The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-14

ham move his regiment up to support
ing distance of Col. Hampton, pre-
pared for mounted service, except two
squadrons to be dismounted and de-
ployed on Col. Hampton's right, and
the piece Of artillery placed where it
could render assistance. that We could
hold the left of Hampton's position,
because of the great advantage over
the enemy the high ridge afforded.
Just what was done by Col. Wickham
in pursuance of these suggestions |
have never known.
Very soon after Col. Payne's depart
ure from this last interview line of
mounted skirmishers attacked our po-
sition, riding up to within thirty or
forty yards. We withheld our fire un-
til they came within that distance,
when q we'll delivered volley drove
them back. They made second at
tempt with same result.
Just here let me digress to relate an
amusing incident. Companies &c"
and II" of my regiment were armed
with long range Enfield rifles. The
other companies with carbines of diff
ferent styles. Farley was sitting
mounted next to me OIL the line where
Co. &c" was stationed when the blue
coat skirmishers delivered their fire.
Farley drew his pistol and spurred his
horse through our line firing as he ad-
vanced. AS we were the only two
persons mounted on that part of our
line I thought we were exposed quite
enough, 80 I ordered Farley back.
A bout that time Fayette Turner of Co.
&C." who was standing in three feet of
me, discharged his gun. He turned to
me and remarked very coolly: "Col-
onel, I got that fellow on the grey
horse" saw the man ease himself
down from his horse and the grey
horse trot off to the rear, and / sup
posed he had dismounted to get behind
tree or rock to open fire. So I replied
rather sharply to Turner, Reload
your gun, sir; he has dismounted to
get us.n But Turner was right, he had
killed the man who turned out to be
an officer. Turner wore a striped
slouch hat and altogether presented
debonair, devil-me-care air, which at.
tracted my attention. 1t was about
this incident that Farley and were
laughing when we were struck later
by the same shell.
Satisfied with the condition of affairs
on this part of the line, 1 rode as rap
idly .as the thick woods would permit
down the line towards where Hamp-
ton was posted in the road. Capt. Till
man n. Clark, of Co. a." rested the
right of his company on the road.
Before reaching this company l saw
the right swinging back firing in the
woods, and to my great surprise found
that regiment of Federal cavalry had
charged up the road, passing our dis
mounted line, sweeping the mounted
column out of the road. In this situa-
ton nothing was left but to retire the
whole dismounted line and take up a
new position along Richland creek In
our rear. Meantime gathered up the
detachment with Hampton,
who was mortally wounded in the me-
lee, except three or four who were
taken prisoner, and moved back after
charging the Federal regiment. That
soon fell back, however, which gave US
time to reform our lines. To this day,
I have never known how far Col.
Wickham acted on my suggestions. l
have learned from others that his regi-
ment was some three or four hundred
yards in Hampton's rear, that he did
not dismount the two squadrons on
Hampton's right and did not move up
with the remainder of his regiment to
his support. My orders to Col. Hamp-
ton were to charge anything, as ! eX-
pressed it, "fy in the face Of anything
that came up the hill in front Of him."
He was too good and gallant a soldier
to receive charge standing. My in
formation from 1t. John It. Rhett,
who was with him, was that he was
very much perplexed by Col. Wick.
ham not assuming command and CIV
ing directions and that when he gave
the command for the forward move
ment of his detachment, only a hand
ful of men, to meet the enemy's
charge, some one gave the command
"By fours left about Wheel" and the
enemy came on them in that attitude.
OF course none of us could tell in an
extended field like that, what takes
place or what could have been done
elsewhere. was not disappointed in
my anticipations of what the enemy
would do, We had driven them back
twice on the left, and l am quite conf
dent if my suggestions had been
promptly acted on the right could have
been taken care of until we had trans
ferred some Of the rif1emen from the
left to the right, and held our strong
position almost indefinitely. But, as
[ have said on former occasion, some
times the smallest incident or accident
changes the fate of combats and bat
ties.
Let me suspend this narrative few
to pay brief tribute to one
of the noblest, most unseltish, gallant
gentlemen, my lamented friecd, 1t.
Col. Frank Hampton. He was my
friend, for during the most intimate
rs tent and mess mate for
many trying months with the relation
of superior and inferior officer. an as
ISOLATION and relation where the good
and bad qualities of q man are more
disclosed than any other,
there was never an unpleasant word
either official or personal passed be-
tween us. He was one of the most un-
selfish men haveever known. always
considerate of others. / do not remem-
Der, except upon one occasion, to have
heard him speak unkindly or unpleas-
antly of another. His devotion to his
maiden sisters and his motherless
children was 80 gentle and tender as to
become almost feminine in its quality.
And yet withal, he was most manly
man, courageous. faithful to his duties,
and uncomplaining under the most
trying circumstances. He was shot
In, tl,a afo,uaah u,ith q niatnl ball In