The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-03-01

art-was young, gay, West Pointer, and
\ splendid In his mcrrlmcnt, elan and aJa,,
don. The -llampton-a civilian M.
preaching middle age, planter, not a SOL
der by professional man who embarked
in the arduous struggle with the coo!ncss
oi the statesman, rather than the ardor of
the soldier. 1t was the planter, sword in
hand, not the u. 5. officer, that one saw in
llampton-the country gentleman who took
up arms because his native soil was invad.
| ed, as the race Of which he came had dorc
in the past That the plain planter, with
cut military education, became The great t
soldier, is IN evidence that "the strain will
show"
Here is an outline of the South Carolin
ian as he appeared in July, 1862, when
the cavalry were resting after the battles of
the Chicahominy, and he often came to
the old shady yard of Hanover Court House,
| to talk with General Stuart under the trc IS
there. What the eye saw in these lays
was parsonage of tall stature and "distin.
guishcd" appearance The face was brown
ed by sun and wind, half covered by dark
sldc-whiskcrs, joining long moustache Of
the same huc-the chin bold, prominent
and bare The eyes were brown. inclininr
to black, and very mild and friendly; the
voice, low, sonorous, and with certain ac-
cent OF dignity and composure Tho frame
oil the soldicr-strtight, vigoroas and s.al
wart, but not too broad for grace-was en-
| cascd In plain gray sack coat, Of civilian
cut, with the collar turned down; cavalry
boots, large and seTyiccablc, with brass
n brown I.lt I,I
feather; the rest OF the dress plain gray.
Imagine this stawart figure with heavy
sabre buck cd around the waisi, and mount
cd upon q large and powerful animal of
most excellent blood and action bet wholly
"unshowy," and a correct idea will be ob
tanci OF General Wade Hampton. Pass
ing from the clothes to the lnan-what i'm
pressed all wLo SAW him was the attractive
union OF dignity and simplicity in his bear
ing-a certain grave and simple courtesy
which indicated birth and breeding. Here
was evidently an honest gentleman who
d!sdaineI all prc:cGcc or artIEce. 1t was
plain that he thought nothing Of personal
decOrat.oHs or mIlia-y rhgwy and ay?cr
dreamed OF producing an impression up.
on any one. This was revealed b. that
bearing iull OF proud modcs;y ;y-nuitler
stiff nor ias!nua;ing simple
After being in his presence for ten min.
utcs, you saw that he was q mar for hard
work, and not for display. That plain and
unassum!nS manner, without prctcnsion,
at!ccta,ioa, or 'oaie o. coolness, was an
index TO the character O! the individual
1t IS easy to tell gentleman something
bctiays that character, as something bc.rays
the prctcndcr. Refinement, good br.clinr.
and !c',lty through Ill, to honor, were here
embodied, The General was as courteous
TO TIE humblest private soldier rs to the
Commander in Chief, and you could disuov.
CT IN HIM no trace whatever OF tha. air Of
"condcscensi5 M an! patronage" whicl.
small persons, aiming to be great, some
times adopt. Ii WAS tilc uulUr>~-l. courtc
sy OF the gentleman, not the hollow polite
ness OF the pretcntcr to that title, which
all saw IN Hampton. He did no: act
tale, but lived his character. In his voice,
In his bearing, in all that he said AMI did.
the South Clroiinian betrayed the man who
is too proud not to be simple, natural, aud
unassuming.
Upon this trait OF manner merely. may
seem To dwell too long. But IT Is not g
tribe. | am trying 10 dc,inoatc a uan OF
whom we Southcrncrs are proud-and this
rare grace was his. 1t reflected clearly
the character Of the individual the moi!
pride, the true courtesy, and The high.Lrcl
simplicity o! one who amid all the jur!in,
strife Of an excited epoch, would not suffer
his serene cquanimity Of temper to be dis
turbcl; who aimed TO do h.s duty to his
country, not rise above his associates; who
was no potter to the higher thar to the
low, to the powerful than TO Tie weak, and
who respected moro the truth aud coufa-c
beneath the tattcred jacket than the stars
and wreath on the braided coat. The re
suit OF this kindly feeling toward "men OF
low estate was marked I'm officer long
associated with him said to M one day, =!
do not believe there ever was General
moro beloved by his whole command and
he more than returns it, Gen Hampton
has real tenderness, | do believe, Tor every
soldier who has ever served under him
uo was always doing the poorer members
OF his command some kindness His hand
was open like his heart Many brave
fellows family was kept from want by him;
and hundred instances Of this !iherali;y
are doubtless rpcOrdpd i'm tb, ,,r,t AL mon,