Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-07-08

He was the lion of the hour ut the
opening session Of the convention,
and the tribute paid to him was
we'll deserved. When the old hero
appeared, entering the hall where
the thousands were assembled,
Governor O'Ferrall was in the
midst of The magnificent speech.
The old soldier was suppo1te&by.
several veterans. His entralGe
was the signal for a great outbptst
of applause, which. forced Cover
nor 0fFerrall to suspend. The gov
ernor had just said in his speech,
"Why this occasion; why this
mighty gatheling?" Gen. Hamp-
toms appearance seemed to answer
the query.
The crowd yelled for "Hamp-
ton" and the Florida delegation
started the wave; the North Caro-
lima delegates took up the cry, and
it swep! through the hall. The
South Carolina delegates could not
stand the pressure and supple
mented the cry with the rebel yell.
The whole assemblage was soon
on its feet. Virginia suggeste.l
.'three cheers for Hampton" and
they were given with hearty good
will. Old soldiers had. their hats
in the air. Many had followed the
noble old man into daring charges.
They kLew his worth and did not
hesitate to testify to it. The ap-
plause became contagious and
those in the galleries took it up.
The fair women of the South-for
they came from all the Southern
States-waived their fans and
Ihandkerchiefs in the air.
1t was proper ovation to the
great cavalry leader. Gen. Hamp-
ton was unprepared for such an
ovation; he rose and bowed. Then
the governor was permitted to fin
ish his speech as General Hamp-
| ton took his seat on the stand
Then the call for Hampton was re.
peated, but General Buckner, the
kentwckian, was introduced ant
his speech was followed by "Tht
Old Kentucky Hcme." Another
atternnt was made to have Genera,
Hampton speak but the mayors
welcome was delivered and Gen
Peyton Wise was permitted tt
lspeak. AS he conclu led the bant
struck up "The Bonnie Blue Flag.
That was applying the match &c
i the Hampton magazine and noth
inc, Void do The. nannla h,,t !.
i tie audience rise, turned to Gener
al Hampton and said: "Speak t
them," and an old Carolina sol
dier forged his way to the from
with a battle scared flag. Wher
the cheering died away Genera
Hampton rose and spoke as fol
| lows:
Mr.. President: I could Away
talk loud enough to make you hea
the word "charge." (Laughter.)
am glad to have the opportunity tt
meet the veterans again and tt
mingle with those whom I once
} had the honor to command. 1t il
proved by the sacrifices I have
made to meet you; because (anc
here his voice trembled with emo
tion) in all human probability
shall never have this honor again
But animated by the same spiri
that has actuated you, l have come
to pay my homage to that great
man and true Confederate, Jeffer.
son Davis. (Applause) 1 have come
and I have been told that they
have assigned me to the command
of the cavalry. Z have come tc
ride again at the head of the bro
ken ranks of these men whom
was always SO proud to see with
their cleaning sabres flashing ir
the front. I have just told your
governor how fortunate he was
and, by the by, how fortunate
am also. Some one has said thai
he has never seen a dead cavalry.
man. (Applause mingled with
laughter. l said to Governor
0'Ferrall. "You ought to very
proud that you were in my com.
mand, for if you had not been in
my command you would not have
been here to make that speech
Renewed laughter) I was not SC
fortunate, however, as he. He was
prepared to speak, and made a
magnificent speech. I will confess
that l was proud of my cavalry. !
did not expect to speak when
came here.
go on; go on" exclaimed an
old comrade and General Hamp-
ton continued as follows: During
my associations around here in
this little neck of woods, | was
called to figh' more than to speak
Loud cheers.)
Raising his voice higher in res
ponse to the request from the au-
dience, he added:
"My fellow citizens, my old COM
rades; l would be fighting again
if the flag of the Confederacy was
still waving. "a voice, That's
right. Il want to impress upon you
the last words I ever heard our IL
lustrious General Robert r. Lee
say. 1t was after the war and l
was in his house talking to him
y