Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-17

the trigger. But the cap snapped. Sew
eral times he pulled, but with the same re-
suit. The Union officer bounded on as If
conscious of his peril.
Hampton was about to draw his sword
when his intended quarry turned short of
to the left through a gap in the fenceI
which Hampton himself had not seen I'M
til borne past 1t. He had the satisfaction
of hurting the pistol at his flying foe, ao-
companyinR 1t with some words which did
not entirely become his character as YES
TRUMAN of the Protestant Episcopal church,
but that was all.
General Hampton found that the Union
officers sword had given him deep cash
about four inches in length, and that but
for tho thick felt hat and heavy suit Of
hair he wore would have cut to the brain.
A few inches Of court plaster enabled him
to keep on duty until he received severe
gunshot wound in the leg on the last OF
the battle. Ten years later Colonel Frank
Hampton, q younger brother OF the gener-
ais, while on a visit to Mobile, became &C
quainted with gentleman from Detroit
who had been an officer in the Union army.
A few days after their Introduction tho
Detroit man said: Colonel, sought your
acquaintance in order that through you l
might make the amende honorable to your
brother, General Wade Hampton. The sa-
Der cut that he received on the head at Get
tysburg was inflicted by me, and the mat
ter has troubled me greatly ever since.
1t was my only act during the war that l
regret was young fellow then Of %
and lieutenant in the Sixth Michigan
cavalry. Seeing a solitary Confederate fir
ing into our lines, determined to capture
him. There was nothing about him to in
dictate his rank, but presumed that he was
an officer. The bend In the fence prevent
ed him from noticing my approach. In
deed he was looking to the front as 1 came
on his rear, and the ground being soft near
the fence line he did not hear my horses
step. could have run him through with
my sword but was incapable Of stabbing
any man in the back. I saw when got
near him that he was of formidable stat
ure, and as his pistol was In his hand
| felt sure that If ordered him to surrender
he would instantly turn and fire upon me.
! He was mounted on horse OF light
chestnut color, which thought was the
| finest animal that 1 had ever seen. 1t was
q sore temptation to cavalry officer, and
I at once changed my plan and decided TO
unhorse the rider and capture his splendid
mount. As struck the blow he turned
upon me. 1t was half mile race for life.
heard his pistol snap three times at my
back and also his parting curse as l went
through the gap in the fence.
Colonel Hampton delivered the explana-
ton rendered by Major S.-for he rose to
that rank-and later General Hampton
acknowledged it by letter. assuring Major
S. that 1t had given him great gratifica-
ton, and that since he had received 1t he
could only regard the failure of his pistol
to fire with deep sense Of gratitude to
him In whose hands are the balance of life
and death.
In reply to the inquiry from Hampton,
Major S. wrote that the name of the frol-
licking rifleman was Frank Pearson; that
he was but 10 years old at the time of the
duel; that tho pistol ball had wounded
him a few inches above the right wrist,
and that he was mustered out of service
at the close of the war as lieutenant and
was successful farmer living near Kala-
mazoo, Mich. Subsequently General
Hampton received letter from Mr.. Pear
son himself, in which he assured the gen
eral that he was glad that he had missed
him, and the general responded that he
was very sorry that he had wounded Pri-
vate Pearson.-Judge T. ]. Mackey In
Louisville Courier Journal.