Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-05-25
Wade Hampton and His Leg.
Brooklyn Raglo Letter.

did physique TO the disgrace of crutches
lie is the only cripple in the body,
mean visibly so. TO be sure his col.
league, the dashing Butler, has but one
leg, but you might watch him move
about for ten years and not know it sc
perfectly does he manage his cork. re
be sure, too, there are men who suffer
sometimes intensely, for trying to stop
bullets in the late unpleasantness, like
Gordon, and Ramsey, and MaXey; but
their infirmates are not visible. Not SC
with Hampton. He is in the very prime
of life, scarcely over fifty, and hope
less cripple. Nobody feels pain on look
ing at Alex Stephens, for his case is just
the result of slow and natural decay,
which he rather seems to relish. But
you insensibly feel deep sympathy
with Hampton's loss as with the lac
Senator Morton's intirmaties, because
both came along prematurely, like the
hurricane on the oak, and marred pow
erful frames. And the General croons
over the abbreviated limb all the time
not in any growing or testy spirit, for
he is the soul Of patience, but it must be
remembered that his whole life has been
one of nerve, vim, and dash, and his
present forced inactivity must only in
tensify the memory Of his daring ex-
ploits, and moving accidents by food
and field" Can it be supposed that
when Morton sat in the Senate, big,
chained dog, the deienceless prey of the
smallest cur that had legs and could use
them, he never tretted at the picture Of
his past activity, when lie used to bound
into the saddle at his Governors office
in war times, and dash to camp or arse
nal, the very embodiment of physical
vigor as he lashed his horse 10 white
foam through the excited streets. No
wonder, then, that while the General
nurses his leg, he also nurses manly re-
grets. Several interesting incidents hap
pened lately in a single day, MS told by
one of Hampton's intimate friends.
The General, in the hope of picking up
some views about cut legs, has 4 way OF
stopping people similarly afflicted. As
he was standing on his crutches in the
main hall near the Senate entrance, Il
large man came along his right leg lost
above the knee, and he had some patent
that seemed like framework, light and
portable, to help him out of his scrape.
Accosting him, Hampton spoke Of their
infirmities, and asked how that
worked. every well, re-
plted the stranger, at is an invention of
my own'-and he went on to explain.
May ] ask where you lost your leg?"
inquired the General. eyes, certain
ly, 1t went off when Hampton charged
our battery at Gettysburg" "Indeed,
Pm grieyed to hear it, said the Gener-
al, very sincerely. "My name is Hamp-
tom" They shook hands very warmly
over the bloody chasm, and the stranger
turned out to be Representative Caulk,
Of Wisconsin.
Later in the day the General was on
his way home in the street car when
man entered with only one arm, the 9TH
er gone at the socket. The General in
viled him to seat and managed the
payment Of his fare.
"Where did you lose your arm ?" ask
ed Hampton.
"Well, sir, 1t was at Gettysburg" an
swercd the man, 'when Hampton made
that terrific charge with his cavalry"
Nhereupon those two shook and made
up and the man now says II Hampton Is
put on the Democratic ticket he will |
swallow II hook and line. IL was on the
same bloody field that Pleasanton and
Hampton met as rival leaders, and
hey met only on Wednesday last over
.he pipe Of peace.-Pleasanto was EN-
with his old enemy and said
hat he was the only soldier he ever
heard Of who told the whole truth in
'ase Of defeat. Let me tell another In.
stance of Hampton's klnd-heaitedness,
md then the reader can possibly jndge
Why il is that he Ia the idol Of the color
ID race Of the South. Recently, It will
,e remembered, he went to Mississippi,
IN the death Of his son. While there he
net three old slaves of his. They called
o pay their respects, and In an apologet-
G way told "Massa Wade" that they
lad TO fight for their freedom and hoped
le did not feel bad about Il. On inqui-
y he learned Of them that all three had
,een wounded on board the Monarch
Turing the war. They knew nothing Of
low their account stood, or might stand
lnder the law, with the United States
Treasury, and ihe Generals first act
When he came back was TO obtain them
tensions. That's the "rebel brigadcrs"
Who are deprlylng the Southern negroes
# their rights.
81 verify believe" said a friend, in
the incident, "tlat II Wade
hampton had felt dispoeed he could es-
ablish monarchy IN the Palmetto State
o-morrow 80 absolute Is his sway, lie
ould start pcerage, found landed es-
ates and divide them up among the Earl
( Charleston, the Marquis Of Edgc1cld
nd the Duke Of Beaufort, and the peo-
lie would enthusiastically acqulesue."