Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-01
Miners at Work Again.
HAMPTON'S DUEL
On the Battlefield ut Gettysburg with a
Federal Soldier.
ATLANTA Constltution)


In the breaking dawn OF July 2, 1863,
400 cavalrymen set in silence upon their
horses on the extreme left OF the Con-
federate battle line at Gettysburg. The
field in their front was curtained with
heavy mist, as II kindly nature had
sought TO veil the appalling traces Of
the tragedy there enacted. IL had been
sown with shot and bladed thick with
steel on the previous afternoon, and the
harvest of death was ungathered, lying
In winrows along the CHASTITY burrows
that had been cut by the red ploushshare
of war. The infantry line stretched far
away to the right, and their gray uni
forms blending with the hazy atmos-
phere gave them very shadowy APP
pearance. Many Of the regiments were in
deed but shadows Of what they had been
at noon on the preceding day. Some
were In line without even one commits
stoned officer, and others with but the
normal strength OF single company.
For example, az attested by the othclal
record. the Twenty-sixth North Carolina
entered the battle with so rank ana
file, and. although none were captured
but eighty answered TO their names al
the close Of the day. Colonel Henry Is.
Burgwyn, Jr,, who commanded H. ana
all the field officers were killed. captain
VI. c. Albright. who took command OF
IL after the battle, was its only commits
stoned officer left unwounded Com
pany II. OF the same regiment, went In
with eighty-four men and three officers,
and came out with but one man standing
upon his feet, all the others having been
killed or wounded. I knew the sole IN
stricken survivor we'll. He was Private
John Secrest n robust young farmer OF
Meckienburg county. North Carolina, ana
/ regret 10 state that instead OF being
grateful to Providence for having placked
him as brand from the burning, ne
grumbled loudly over the loss OF one Oh
his shoes, torn from his foot by a grape
shot that struck the heel while ne was
falling back in good order.
CAVALRY COMMANDER.
The fifty squadrons OF horses that were
awaiting orders In dreamy half sleep
were commanded by Brigadier-Generai
Wade Hampton, He was the beau-ideal
OF cavalry commander. OF all' heroic
form. a superb horseman brave and enter
prising without being rash, and with
daring always tempered by sound juds-
ment He was unquestionabiy the
strongest man IN the Confederate service,
and the only one In either army who, en-
listing as a private seldier. rose To the
rank OF lieutenant-generdL But, although
a judicious commander, he was possessed
OF knightly spirit OF adventure, and as
adventures come to the adventurous, his
brilliant military career WAS marked by
many thrilling personal experiences.
But brave heart Is no buckler against
a steel blade, as General Hampton rea,
iized that morning Hearing bullet hiss
Just over his head. he turned his face
toward the beh Of open woods on his
left In time 10 see the flash OF gun at
a point about three hundred yards away,
and then he heard another leaden mes
senger cut the air near him. He at once
rode at a brisk trot in the direction OF the
timber to find out the early bird of the
sharpshooter who thus broke upon the
quiet OF the morning with his shriil note
OF battle When he had ridden about l75
yards at a right oolidue he came to a
high stake-and-rider rail-fence. Looking
10 the front he saw. standing on large
stump some four or Ave feet In height.
q soldier whose blue coat bound with
orange-colored braid. and pantaloons
with stripes of the same color on the
outer seams. indicated that he was
United States cavalryman. He seemed 10
be what the Scots term a Draw lad"
and, although not engaged In a political
campaign. had taken the stump" doubt
less 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 his command when ne
halted at the fence. As he drew his
pistol the quick-eyed skirmisher saw him,
and they bath fired at the same Instant
The hall from the soldiers rlfei ca.bine
guliatered a rail near the nnraasa h.aa
and that from Wade Hampton's 4i-caiibre
revolver made the bark ny fr3m the
stump. The duel was clearly irregular.
as there were no seconds, and the erin.
cipals were about lS yards apart, instead
OF or - PAGES. as prescribed by the
code OF honor and they were une.uslIy
armad although zach was within fair