The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-04

tho trigger. But tho cap snapped Soy
eral times he pulled. but with tho same re-
suit. The Union officer bounded OH as If
conscious of his peril.
Hampton was about to draw his sword
when his intended quarry turned short off
to tho left through II gap in the fence
which Hampton himself had not seen un-
til borne past it. He had the satisfaction
of hurting the pistol ut his flying foe. &c
companying it with soinc words which did
not entirely become his character aus 70 yes
trymnn of the Protestant Episcopal church.
but that was all.
General Hampton found that the Union
officers sword had given him n deep cash
about four inches in length. and that but
for the 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 u severe
gunshot wound in the leg on the last of
the battlc. Ten years later Colonel Frank
Hampton, u younger brother of the gcncr-
ais, while OH u visit to Mobile, became ac-
quaintcd with o gentleman from Detroit
who had been an officer III the Union army
a few days after their introduction the
Detroit man said: Colonel, sought your
acquaintance in order that through you l
might make tho amcnde honorable To your
brother, General Wade Hampton. The sa-
Der cut that he received on the head ut 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
regret. 1 was young fellow then of 80
and lieutenant in the Sixth Michigan
cavalry. Seeing solitary Confederate fir
ing into our lines, 1 determined to capture
him. There was nothing about him to in
dicatc his rank, but presumed that he was
tn. VI. a.
ed him from noticing my approach In
deed he was looking to the front as came
on his rear, and the ground being soft near
the fence line he did not hear my horses
step. l could have run him through with
my sword, but l was incapable of stabbing
any man in tho back. / saw when got
near him that he was of formidable stat
ure, md as his pistol was in his hand
felt sure that if ordered him to surrender
he would instantly turn and fire upon me-
He WIS mounted Oh horse of light
chestnut color, which thought was the
finest animal that had ever seen. 1t was
sore temptation to Il cavalry officer, and
l ut once changed my plan and decided 10
unhorse the rider and capture his splendid
mount. AS l struck the blow he turned
upon me. 1t was II half mile race for life.
heard his pistol snap three times ut my
c"N'N "iio sioC iiio PtitihS SuloC no Nclll
through the gap III the fence"
Colonel Hampton delivered the cxplana-
ton rendered by Major S.-for he rose to
that rank-and later General Hampton
acknowledged it by letter, assuring Major
S. that it had given him great gr;,tifca.
ton, and that since he had received it he
could only regard the failure of his pistol
to fire with deep sense of gratitude 10
him in whose hands are the balance of life
and death.
In reply to tho inquiry from Hampton.
Major :. wrote that the name of the frul-
licking rilcman was Frank Pearson; that
he was but 10 years old ut the time of the
duel; that the pistol ball had wounded
him n few inches above tho right wrist
and that he was mustered out of service
mt the close of the war ms IL lieutenant and
was II successful farmer living near Knla-
mazoo, Mich. Subsequently General
Hampton received II 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 Pcarson.-Judgc L. j. Mackey in
Louisville Courier j. urnnl.