Category Archives: Georgia Statesmen

The Battle of Bloody Lane

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in Cemeteries, Civil War, Georgia Statesmen, Historic Oakland Cemetery

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General John B. Gordon Confederate Section Block K-3

General John B. Gordon
Confederate Section
Block K-3

Battle of Bloody Lane

John Brown Gordon was born on February 6, 1832 in Upson County, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia but opted to drop out to study law. Gordon passed the Georgia Bar in 1854 and began his short-lived career as a lawyer. Later that year Gordon married Rebecca “Fanny” Haralson (9.18.1837-4.28.1931). Abandoning his legal career, Gordon dabbled in various occupations before the Civil War erupted.

Civil War

Gordon was one of the least experienced men to enter the ranks; however, he ended the war as Robert E. Lee’s most trusted soldiers. During the “Battle of Bloody Lane,” Gordon was heavily wounded (five times). Gordon is credited as stating: “Until the sun goes down or victory is won.” His faithful wife, Fanny, nursed him back to health whereupon he quickly returned to service. On May 14, 1864, Gordon was conferred as Major General of the CSA.

Post-Civil War

Fanny was an active member of the Atlanta Ladies’ Memorial Association, a sub-set of the organization credited with locating and burying the Confederate soldiers in proper graves. Gordon is widely believed to have presented the founding documents of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and becoming the titular leader (Grand Dragon) at the national convention held in Nashville, Tennessee in April 1867. Gordon became politically active and served as a U.S. Senator (1873-1880, 1891-1897) and Governor (1886-1890). A prominent Democrat, Gordon is honored with a statue at the Georgia Capitol.

Gordon died in Miami, Florida, on January, 9, 1904, with Fanny by his side.

 

The Confederate Section

27 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by in Cemeteries, Civil War, Georgia Statesmen, Historic Oakland Cemetery

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The Lion of Atlanta Confederate Section

The Lion of Atlanta
Confederate Section

The Confederate Section at the Oakland Cemetery is the principal place in Atlanta for mourning and memorialization of the soldiers who fought in the war. The remains of soldiers came predominately from battles in Peachtree Creek, East Atlanta, Ezra Church, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge.

Brigadier General Clement Anslam Evans
Block K-9

Clement Evans was born on February 25, 1833, near Lumpkin in Stewart, County, Georgia. He attended Augusta Law School and passed the Georgia State Bar at the age of 18. By the time he turned 21, Evans was a county judge. At 25, Evans was a State Senator affiliated with the Know-Nothing Party. When the Civil War broke out, Evans resigned from the legislature.

Evans organized a militia in 1860 and quickly climbed through the ranks. He was promoted to Brigadier General in May 1864. He was wounded five times during the war. After the war was over, Evans found his true calling as a preacher with the Methodist Church.

Evans married his first wife, Mary Allen “Allie” Walton, in 1854. They had eight children; however, three died in infancy. He would marry his second wife, Sarah Avary Evans in 1887 (see previous post).

General Evans had a full life where he was a politician, officer, author, historian, and finally a minister. His funeral procession was one of the largest held at that time. In honor of his service to the State of Georgia, the legislature created Evans County in 1914.

As you may know, General Evans does not rest beside his wife but is among the other Confederate Generals within Oakland.

The Most Exclusive Section

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Cemeteries, Civil War, Georgia Statesmen, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Leo Frank, Sports Related, Universities

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Grant Mausoleum Block 57 Eclectic 1888

Grant Mausoleum
Block 57 Eclectic 1888

The Bell Tower Ridge

The Bell Tower Ridge is by far the most sought after area of the cemetery. The land is the second highest naturally occurring point in Atlanta. The panoramic views are stunning. As are the elaborate mausoleums the surround the Bell Tower.

During the Civil War, James Williams owned a two-story house in this section. As the “Battle of Atlanta” was raging, Confederate General John B. Hood stood watch from this vantage point. An historic marker denotes the location.

One of the most elegant–and costly–mausoleums belongs to the Grant Family. John T. Grant (d. 1887) made his fortune building railroad lines. His grandson, John W. Grant (1867-1938) was a banker and real estate developer. John W.’s grandson, Hugh Inman Grant died at the age of 11. To honor Hugh’s memory, John W. donated the money to build a football stadium at Georgia Tech. Originally named Grant Field, the stadium is now called the Bobby Dodd Stadium in Historic Grant Field.

The family mausoleum houses a number of people. The most notable is John Slaton (d. 1955) former Georgia Governor who commuted the death sentence of Leo Frank, the man convicted of killing 13-year-old Mary Phagan. (See the Marietta City and Confederate Section for a discussion). Gov. Slaton married into the Grant family and was given a plot.

Investigation: On my first visit to Oakland and before I toured the mausoleums in this area, I received several words on my Ghost Radar: score, involved, draw, play, Europe, football, rapidly, and orange.

It was only after I went home and researched that particular area did I find a possibly connection. However, subsequent visits have not produced any communication. None. Therefore, I cannot conclusively state that these words came from the Grant Mausoleum. It makes a great story, though.

Civil War Governor

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Angels, Cemeteries, Georgia Statesmen, Historic Oakland Cemetery

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Joseph E. Brown Family Lot Block 99 Classical Revival 1873

Joseph E. Brown Family Lot
Block 99 Classical Revival 1873

Two former Georgia governors are buried underneath the archangel Gabriel. Joseph E. Brown (1821-1894) was the Civil War Governor of Georgia. He served four terms, the only person to do so. Later, he became a U.S. Senator and Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. His son, Joseph M. Brown (1851-1932) served two terms.

Architecture: The 7′ archangel Gabriel tops the monument. He gazes toward heaven indicating a victory over death. Two additional angels serve as messengers from God. They hold down-turned torches indicating a life snuffed out.

Tragedy Strikes: On a Friday night in March, 2008, Oakland Cemetery suffered significant damage as a tornado swept through downtown Atlanta. The column toppled. Gabriel shattered. Many believed the statue was beyond repair. Amazingly, within seven months preservationists worked diligently and restored Gabriel to his perch.