Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-03-21
How General Fitzpatrick Turned the
Tables on Wa~e Hampton.

how General fitzpatrick Turned the
Tables on Wa-e Hampton.
The following spirited account
of one of General Kilpatrick's ex-
ploits during Sherman's march
through the Carolinas, is from J. Il.
Headiey ; "Grant and Sherman
their Campaigns and Generals" PIP.
341, 343:
Hampton, who had joined Wheel
er, and who was soon placed in COM
mand of all the rebel cavalry oper-
ating against our army, now tried
TO reach Fayetteville, whittier Har-
dee was marching in his retreat
from Charleston. Fitzpatrick a.
once determined if possible, to cut
off the former Finding that he was
moving on two parallel roads, he
posted upon each a brigade of caval-
ry ; but hearing there was still anoth-
er road farther north, along which a
part might pass, he took the throe
regiments. 400 dismounted men and
section of artillery, aud by rapid
night-march reached it, and took
post in advance, where it intersected
the Morgantown road, farther south.
Here he came very noar ending his
career Hampton, made aware of
his movements, broke away from
The main column of Fitzpatrick farth
er south, and by rapid, forced
march, came upon the camp ofthe
latter just before daylight. The blast
Of his buglo was the first annonce-
ment of his presence, and while the
charge was still pealing. he burst
with three divisions into this panic
stricken camp. and swept it with one
wild rush. 1t was as a sudden whrl-
wind, for in one minute after the
first bugle-blast and shout, the whole
command was flying terror-strick
through the gloon Kipatrick's head
quarters were swept in twinkling.
his aids captured his artillery taken
and he himself compelled to flee OIL
foot for his life. Dashing in amid
bis cavalrymen, whose camp was in
the rear OF that of the infantry, he
found them fighting for their horses;
but leader and all were again borne
away in the maddened torrent, and
driven into an impenetrable swamp.
This was most melancholy and mis-
cradle plight for the foremost caval-
~ officer OF the day and major gen.
cral to boot; his headquarters and
camp all gone, and he himself with
his scattered followers laundering
mid the darkness in q swamp that
could not be lcrosscd. To all human
appearance, KiIpatrick's ride through
the Carolinas had como to an ignoble
end. But one of his striking pecul-
iarities is that he never admits any
condition 10 be so desperate that IL
cannot be remedied. and, like Gen.
eral Taylor, he never knows when
he is beaten. Casting about him he
sesolved, with his mere handful OF
men to retake the camp, and give
the enemy battle Peering out from
his hiding place, he found the victors
were wholly taken up with plumber
ing the camp, and, rallyiDg his men
he charged first for the cavalry
camp The rebls, who expected to
see no more of the enemy, were tax
en- by surprise, and driven back on
The other portion of their force. =
Taking advantage Of this sudden
success, and enraged at the sight Of
tbe rebels plundering his headqnar-
ters and harnessing up their battery
horses, in order to carry off his ar
hilary, be ordered the charge to
sound, and, himself leading fell so
fu'iously on them that they recoiled
in astoni5hment Selling the gun
already toaded, no wheeled them
back as though on the dense mass
around his headquarters, now loom
ing through the darkness, within
close pistol shot. A sudden blaze,a
roar, and that mass was rent aS by a
thunder bolt. Dsmay and confus-
ION seized on the disOrganized, half
dlsmounted crowd. Fitzpatrick gave
them no time to rally, but poured in
the grape, and charged like fire on
their half completed formations, he,
with his little band, forced them
back, and though they outnumbered
him three TO one, finally turned
them in fight, leaving the ground
heaped with over hundred slain
The prisoners and artillery were
captured, and the men overwhelmed
and vanquishcd a moment before,
now stood up in the early daylight,
and shouted victory. SO unexpect-
ed was the onset, so swift the over
throw, SO complete the victory, that
it ali seemed more like passing viz
ion than reality. But the dead
and wounded str rowing the red and
trampled earth like autumn leaves,
with gaping sabre wounds and forms
rent into shreds by the artillery,
made real, though sickening sight
in the light of that wintry morning.
Fitzpatrick, as he rested from that
mornings hard work, felt glow of
triumph greater than if be had won
q pitched battle, for he had snatched
victory out Of the very jaws of des-
truction and from the abyss of des-
pair vGulted with single bound to
the summit of exultation. 1t was a
narrow escape. and most wonder
full success. Not ono commander in
a thousand would have done what
he did.
A Disguised Constituent.