The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-21
HAMPTON AND THE SABRE.
Gallant Conduct of Two Officers of The
Jeff. Davis Legion.

TO tile Editor of the Ne,cs and Cou-
rier: In the Weekly Ne,cs and Cou-
rier of the 18th May you give the first
page up to an account Of the visit to
Charleston of Carolina's grandest son,
Lieutcnant-General, Governor, Sena-
tor Wade Hampton. Anticipating
this you had invited communications
regarding incidents in his splendid
career. In a letter from Mr.. Roswell
T. Logan incidents of Hampton's ser
vices as cavalry commander are
given. In that paper he relates the
incident at Frederick City as illustra-
tive of the Generals faith in the sa-
bre. There are inaccuracies in MIR.
Logan's account that [ wish to cor
rect. I would have done so sooner,
but T had forwarded the copy on the
18th, which had been sent me by
someone then unknown, to Col. W. W.
Gordon, Colonel Of the 9Th Georgia
Cavalry, and the paper had but re-
Gently been returned.
On the 18th of September, 1861, as
usual, the cavalry formed the rear
guard of the superb Army of Northern
Virginia. The other arms Of the SER
vice had marched westward for the at
tempt upon Harper's Ferry, Jackson s
| corps to invest the post, Longstreet' s
CORPS and D. Fl. Hills division to in
| tervene between Jackson and the
Army of the Potomac also in case Of
need to assist Jackson in the reduc-
tion of the Ferry.
There had been some dcsultory
| skirmishing between the outposts Of
the two armies for some three or four
days. The ever-cautiUus Mcclellan
had been restored to the command of
the Federal Army and, as is we'll
known, he never pushed matters un-
less, in his conservative judgment, he
| was sure of success. The cavalry oc-
| cupicd the outskirts of the town OF
Frederick City on the evening before
mentioned.
A detail was ordered from headquar-
ters from each regiment and command
in Hampton's brigade for provost and
police duty in the town for the 18th.
This consisted of twenty-four privates
and non-commissioned officers, and
two commissioned officers, the latter
from the JEFF. Davis Legion. These
two officers were First Lieut.. David
Waldhauer and Second Lieut.. W. ".
Gordon (now colonel of the 5th Geor-
gia cavalry. The detail from the
jeff. Davis Legion was four men from
Company Of" and to be accurate [
will name them: Privates Thos. e..
Hayward, VIM. P. Lake, John NJ. Nc
Intosh and the writer.
Our duties the earlier part Of the
day Q2th) were to police the town,
preserve order and forward all strag-
glers westward toward their commands.
Sharp skirmishing had been going on
during the morning and forenoon along
the line of the Monocacy River. The
Federals kept increasing their strength
extending their fauks and feeling for
fords that they might make a lodg-
ment on the west bank Of the stream.
In the afternoon the blue soldiers sue
ceeded in this, and to prevent being
hanked, surrounded and captured our
forces near the city withdrew from the
river rapidly but orderly, passing
thi ough the town. The provost guard
had been assembled near the centre OF
the town in the principal street, and
were formed ready to move out, when
the noise and commotion of some un-
usual excitement attracted attention.
A few moments and the cause was re-
vealed in the head Of column Of blue
troopers comming up the street at
gallop. The townspeople welcomed
them with demonstrations of joy.
White handkerchiefs and scarfs were
plentifully waving from doors and
windows encouraging the Federal cav
airy.
Lieut.. Waldhauer, with the instinct
of good soldier, had assembled his
mixed detachment so that his lett or
rear rested little beyond the apex Of
the hill, his right prolonged down its
western slope. The enemy approach.
ed to within two hundred yards and
halted. Possibly the manner in which
the detachment was formed, so that
only part were visible, misled the
Federal commander and made him fear
trap. The halt of the enemy was a
fatal error to them.
Gen. Hampton had remained in
town to direct matters, and quickly
comprehending the mistake Of the en-:
emy, through Lieut.. Gordon ordered
Lieut.. Waldhauer to charge. 1t is a
well-known fact that cavalry should
never receive charge Of like arm Of
the service at halt. The impact Of
the moving force must be fatal. On
the approach of the Federal force
Lieut. Waldhauer had reversed his for
nation, making left in front. His de-
tachment was in this position when
Lieut.. Gordon transmitted Gen. Hamp-
ton order to charge.
A little icicle was Lieut.. Wald-
hauer; cooler, braver officer never
drew a blade or sabred Yankee. AS
soon as the advancing column had
halted the troops nearest unslung car
bines and began sharp fire upon the
Confederate detachment, and as soon
as Lieut. Waldhauer gave his orders
they saw at once they were to encoun-
ter warm work. On Gen. Hampton
repeating the order Lieut.. Waldhauer
turned coolly to his detachment and
commanded "Attention Draw sabres,
horses we'll in hand, forward march =
The first movement prompted the en-
envy to quicken their fire and we NOV
ed down the street under a rain OF
bullets. In minute the order 'Trot'
was given, then "Gallop,' and almost
instantly "Charge y
The enemy made another mistake !;
they should have met us in motion:
The head of their column broke and
doubled in upon their main body,
which speedily threw them into con-
fusion. This was the Confederate op-
portunity and we were not slow to
avail ourselves of it. Into the disor-
dercd column we went and piled sabre
and pistol and in FIVE minutes the town
IL l..