The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-27
a THRILLING STORY.
The fiendish Massacre Of the Hampton
Family.

sAS y sStsssoAo ptaSSsASsS W NS sssat'PsSiA
Family.
Stories OF the Hampton family arc
always read with pleasure, for this
family OF answering patriotism has
been closely identified with che most
stirring events in State history since
the beginning Of the struggle for lib
erty. As he is in receipt Of numerous
requests for information as to his fam
lily, Gen. Hampton mas consented to
let the appended sketch. DO republish-
cd. II is the original manuscript Of
the late Gov. Perry and was frst pub
lished in June, 1843, in .'Magnolia."
Following is tho story.
Anthony Hampton, the father of
Gen. Wade Hampton, was among the
first emigrants from ;rss;aas;a TO the
upper part Of, South Carolina. He
settled with his family on Tiger river
in the district Of Spartanburg. In
1775 war with the mother country
as England was then called. became
Inevitable, and it was matter of the
highest importance to the inhabitants
Of the frontiers Of Carolina to secure q
peace with the Cherokee Indians. To
effect this the chiefs Of that war-like
and powerful tribe were invited to
Big Talk" at some convenient town
in their nation.
Edward and Preston Hampton, the
sons ce Anthony Hampton, were dele
gated by their friends and neighbors
to meet the Indians at this confer
ence, and endeavored to persuade
them, il possible, to remain neutral in
the approaching struggle. But the
British emissaries had already engag-
ed the Cherokee warriors to mako an
incursion into the settlements in the
upper part Of the State, at the same
time that the English feet under
Henry Clinton and Peter Parker was
to attack Charleston. It is we'll
known in history that these move
ments were simultaneous.
The young Hamptons had just re-
turned from this talk with the Indians
when large number Of their warriors
commenced their work Of death and
destruction upon the inhabitants Of
Greenville and -Spartanburg. After
killing the Hite family in Ennoree,
they proceeded to Mr.. Hampton's
where they found the old gentleman,
his lady, their son Preston Hampton,
q lad by the name Of John Bynum,
and an infant ohildof James Rarri-
son. They approached the house
from every direction in order to pre-
vent any Of its inmates from escaping
their inhuman carnage. Some Of
these Indians were known to both
Preston Hamilton andhis father, and
having received no information Of
their hostilities, their visit was at
first supposed to be afriendly one.
They wers met cordially and old Mr..
Hampton was in the act Of shaking
hands with one Of tie chiefs when he
saw gun ire and his son Preston
fall to the ground.
This was the signal for an indis-
criminate murder. The very hand
which Mr.. Hampton had, but q
memen. before graBped in friendship.
now sen. q tomahawk into his skull. His
wife was soon dispatched in the same
manner. Theinfant SON Of Mr., Hsmp-
ton was dashed against the wall Of the
house which it besprinkled with it's
blood and brains. John Bynum, the
lad already mentioned, stood perfectly
nstounded amidst the murder and car.
mage, having lost all presence Of mind
aud making no effort to escape. At
length an Indian warrior raised h;u
hand to dispatch the youth also, when
the blow was arrested by the hand Of
chief, who took the lad under his
protection.
Mrs. Harrison, who was the daugh-
ter Of Mr. Hampton, had gone to a
neighbor's 8 house, and on her return
saw her fathers house in flames, the
IndisIs standing around it exulting
With fiendish malign;ty, the mangled
bodies Of her father, mother, brother
and son lying scattered to and fro in
the yard. She was going to rush for
ward, in the frenzy Of the moment,
TO make another victim, when she was
restrained by her husband and forced
in another direction. They sought
concealment in swamp and remained
there undiscovered until the savages
left the place.
The lad who was rescued by the