The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-03-01
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WADE
ATRIB UTETO TRUE CHIVALRl

There was II gentleman of South Caro-
Dina, of high social position and ample
estate, who, in 1861, came to take part in
the war in Virginia, at the head of de
gion" Of Six hundred men, infantry. This
body of men, it is said, he had equipped
from his own purse, as he had sent to
England and purchased the artillery with
which he was going to fight.
The" Legion" was composed &pf brave
stun, and oficered by hard fighting gen
tlemen-the flower indeed of the great
South Carolina race good stock. L be-
lieve it first " took the field in earnest at
the first battle of Manassas US an indie.
pendent organization belonging neither
to Beauregard's Army of the Potomac"
nor to Johnston's Army of Shenandoah"
But there it was, rs though dropped from
the clouds, on the morning of the fiery
.21st July, 1861, amid Tie coFn fields OF
Manassas. 1t tmade its mark without loss
of time-stretching out to Virginia that
firm, brave hand of South Carolina. At
10 o'clock in the morning of this eyentful
day, the battle seemed lost to the South
erners. Evans wus cut to pieces Bee
shattered and driven back in utter defeat
to the Henry House Mills between the
victorious enemy, and Beauregard's unpro-
tccted flank were interposed only the six
hundred men Of the I" Legion" already up,
and the two thousand six hundred and
eleven muskets of Jackson's not yet in
position. The " Legion" occupied the
Warrenton road near the Stone House,
where it met and sustained with stubborn
front the torrent DASHED against it. Gen.
Keys, with whole division, attacked these
six hundred men from the direction of
Red House Ford, and his advance was
forced back and compelled to take refuge
Beneath tho bluffs near Stone Bridge. The
column Of General Hunter, meanwhile,
closed in on the left of the little band,
envelopcd his flank, and poarcd a destruc.
tive artillery fire along the linc. To hold
their ground further was impossible, and
they slowly fell back but these precious
moments had been secured. jackson was
in position the "Lcgion" retreated, and
formed upon his right; the enemy's advance
was checked and when the Southern line
advanced ia its turn, with wild cheers,
piercing the Federal centre, the South
Carolinians fought shoulder to shoulder
beside the StOncwall Brigade, and saw
the forces break in disorder. When
the sun sot on this bloody and victorious
field, the 'Legion" had made record
among the most honorable in history They
had done more than their part in the gi-
gantic struggle, and now saw the enemy in
full retreat, but their leader did not wit.
ness that spectacle. Wade Hampton had
been shot down in the final charge near
the Henry Heuse, and borne from the
field, cheering on to his men to the last,
with that stubborn hardihood which he
derived from his ancestral blood.
Such was the first appearance upon the
great arena of a man who was destined to
act prominent part in the tragic drama
of the war, and win for himself n ccle-
brated name. At Manassas, there in the
beginning of the struggle, as always after
ward, he was the cool and fearless soldier.
1t was easily seen by those who watched
Hampton "at work" that he fought from
a sense of duty, and not from passion, CT to
win renown. The war was gala day,
full of attraction and excitement to some
with him it was hard work-not sought,
but accepted. am certain that he was
not ac.uated by a thirst for military rank
or ronown. From those carly days when
all was so gay and brilliant, to the latter
years when the conflict had become so dcs.
perate and bloody, expressing svcry heart,
Hampton remained the same cool, unex
cited soldier. He was foremost in every
fight, and everywhere did molc than his
duty, but eventually martial ambition did
not move him. Driven to take up arms
by his principles, lie fought for his princi.
pies, not for fame. 1t followed him-hc
did not follow it and to contemplate the
and career Of such man is wholesome
His long and arduous career cannot here
he narrated. a bare reference to some
prominent points is all that can be given.
Col. Hampton. of the " Hampton Legion"
soon became Brigadier- General Hampton
of the cavalry. The horscmen OF the Gulf
States serving in Virginia, were placed
under him, and the brigade became por-
tion Of Stuarts command 1t soon made
its mark. Here are some OF the land.
marks in the stirring record
The hard and stubborn stand made at
the Catoctin mountain when General Lee
first invaded Maryland, and where uamr.
ton charged aud captured the Federal ar