The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-09-14
GEN. WADE HAMPTON,
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCs.
By J. WOOD DAVIDSON.
From fas Iertrais Essquster.

Etor, as yerkraus Enquirer.
In the issue of the Enguire.', of date
of January 18th, 1870, first appeared the
subjoined sketch Of Gen. Wade Hamptoa.
written for the columns of this paper by
@ talented con of Carolina, who has sinco
removed from the State. It was prepared
and published simply ss biographical
sketch of an iliustrieas citizen Of tho
STATE, whose name was an embodiment
of rirtue and valor; and was not inten-
ded TO subserve any political or other
purpose.
The recent nomination Of General
Hampton To the Chief Magistra1i, Of the
State, again brings his name prominently
before the people. and attaches deep
interest to the principal events in bis
past career. We presume our readers
will require no apology from ua for again
presenting ia our columns the principal
events in the life of nne SO much en-
deared to the people of The State, and
around whose name 60 much present in-
tercst attaches:
BY birth, residence, education and
character, General Wade Hampton 10 O
South Carolipian. Perhaps ns to.ter
representative man could be found-rep-
resentatiye in that he combines in him
self fairer share of those better quail
ties of mind and character, of which
Southerners are so uniformly proud, and
upon which the genuine South Carolinian
bases bis individuality. He is o type or
representative man of both section and
State.
His grandfather-Colonel Ham pton,
of Revolutionary fame, and afterwards d
General in the war Of l812-bore the
same name. AS partisan officer of Che
forces of Marion and Sumter, he was
noted for the rapidity, boldnesg and sue
that of l8l2-he received the appoint
ment of Brigadier, and served under
Gen. Dearborn in the operations against
Canada.
His father, Col. Wade Hampton, served
rs aide-de-camp with Gen. Andrew jack
son in the defense Of New Orleans.
Thus three generations haye served With
distinction in war.
Lieutenant,General Wade Hampton,
the subject CT tho present sketch, was
born in Charleston in the year 1918. He
entered the South Carolina College in
1885. His graduating speech was upon
2asso. The peculiar character of the
man appeared while yet g youth, In his
conduct at a great fire in Columbia, where
he won the admiration of older heads by
the coolness, forethought and daring
which he exhibited. from his earliest
boyhood he was noted for his fondnesa
for hunting; and has enjoyed, from that
time, the reputation Of being the best
shot and the most successful huntsEau
in the State.
He served before the war in both
branches Of the State Legislature. Tho
most memorable public measure that he
led, WAS the opposition to the re-opening
of the African eiaye trade. He was in
the Senate ut that time. Coy. Adams,
in his message, had recommended the
re-opening OF that trade; and the COM
mittee to which the subject was referred,
submitted report favorable to it. SEN
ator Hampton was member of that
| norjty report, which took strong grounds
against the action of the majority. His
treatment of his cwn sleves was always
humane, of which fact we shall have
further evidence in eventa that have. oc-
CURED since the war. He In said to have
been the owner of q greater number Of
slaves than any other planter in his State.
He married first Miss Preston, of Vir-
ginia, and second Miss iMcDuffie, q
daughter of Gov, McDuffie, of South
Carolina. His home, at Columbia, has
been characterized as the "ebode of
splendid hospitality, and as one of the
most superb residences in the United
States." This was destroyed by Sher-
mans troops at the time, they burned
Columbia, in February, 1856. The house
was isolated, and must have been f.ed
separately-one among the thousands Of
instances cf violation of the laws and
rights of war, in the destruction Of rr;-
vate property. .,.j..,,., .'-
When the war of secession arose in
1861, Wade Hampton entered service as
a private in Captain 4 r Teyyllcr's Goa
gaFee Mounted Rifiemen, which did ser
vice near Charleston during the reduction
Of Fort Sumter, in April Of that year, Z
AS sooE as the invaaicn of Virginia
made that State the Il eatre Of the war
early iii i66I-and it became manifest
that general war was inevitable, he set
about tern,ing his command to take part
in it. Ti:3 command consisted Of all
.hree- branches Of the, military-cayaIry,
infantry and artillery-7and was known
throughout the war .as the Hampton Le-
gion. This was organized at Columbia
during the early summer, aud went o0 to
Virginia in time to join in the battle Of
Manassas-the Bull Run of the North.
erners. The Legion bore with it BAN,
ner presented by the ladies of his native
State, which was destined to wave over
many 6 bloody field. In the First Battle
of Manassas, the Hampton Legion held
the Warrenton Road against the brigade
of Keyes. Overwhelming numbers bore
them, back a short distance, but forming
on the right of Jackson's Stonewall bri-
gade, they did heroic service in turning
the tide of an almost desperate day.
General Beauregerd, in his official report,
spoke of the Legion with the highest
! praise, mentioning that it "aided in re-
storing the fortunes of the day, st the
time when the enemy, by q last desperate
onsgt, with heavy odds, had driven the
Confederates from the fiercely contested
ground about the Henry House," Col.
Hampton's horse was shot urGer him
early in the action, and later he was &c.
vereiy wounded in the head with rife
ball. .s,c:i,atoa va .an4g
The Hampton Legion took part in all
tie battles of the Peninsular, moving
with Johnston's army up to the defense
of Richmond. In the battle of Seven
Pip S--3lst May, l862-+Col. Hampton
va; again wounded. Then came the
Seven Days Fight before Richmond, be-
ginning with Mechanicsvilie ard ending
with Maivern's Hills, in which he and his
Legion-already famous for its brilliant
! achievements, and alrsady everywhere
felt to carry with it the prestige of legion
Of yeterans--.took distinguished part.
4 II n ~ -