Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-19
WADE HAMpTON,s HOME.
A Picture of Ruin and DesOIaffOn
In SOulh Carolina.


II. V. Redfeld's Columbia Letter in Cincin-
natl Commercial.l
| 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 s
famous esidence-famous because beau
tiful 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 descended from long
line of ancestors wealthy and warlke
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 distance came to the ruins.
The site was magnificent. From the top
of this hill or rise of ground the country
spread out before you, visible in all di-
rections. To the west Columbia lay en-
shrouded in trees, and to the east and
north landscape Of rare loveliness pre-
sented itself. But the looks of the
place itself was in,sad contrast to what
could be seen from it. Nothing is left
of what was an elegant mansion but four
stout pillars and great mass of black
ened brick thrown into confused heap.
The house was large, and is said to have
been filled from cellar to garret with all
that was costly and historic. Here we're
gathered the trophies and heirlooms
Of one of the oldest, wealthiest and most
distinguished families of South Carolina.
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
remain to this day. 1t is said that Hamp-
ton 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 numer-
Gus 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 pleasure, and no one seems
to have cared to preventit. The hedges
have grown stiff and rank and out of
shape, the cedars and pines and box
trees sadly show the need of attention,
but are still beautiful. The flowers are
nearly all killed out, only now one bloom
ing here and there, making the surround
ing desolation still more impressive.
Imagine that which was once minia-
ture 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 Millwood" now.
There were row of frame houses near.
formerly the servants apartments, but
all deserted. Desolation and silence
reigned supreme. Seeing small house
some distance away that looked as
though it might be inhabited, walked
toward it. A small boy was playing in
the yard.
"Who lives here2" / asked.
" Mother" he replied, apparently star
tied at the appearance of stranger at
that desolate looking place. A lady
came to the door, evidently of the poor
white" persuasion.
THAT house in ruins was formerly
Wade Hampton's, was it notY' | in
quired.
Yes, there's where the General lived
before the war But the Yankees, they
tore up everything 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 General 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 years ago, beautiful parks and gar
dens, although now hardly to be recog-
nized 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 a desolate hill, and
the family is no longer the power in the
land that it once was. The Prestons,
Pinkneys and Rhetts have
al been reduced from their high estates
They are no longer the rulers of South
Carolina. But let us pass everything
10 their credit that is due, and say that,
through the long years that these fami-
lies ruled the State, they stole none of
its revenues, nor disgraced its high places
BY ignorant and corrupt men. Faulty
as the old-time Southern Democratic poll
.icians were, they were honest. What |
ever they did, they did not steal.