Benjamin Franklin Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Franklin Gordon
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|---|---|
| Born | May 18, 1826 Henry County, Tennessee |
| Died | September 22, 1866 (aged 40) Waverly, Missouri |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States Confederate States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1848 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Private, USA Colonel, CSAAssigned to duty as:  Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Benjamin Franklin Gordon (born May 18, 1826 – died September 22, 1866) was a military officer who served in two major American wars. He was a colonel in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Before that, he was a private in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War.
Gordon fought alongside Brigadier General Joseph O. "Jo" Shelby in the Confederate Army. Their battles took place in Missouri and Arkansas. These areas were part of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, a large military region west of the Mississippi River.
Near the end of the Civil War, on May 16, 1865, General E. Kirby Smith tried to make Gordon a brigadier general. However, this promotion was never made official by the Confederate government. The war ended shortly after, and the Confederate Senate, which would have approved the rank, had already stopped meeting. Gordon passed away just over a year after the war ended, at the age of 40.
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Benjamin Franklin Gordon's Military Journey
Benjamin Franklin Gordon had an interesting military career, serving in two different wars. He started as a regular soldier and later became a leader.
Early Military Service
Gordon's first experience in the military was during the Mexican–American War. This war happened between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. During this time, Gordon was a private, which is the lowest rank for a soldier. He also served as a bugler, playing the bugle to give signals to the troops. He was part of a regiment from Missouri that fought for the U.S. Army.
Fighting in the American Civil War
Years later, when the American Civil War began in 1861, Benjamin Franklin Gordon joined the Confederate States Army. This army fought for the Southern states that had separated from the United States. Gordon rose through the ranks and became a colonel, a high-ranking officer.
Serving with General Shelby
Colonel Gordon served under a famous Confederate leader named General Joseph O. "Jo" Shelby. They fought many battles together in the states of Missouri and Arkansas. These battles were part of the fighting in the Trans-Mississippi Department. This was a large military area for the Confederacy that included states west of the Mississippi River. Gordon stayed with General Shelby's forces throughout the entire war, from 1861 to 1865.
A Promotion That Wasn't Official
As the Civil War was ending in May 1865, General E. Kirby Smith was the commander of the Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department. He decided to assign Gordon to duty as a brigadier general. This would have been a very important promotion.
However, this promotion was never officially approved. The Confederate government was falling apart as the war ended. The Confederate Senate, which needed to approve such high-ranking appointments, had already met for the last time in March 1865. Also, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by Union troops in May 1865. Because of these events, President Davis could not officially appoint Gordon to the rank of brigadier general.
After the War
Benjamin Franklin Gordon survived the American Civil War. However, he passed away not long after the war ended. He died on September 22, 1866, when he was only 40 years old. He is buried in Waverly, Missouri.
Images for kids
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A symbol representing the rank of Colonel in the Confederate States Army.
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A symbol representing the rank of Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army.
