The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-13
9euoted to Spritulhre, Yortieulure, domestic Gsqaon

gentleman and laying his hand over the
souvenir said Tell her l will defend it
with my life"
After the ceremonies the soldiers were
invited 20 barbecue where the tables were
presided over by the principal ladies of
the city. Battles, except with knife and
fork. were for the nonce forgotten, and
the men who manfully stood by their
flag were quickly engaged IN paying
tribute to the pretty girls, who were
only too happy thus to show their appre-
citation of the gallaut fellows who repre-,
sentcd the omen Of :he land Poor boys
| Scores ofthem- m-nxohaagsa-thc;r- pr}u,cttv
buttons that day for little kecpsakcs who
never eturncd to redeem the tokens or
claim the hands that gave them. Conspi.
clous among the throng was Colonel Mar
tin w. Gary who subsequently became com-
mander of the Legion anu was made a
brigadicr and major general. He was one
Of the most fearless and dashiug officers of
the Confederate army, and up to the day
Of his death was known as "the uupardon>
able rebel" During the four years of the
war he had passed through some forty en-
gagemcnts without receiving a wound, and
died in the prime of life only few years
ago, ut his home in Edgeield
THE HAMPTON BATTLE FLAG.
TIE flag Of the Hampton Legion was
made from portion Of the wedding dress
of Mrs. Hampton and was presented by her
in person to the command. The few threads
of it which remain show how faithfully it
was borne in the thickcst ofthc fray. More
than twenty men have gone to their sol.
ders rest while bearing it aloft amid the
din and horror of battle. At the beginning
of the war General Hampton was wealthy
man. He supplied his soldiers with their
arms and quartcrcd them on his own
grounds. The Legion comprised some of
the best men OF the State; and there were
scores Of young planters and professional
men who, volunteering rs mere prvates,
with little hope Of promotion, represented
millions of dollars. The esprit du corps
was something remarkable.
INCIDENTS RELATING TO TIE LEGION.
An incident that occurred within the
observation Of tho writer illustrates her
meaning. 1t is that Of DR.. Hyder d. Be-
don, now of Mississippi, who served in the
ranks during the entire war, from the toe
sin that called him to Bull Run to the tap
of the last drum at Appomattox. On being
demonstrated with by friends who de-
pictcd the hardships of camp life, in his
capacity as private his reply was
ANY man will accept the position of an
officer but every man will not fight as pri-
vate. I'll take my chauccs and endeavor to
do my duty" He fought gallantly and cane
out of the war unscathed. A humorous in
cident is related Of another private in the
Legion who left a sumptious home. Tho
regiment was cncamped near the Potomac,
and the young warrior having been taught
that "cleanliness was akin to godlincss"
decided not only to take bath himself,
but to wash his clothing. He did so and
hung the latter on the neighboring limbs TO
dry while he went to sleep. On awakening
he found that every vcstige oc his attire
had been stolen, probably by some luck less
individual whose morals had not been i'm
proved by the war and whose wants were
worse. This was a predicament for SOL.
dicr Of the Legion who might expect
marching orders at any moment He
arose to the situation, however, and stating
the case to his friends they called the COM
pany together to consider the question of
"repairs.'? They voted him an outfit in
very short order, but for uniqueness it has
doubtless seldom been cqualed. a coat
was contributed by one, Pair of trousers
by another, a sock and shoe by a third,
etc. Not an article was of the proper di-
mensions but it served as 4 temporary cov>
ering, for which he was grateful, and when
| the entire "get up" was complete, the boys
christencd him The child Of the Rcgi-
mcnt."
| QUIET QUAKER.
While the Legion were cncampcd on
the banks of the Opequan, in Virginia, an
old Quaker rode into camp. lie was mount.
ed on the back of a sorry looking mule and
was himself, with his "thccs," and ',hous," ,"
typical specimen of an anti-belligcrcnt
from the backwoods. The boys jcered
him from one end Of the camp to the 9th
cr, but he paid littlc attcp;ion to them up.
til he reached the headquarters of Colonel
Hampton, where being met and cordially
greeted by a number of officers, he quietly