The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-13
WADE HAMproNs LEGION.
Fare,cea scene--a battle flag from a ICED.
ding go,cn

i u
(, ding gopn
The city of Columbia, s. c., during the
war, witnessed an episode that has not yet
found its way among the records of that
eventful period. 1t was the occasion of the
7 resignation by Gen. Wade Hampton oftho
command of his famous champion Legion -
aud his farewell to the old soldiers whom
he had organized aud equipped, prior to his
promotion to the cavalry service with
which his name in after years was SO sig,
nifcantly identified. II city never locke ed
More beautiful than on that bright spring
morning. Nature had celebrated her glo-
rious rcsariection, Air, earth and sky
seemed ia harmony with the occasion. The
gardens were in full bloom the soft south
winds came laden with the perfume of myr-
iada of flowers, and the winged choristers
Of the woods were holding high carnival.
There wts one objective point that day to
which everybody, young and old, white
and black, hurried, as if animaeed by q
common thought, to great grove on the
outskirts of the capital. BY thousands the
people nocked thither from the adjacent
towns and villages, and long before noon
"a dense multitude had assembled around
the p form on which were to take place
tho Gal exercises Of the day.
lDE nAMpToN's APPEARANCE.
tT :.
line) famp aud, preceded by their baud,
@crS arching through the streets Of the
city to tho place where they were soon to
part with their old commander. As they
appeared upon the scene aud their battle
flag came in view the enthusiasm of the
immense throng was something to be long
remembered. Cheer after cheer greeted the
war'worn veterans and did not cease until
with steady tramp they had filed into po-
sition around the platform, on which were
seated group of distinguished men, whose
names have since become illustrious in tho
annals Of the conftderacy. a moment
later the tall, commanding figure Of. an off,
ccr, whose face told of exposure to The
elements, was discovered ascending the steps
to join the compatriots with whom he had
associated in council and on tho field. He
Tas clad in asuit of faded gray and car~
: ried in hishand weather beaten, war
felt hat. A look of sadness rested on the
handsome features, and there stood before
the multitude the idol Of South Carolina.
To that audience no introduction was nec-
essarJ, for it recognized in an instant the
chevaler, sans peur, ct sans reproche,
around whom has since clustered so many
memories ofthe late desperate strife-Wade
Hampton.
HAMpToN's FAREWELL.
Some minutes elapsed before he was
permitted to speak, and when he did so it
was with voice tremulous with emotion
Turning to the throng he made brief ad.
dress in recognition Of the warm welcome
OF which he had been the recipient, and
then turning to his old command he uttered
the touching and eloquent sentences in
which he Sade farewell to the men who
had followed his fortunes eince the begins
ming of the war. His language may not
have been recorded, but those who were
present will not foeget the closing remark {:
"Soldiers i think you will all bear wit.
nessihat never ordered the Legion to go
where did not lead you, and I believe you
will be true to your past in whatever du.
ties you may be called upon to perform in
the future. Farewell for the present !;
but We shall meet again on many field.
May the God Of battles bless you and
bless our cause %
Among the soldiers present WAS one who
had received heavy sabre cut aud still |
wore his arm in sling. Some one asked
how ne was wounded. "Defending that
life, which is worth ten of mine," was the
answer. SIN one nf the hand.to.h and fights
federal son I'D his sword raised and
was in the ae cutting down Hampton
when l threw my arm up and caught the
blow. But never have regretted it, for
there he stands the embodiment Of our
people" He was young Georgian, and is
to-day successful merchant in the city Of
Savannah.
PALMETTO TOKEN.
Seated next to General Hampton on the
platform was tho Rev. DR. Palmer, now of
New Orleans. After making an address in
his:own peculiarly effective style, he drew
from his pocketa small parcel which he
slowly opened with the accompanying re>
marx "As was about stepping on this