Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-11-19
The Legion at Hampfon aud
JdcksOH.


This viii be the conviction Of every stu
dent Of military movements who reads
the startling narrative Of Gen. Wade
Hampton. It Is not too much to say
that it Is the most valuable contribution
% the history of the war that has been
obtained since the great struggle ended,
and the gallant vri.er Is 80 plain in his
statements that even the casual reader
viii fhd no difficulty in understanding
the meaning and significance Of bis re-
marks.
Gen Hampton describes the events
which took place under his own eye.
There l. no reliance on hearsay, or even
upon the statements Of trustworthy sub
orlinates. Much Of the confusion and
contradiction IN the narratives Of mill
tary events l. due, a. Gen. Hampton
points out, to the efforts Of officers 10 EN-
brace the whole field Of operations in
their reports instead Of conhning them
selves % what va within the range of
their personal observation. This source
Of confusion and nisapprehension has
been scrupulousIy avoided in the present
instance and il i evident that the errors
which have been embodied in the current
histories Of the war between the States
can now be corrected 10 no better way
than by a comparison Of the recollecfions
Of those who took part IN the struggle.
BY giving bis own experience at Manas-
.as. Gen. Hampton sets an excellent ex-
ample TO others who had similar oppor-
tunities, aud establishes a precedent
which viii, We trust, be generally fol-
lowed
Desiroas Of being absolutely accurate
10 his statements, Gen. Hampton has
consulted officer. who were present with
him at Manassas, aud their testimony
confrm. and strengthens biz own impres-
sions. lt is, therefore, .afe ~ say that
hi. narrative E. conclusive upon the points
which he touches. Mistake Of long
standing are corrected, ard much that
has been hitherto inexpIicabIe % the his
toriau T. fully explained.
The inevitable deduction from Gen.
Hampton soldierly narrative j. that the
services Of the South Carolinians Of the
Hampton Legion ct Manassas we're IF
iaestimable valuable. For years the of
fcers and men Of the Hampton Legion
have lelt that, 10 the official accounts Of
the battle, they we're treated somewhat
cavalierIy, and have desired that the whole
truth be- recorded in their justification
and to their lasting honor. They have
waited tiIl they grew weary With waiting,
but happily their old commander has
been induced, At last, % abandon biz
wonted reserve and give the whole eoun-
try the truth, the whole truth, which has
been known but 10 few.
+, amounts 70 this Hampton was to
Jackson az Manassas, hat jackson was
10 che whole Confederate lelt. Hampton
saved Stonewal Jackson a.. Jackson saved
the army. The explanation = simple:
To wa. the magnificent fighting Of the
Legion under terrible odds-the fighting
of men who knew how to die, and bad 10
thought OF retreatinq that gave Jack
son tine 10 bring hia troops into position.
Hal be not had -he opportunity 10 form
the VirHnians who afterwards stood like
q .tone wall, the battle would have been
lrretnevab.y lost The opportunity to
6rm those Virginians was given 70 Jack
son by Hampton and Biz men and va
given by them alone. til not strange
tha, Of the six hundred who .trode into
the deadly fight, and unainchingiy held
the dusty road oa that burning July day
one hundred and .venty-one fifth of the
whole aamber-.houid have fallen On the
field EQUAL we're they in daring, in
eou-,ancy. in devotion D. the TX hun
cred whom Tennyson immortaIized. And
at Manas-as nobody "blghdereL" Il was
magnificent. and 70 aas war, The gibe
of old Marshal Bo.quet we're out Of place
where Hampton led, and the Legion
fought
80 leaf T. torn from che wreath which
biaJ- che brow Of stonewan jackson.
T. accord justice u oothers T. 10 injusticc
% him. or % BIZ men. Were BE- living
today, 81 would BE- among The frat 70
accord b the Hampton Legion the need
or glory which f. their night. Jackson
dsscriLed ,ae battle a. b. saW il and m
derstood it, and .t i. not surprising that
be- should have beer unaware that Hamp-
,9u was III hs front Heraafser, a. all
evsuts. Hampton and Jackson viIl .fand
.i1a b. side 10 tbe ChronicIe d Mana.sas.