New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-19
WADE HAMPTON,S HOME.
A Picture of Ruin and DesOIatiOn in
South Carolina.

South Carolina.
From Columbia Letter to Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
/ walked on some three miles from the
city, and was directed by some children to
the hill to the right of the road, where are
the ruins of General Hampton's famous
residence-famous because beautiful and
costly, and the former home of the most
distinguished descendant of a distinguished
family. Before the war the Hamptons were
the first of the first families. having de-
scended from a long line OF ancestors
wealthy and warlike.
The old original Hampton was revOlu-
tionary general, and the family have since
kept UP the reputation he gained as fighting
stock. | turned from the road up among
the trees as directed, and in short dis
lance came to the ruins. The site was mag
nifcent. From the top Of this hill or rise
of ground the country spread out before
YOU visible in all directions. To the west
Columbia lay enshrOuded in trees, and to
the east and north a landscape of rare love
illness presented itself But the looks of
the place itself was in sad contrast to what
could he seen from it.
Nothing is left of what was an elegant
mansion but four stout pillars and great
mass of blackened brick thrown into a con-
fused heap. The house was large, and is
said to have been filled from cellar to gar
ret with all that was costly and historic.
Here were gathered the trophies and ''heir-
looms" of one of the oldest, wealthiest and
most distinguished families in South Caro-
lima. But in February, 1864, the house and
its contents were reduced to ashes by the
cavalry of Sherman's army. Hampton has
never rebuilt, having been reduced to the
verge of bankruptcy by the war.
The surrounding grounds were once
beautiful, and remnants of their beauty re-
main to this day. 1t is said that Hampton
expended sixty thousand dollars in laying
out and identifying these grounds. All
around the ruins of the house are walks
and drives, shaded by the numerous trees
and shrubbery that grow so luxuriantly IN
this Southern cline. But for seven years
these grounds have been turned out to the
common. Cattle roam over them at pleas
ure, and no one seems to have cared to pre-
vent it. The hedges have grown stiff and
rank and out of shape, the cedars and pines
and box trees" sadly show the need of at
tention, but are still beautiful. The flowers
are nearly all killed out, only now one
blooming here and there, making the sur
rounding desolation still more impressive.
Imagine that which was once miniature
Garden of Eden turned out to the cattle,
the shrubbery eaten down, the flowers
and small plants trampled over, the
trees untrimmed, the graveled walks grown
up in weeds and brambles, the hedges
broken and scattered, and you have some
idea of Wildwood" now. There was a
row of frame houses near, formerly the
servants apartments, but all deserted.
Desolation and silence reigned supreme.
Seeing a small house some distance away,
that looked as though it might be inhabited,
walked toward it. A small boy was play
ing in the yard.
'.Who lives here 7" | asked.
Mother" he replied, apparently startled
at the appearance of stranger at that
deselate looking place. A lady came TO the
door, evidently of the poor white persua-
sion.
THAT house in ruins was formerly
Wade Hampton's, was it nOtP in
quired.
Yes, there's where the general lived be
fore the war. But the Yankees, they tore
everything up about the place and burned
the house They seemed TO have more spite
against the Hamptons than anybody else.
They DESTROYED three fine houses belonging
to the family One was where the generals
sister lived, and was mighty nigh as fine a
place as this Then they burned up Frank
Hampton's house. The general himself Is
now at the West, but we look for him back
some time this month
| wandered around through what were,
ten wears ago, beautiful parks and gardens.
although now hardly TO be recognized as
such down to the road, and away from the
desolate place.
How the old families have been broken up
and scattered The former home of the
Hamptons is now desolate hill, and the
family is no longer the power in the land
that it once was. The Prestons, Middletons,
Pinkneys and Rhetts have all been reduced
from their high estates. They are no longer
the rulers Of South Carolina.