Vicissitude and uncertainty mark the destiny of man! Mutability, death and decay are incident to all things terrestrial. The changing skies, the fading flower and the falling leaf are fit emblems of the precarious and transitory existence of man. Truly hath it been said that "He cometh forth as a flower and is cut down; he fleeth as a shadow and continueth not". Wisely also hath it been said; "We know not what a day may bring forth". Profoundly impressed with the wisdom and force of these solemn declarations, fully recognizing the uncertainty of life and the inevitable advent of death, desiring to make certain bequests and wishing certain instructions and commissions to be executed when I am gone, I hereby make, constitute and ordain this writing as my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling all other wills and Testaments that may have heretofore been made by me.
When this troubled dream that men call life is ended. I desire that my body shall be interred in my lot in Elmwood Cemetery, and on the South side of said lot, beside the remains of my beloved wife Mrs. Ora Paine Gordon.
I desire to be buried in my confederate Uniform, with military honors and ceremonies by Company "A" Confederate Veterans and the Veteran Chickasaw Guards. From the grave I will thank the officers and men of these companies, at the time of my death, to comply with this request; and I hereby direct that all the expense incurred in complying with my request, be paid out of my estate by my Executor herein after named.
On the south face of the monument which I have erected to the memory of my beloved wife, in Elmwood Cemetery (the side on which I desire to be buried, head resting toward the West, feet toward the monument), I wish the following inscription to be placed:
George W. GordonBorn October 5th 1836 Died 19 (The date of my death to be inserted when it occurs.)
I desire a respectable but inexpensive interment, the casket not to exceed the cost of ($100) one hundred dollars, and I wish my Executor to direct this and the other necessary expenses of my interment...........................................
I bequeath the tattered, bullet-pierced and bloodstained battle flag of the 11th Tennessee Infantry Regiment in the war of Invasion and subjugation waged against the South by the commerce, avarice and envy of the North, from 1861 to 1865 (and which regiment I had the honor to command in the Confederate army for more than two years) to "The Tennessee Historical Society" at Nashville, Tennessee to be placed in a cabinet as now are the flags of other Tennessee regiments in the confederate Army.
The sabre, worn by me in the Confederate Army while resisting the unconstitutional, lawless, mercenary and criminal invasion of the South by the North, I also give to the said Tennessee Historical Society at Nashville, Tennessee.
My Field Glass and Haversack used by me while resenting and resisting northern spoilation and subjugation of the South, I give to the "Confederate Historical Association" of Memphis, Tennessee.........................
Given under my hand, this 24th day of November 1910.
Geo W. Gordon
