Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-13
WADE HAMPTON's LEGION,

The city OF Columbia, 5. c., during the
war, witnessed an episode that has no,
vet found its way among the records Of
that eventful period. 1t was the &C.
casion of the resignation by General
Wade Hampton of the command of his
famous Hampton LEGION" and his
farewell to the old soldiers whom he had
organized and equipped, prior to his
promotion to the cavalry service with
which his name in after years was SO
significantly identified. The city never
looked more beautiful than on that
bright spring morning. Nature had lust
celebrated her glorious resurrection
Air, earth and sky seemed in harmony
with the occasion. The gardens were in
full bloom; the soft south winds came
laden with the perfume of mvriads az
flowers, and the winged choristers of
the woods were holding high carnival,
There was one objective point that day
to which everybody, young and Old
white and black, hurried as if animated
by common thought, to a great grove
on the outskirts of the capital. By thon-
sands the people focked thither from
the adjacent towns and villages, and
long before noon a dense multitude had
assembled around the platform on which
were to take place the official exercises
of the day. ''
The Legion" had meanwhile formed
in line in camp and, preceded by their
band, were marching through the
streets of the city to the place where
they were SO soon to part with their old
commander. AS they appeared upon
the scene and their battle-fag came in
view the enthusiasm of the immense
throng was something to be long re-
membered. Cheer after cheer greeted
the Warworn veterans and did not cease
until with steady tramp the, had fled
INTO position around the platform, on
which were seated group of distin.
gulshed men, whose names have since
become illustrious in the
annals of the confederacy. A moment
later the tall, commanding figure of an
officer, 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 the field. He was clad in suit of
Iaded gray and carried in his hand a
Weather-beaten, war-worn felt hat. A
iook OF sadness rested on the handsome
features. and there stood before the null
htude the idol of South Carolina. To
That audience no introduction was nec-
essary, Tor 1T was recognized in an in
slant the cheyalier sans peur, ct sans re-
proche, around whom has since cluster
ed SO many memories of the late des-
pe-ate strife-Wade Hampton.
SoIae minutes elapsed before he was
pefmltsad to speak, and when he did SO
II was With voice tremulous with emo
ton. Iurnlag to the throng he made
brief address III recognition of the warm
welcome Of wht;!h he had been the re-
c!plent, and.then t,fToing to his old COM
mand he uttered the-souching and elo-
quent sentences in which he bade fare.
well to the men who had followed his
fortunes since the beginning ef the war.
his Language may not have record.
ed, but those who were present will
not forget the closing remark: 'ssel-
diers! think YOU will all bear witness
that | never ordered the Legion to go
where did not lead you, and l believe
you Will be true toyour past in whatev-
er duties 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 and
still wore his arm in sling. Some
one asked him how he was Wounded.
Defending that life which is worth ten
of mine," was the answer. I'm one of
the hand to hand fights federal SOL
dicr had his sword raised and was in the
act OF cutting down Hampton when
threw my arm up and caught the blow.
But | never have regretted it for there
he stands, the embodiment Of our peo-
ple." He is a young Georgian and is to-
day a successful merchant in the city of
Seated next to General Hampton on
the platform was the Rev. DR.. Palmer,
now of New Orleans. After making an
address in his own peculiarly effective
style, he drew from his pocket small
parcel which he slowly opened with ac-
remark Gas l was about
stepping on this platform fair daugh-
ter of Carolina handed me this (holding
up beautiful palmetto tree attached to
q blue ribbon) and requested me to pin
it as near General Hampton's heart as
possible; and now if he will step to the
the front Gas is his custom) will obey
the young lsdy's commands to the best
OF my ability" Hampton advanced
blushingly to the edge OF the platform
to receive the token, and after it was
pinned on the lapel of his coat he
turned to the reverend gentleman and
laying his hand over the souvenir said
Tell her | will defend it with my life."
After the ceremonies the soldiers
were invited to barbecue, where the
tables were presided over bv the prin-
clpal ladies OF the city. Battles except
with the knife and fork, were for the
nonce forgotten, and the men who man
fully stood by their flag were quickly
engaged in paying tribute to the pretty
girls, who were only too happy thus to
show their appreciation of the gallant
fellows who represented the
women Of the land. Poor
boys! Scores of them exchanged their
palmetto buttons that day for little keep
sakes, who never returned to redeem
the tokens or claim the hands that gave
them. Conspicuous among the throng
was Colonel Martin w. Gary, who sub
sequently became commander of the Le-
gion and was made brigadier and ma
ior general. He was one of the most
fearless and dashing officers of the con-
federate army, and up to the day of his
death was known as the "unpardonable
rebel" During the four years Of the
war he had passed through some forty
engagements without receiving a wound,
and died in the prime Of life only few
years ago, at his home in Edgefeld.
The flag of the Hampton Legion was
made from portion of the wedding