company were tendered to the Confederate Government and immediately accepted. A large barbecue was given for the men by the citizens just before the departure for the front.

The Company became the Georgia 14th Company and served in many famous battles such as Cedar Run, 2nd Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and numbered among Pickett's Immortals in the charge at Gettysburg. It was made famous in many feats of bravery.

Rufus Kelly

Just such a feat was performed by J. Rufus Kelly, 18, at Jericho Ford, Va. When the 14th had orders to fall back, young Kelly kept advancing, waving his hat and rifle and urging his comrades on. When the retreat continued, Kelly teamed up with another brigade losing a leg in battle. T. D. Tinsley, of Macon, published in the Confederate Veteran of September 1927, Rufus Kelly's own statement of what happened when Sherman's army invaded Gordon, on the march to the sea. Kelly cursed General Henry Wayne and the 700 home guards as tucktails and white livered curs with no manhood in them, and said he alone would stand and defend the women and children of Gordon. General Wayne had 350 paroled prisoners out of the penitentiary, and about that number of cadets from Marietta's military school, all under immediate command of Major Capers.

continued on page four of History....

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