Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-02-13

L,
when Stuart having fallen, Hampton COM
manded the whole Virginia cavalry; the hot
nights at Trevillian's; ut Reans; at Bells
fields; in hundred places; when in those
explrlng<hourS of the great conflict u specIes
OF fury seemed to possess both combatants
and Dinwiddie was the arena of a struggle.
bitter, bloody. desperate beyond all express
sion; thenstIle fighting in the Carolinas OH
the old grounds of the Edisto the high hills
OF the Santee aud Congaree, which in 1864
and 1860. sent bulletins of battle as before
then the last act of the tragedy when Sher>
man came aud Hampton's sahcr cleaned in
the glare of his own house ut Columbia. fred
by himself, and then was sheathed-such
were some OF the scenes amid which the late
form of this soldier moved, and his sword
flashed. That cleaning sabcr had always
been seen in the van. On the Rappahan-
mock, the PO, the Susquehanna, the Sheman-
doah, the North Anna, the PO, tne james,
the Rowanty-in Virginia, Maryland. and
Pennsy ylvania-IIampton had fought with
the stubborn courage inherited from his Rev
oiutionary sires. Fighting lastly upon the
soil Of his native State, he felt no doubt as
Marion and Sumter did, when Rawdvu and
Tarleton came and were met saber to saber.
In the hot conflicts of 1865, Hampton met
tue new enemy as those prem.r cLrUniieys with
their great Virginia couIrade, Light Horse
Larry" Lee had met the old, in 1871.
OF this eminent soldier, l will say that
seeing him often, in many of those periIous
straits which reveal hard fiber or its absence,
always regarded him as Il noble tyre of
courage and manhood gentleman aid SOL
der Ito the finger nails But that is not
enough; generalization and eulngy are un-
proftable-truth aud minute characterization
are better One personal anecdutc Of Caesar
would be far more valuable than a hundred
commonplaces-and that is true of others
It's not u general idea I aim to give-I
would paint the portrait, if can, Of the ac-
tual man. The individuality of the great
South Carollnian was very marked. You
saw ut glance the race from which he
sprung, and the traits of heart and brain
which he brought to the hard contest. He
was ''wholc i'll himself and due TO none -
Neither III physical mental conformation
dId he resemble Stuart the ideal cavalier the
rough rider Forrest or the rest. To COM
pare nm Tor an instant to the famous Stuart
the latter laughed, sang and reveed in
youth and en- jOyment. Hampton smiled Of
tener than he laughed, never sang ut all that
L ever heard, and had the composed demeurlor
OF man of middle age. Stuart loved brill
liant cUlors, gay scenes, and the sparkle of
bright eyes. Hampton gave little thought
to these things, and his plain gray coat, worn.
dlngy and faded, beside the great cavaliers
gay ''fghtng jacket" shining with gold
braid, defined the whole difference. / 10
not say that the dingy coat covered a stou.er
heart than the brilliant iacket-thcrc never
lived more heroic sum than Stuart-but that
IN this was shown the individuality of each
Inc o"e-Stuart-was young. gay. West
Pointer a;.d splendid in his mcrriment, elan,
and ""1nd"n. The. o'her, Hampton, civ.
HAN approaching middle age, planter, not
soldier by prOEessiOn-a man who embarked
III the arduOus struggle with the coulness of
the Statesman, rather than the ardor of the
soldier. 1t was the planter, sword in hand,
not the U. S. officer, that one saw in uamp.
ton-the country gentleman who took up
arms, because his native soil was invaded, as
the race Of which he came had done in the
past. That the plain planter, without mill
tary education, became the great soldier is
un evidence that 1.-THE strain will show
Here is an outline Of the South Curolinian
as he appeared i'll July, 1862, when the cav
airy were resting after the battles of the
Chrckohominy aud he often came to the old
shady yard of Hanover Court-IIe to talk
with General Stuart under the trees there.
w hat the eye saw in these days was Il per-
sonaSe of tail stature and distinguished ap-
pearancc." The face was Drowned by sun and
wind, and half covered by dark side-whiSkcrs
joining u long nuStache Of the same hue
the chin bold, prominent and bare. The
eyes were brown inclining to black, and very
mild aud friendly the voice low, sonorous.
and with u certain accent of dignity and
cUmpOsure. Th. frame of the soldier
straight, vigorous, aud stalwart. but not too
broad tor gracc-was encascd in plain gray
sack coat, OF civilian cut with the collar
turned down; cavalry boots, large and SER
vlceable, with brass spurs; brown felt hat,
without star or t athcr; the rest of the dress
plain gray. Imagine this stalwart figure
with heavy saber bucklcd around the waist.
and mounted upon large and powerful an
imal of excellent blood and action. but wholly
''unshOwy," aud correct idea will be OBJ
taIued OF General Wade Hampton. Passing
from the clothes to the mau-what imprcss
ed aIl who saw him was the attractive union
OF dignity AID simplicity III his beariny-a
certain grave aud simple courtesy which in
dicated birth and breeding. llcrc was cvi-
IDENTIFY an honest gentleman who disdained
all preteuse or artice. 1t was rlan that he
thought nothing of personal dtcorati ms or
military show and never dreamed of .spro.
1ucine an impression" upon any one. This
was revealed by that bearing full of proud
modesty; neither stiff uor iusinuatng-sim-
pie.
After being in his presence for ten min>
utes. you saw at he was Il man for hard
work, aud not for display. That plain and
uuassunlIng hummer, without preteusun, af>
tcctutlon, or official" GOODNESS, wus an index
to the character of the individual. 1t is eusy
to tell Il gcntleman-sOmethiny betrays that
character, as something betrays the Pretend
er. Refinement, good breeding, and tealty
through all, to honor, were here embodied.
The General was us courteous to the hum
biest private soldier as to the Commander in
Chief, and you could disco,e in him no trace
whatever OF that air of 'condescensiun" and
'.patrOmage" which small l,ersnns ,in,;nr to