The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-03

had ridden about 175 yards at a right OBJ
hque he came to a high stake and rider
rail fence. Looking TO the front he saw,
standing on large stump, some
four or five feet in hight, q sol
der whose blue coat, bound with
orange-cOlored braid, and pantaloOns with
stripes of the same color on the outer
seams, indicated that he was a United
States cavalrymau. He seemed to be
what the Scots term-a "braw lad" and,
although not engaged in a political cam
paign, had "taken the stump" doubtless
that he might get better view of the
Confederate troops on the elevated
plateau south of the woods.
The contour of the ground hid General
Hampton from the command when he
halted at the fence AS he drew his
pistol the quick eyed skirmisher saw him,
and they both fired at the same instant.
The ball from the soldiers rihed carbine
splintered a rail near the horses head,
and that from Wade Hampton's 44-caliOer
revolver made the bark fly from the
stump.
The duel was clearly irregular, as there
were no seconds, and the principles were
about l25 yards apart instead of 10 or 20
PAGES, as prescribed by the code of honor,
and they were unequally armed, although
each was within fair range of the others
weapon. Hampton held his pistol muzzle
up, al ready, and cOurteOusly waited on
his antagonist, who threw back the lever
of his carbine, and, fiinging out the empty
shell, put in a fresh cartridge.
Again the report of the carbine and PTS
tol blended, and a bullet passed through
HamptOn's gray cavalry cape, grazing his
right breast.
The soldier then inserted third car
fridge, but could not close the breach of
his rife, the trouble evidently being that
the gun was foul, and hence the butt of
the metallic case did not go in flush with
the socket. He raised his right hand
with the palm to the front, as if to say to
his adversary, wait a bit; I'll soon be
with you" and then drew his wiping roc,
and, after driving out the stuck car
/ fridge, took piece of rag from his pocket,
and, wetting it with his tongue, at
tached it to the slit in the rod and DELHI
erately cleaned out mis- carbine The de-
! lay sorely taxed the patieuce of Hamp-
ton, as 1t would thar of any gentleman
who was kept waiting to be Shot at.
But he was as incapable of taking an
unfair advantage Of his enemy then as he
was at Brandy Station, where, during
/ the tiercest cavalry engagement of the
war, he dashed up to a federal colonel to
cut him down, but seeing that his sword
arm was disabled, saluted him instead
and passed on to seek another foe.
The high-roOsting cock of the woods
soon relieved him by again opening FIRE,
but at Hampton's return shot the carbine
fell from his grasp and he jumped down,
and after picking it up with his left
hand, retired to the rear.
At that moment Gen. Hampton received
blow on the back of his head that would
have ENDORSED less stalwart rider. He
| turned upon his assailant, who Instantly
wheeled his horse and fed at full speed
| Hampton followed quickly in pursuit, his
thoroughbred mare springing forward at
the touch of the spur. The fleeing federal
officer, for such his uniform stamped him.
was also well mounted but Hampton
overlook him, and, leveling a pistol
within three feet of his head. pulled the
| trigger. But the cap snapped. Several
times he pulled, but with the same re.
| suit. The union officer bounded on as ii
conscious Of his peril
| Hampton was about to draw his sword
when his intended quarry turned short
| off to the left through a gap in the fence
! which Hampton himself had not seen
until borne past IT, He had the salts
faction Of hurting the pistol at his flying
foe, accompanying it with some words
which did not entirely become his char
| acter as a vestrYman of the Protestant
| Episcopal church, but that was all
Gen. Hampton found that the Union
| oihcer's sword had given him a deep gasl
about four inches in length, and that
but for the thick felt hat ana heavy suit