The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-25
Civil War Armies Rested
at Yuletide.
STORIES TOLD BY WADE HAMPTON.
Sham Snow Battle That Ended in
Broken Limbs-Bishop Capers
Recalls a Memorial Christ
mas Dinner.

have been many manifestations of popular
love and veneration for the soldier
statesman.
The General is looking well despite his
eighty-four years and is in excellent
spirits. He viii spend the day in the
quiet cottage on Senate Street presented
TO him. regardless of his protest, by the
devoted women of South Carolina.
When visited yesterday there was
feverish air in his manner. which could
not be explained until something was
said about hunting Then he made known
his dearest wish.
Z want to go hunting" said he, "and as
soon as Col. Tom Taylor comes back from
a wedding he's been attending We VIII
go down the country for a little sport"
The cid chieEtain is as ardent q hunts
nan now as he ever was. and despite his
weakened eyesight, affected by cataraets,
he rides as superbly as when he led his
legion in the saddle.
Recalls a Wartime Snow Battle.
There was never any fighting On
Christmas Day during the civil war"
said General Hampton when asked for
some "reminiscences. 1t has been a long
time ago, and I cannot remember much
OF these Christmas times We OF the
army had other things to occupy cur
attention But Christmas was one dag IN
which there was no fighting. The men
received messages and boxes from home,
and camp life got an inspiration on that
day.
! remember that on one Christmas the
ground was covered with snow. The men
ranged themselves On sides like schoo!
boys and a tremendous battle ensued- For
q long time the contest ragged The lines
charged and were broken. formed again
and endeavCred to execute strategic
movements Finally the sport became
50 exciting and so spirited that two men
had their arms broken, and I had TO go
into the fight and declare truce.
Gen. Capers Tells "Reminiscences
Bishop Ellison Capers, whose home is
also here, and who rose to the rank Of
brigaIier general IN the civil var, has no
pleasant reeoIIeetiens of Christmas IN
war times. When asked for some remin-
fscences the head OF the Protestant Epis-
coDal Diocese O. South Carolina said:
From the earliest Colonial days in
South Georgia Christmas has been the
time of family reunion and family fellow
ship; especially has this been The case IN
the low country Of the STATE. At the old
plantation homes il was common for three
and often four generations TO meet 1t
Christmas. But the civil var PIT an end
to all this
After The first battle Of Manassas
CDened the great drama there were no
young men left to greet their parents and
grandparents 1t Christmas at the old
home. Mothers. sisters, and wives were
too busy making comforts for the soldiers
IN p71 n. 10Y int
tivi-ies Of the great holiday.
I dCubt if any family in the South en-
j0yed real Christmas reunion during The
war. The Christmas OF 1850 was too full
Of uncertainty and intense excitement 20
be enjoyed as happy family festival. All
succeeding wartime ChTisJmase5 were
too fun Of SORROW for the dead and sad
ness and anxiety for the living 10 be days
Of joy and family happiness
Turnip Soup and Hominy.
while az officer Of the Confederate
Army never spent a Christmas at home
during the war The Christmas Of 1861
was spent on a scout on Seabrooks-s ISL
and locating the exact position Of a Fed
eral gunboat in the mouth Of the North
Edistc River, with q view to al attack
upon her early On the morning Of the 25th
I was late on The afternoon Of Christmas
before I crossed from Seabrook's to Johns
Island and I recall distinctly contrast
ing ny hunger Of that afternoon and my
dinner with the feasting and the joy OF
other days.
Passing the cabin Of an old negro OF
the plantation Of Mr. Washington Sea
brook. I stopped and asked the old mann
my who was seated in her door smoking
her pipe, if she could not give me some
thing 10 eat. She promptly replied thai
she had nothing but some turnip soup and
cold hominy, but that was not 'ftten fol
you, Massa, an e Cris-nass, too dis
mounted anG, handing the good old nam
my a quarter, ate her turnip soup. ana
cold heniny with a relish that can never
forget
Southern Homes Were Anxious,
Meanwhile what OF the family al
home? The old folks were there, bJr
there was no meTry-making. The men O.
middle age and the young men werelan Il
Virginia, or on the coast, or IN the army
OF the West, and the thought Of the oll
home WIS with them. From every sucI
home the Christmas box had been fIIet
to overfoBing and had gone to the front
The arrival Of the daily paper from
Charleston was a matter Of more intenss
interest than anything else, and If tht
news vas OF approaching battle the hus
bands and sons were commended to tbs
God Of their patriotic fathers with the
confidence Of a certain faith in His pro
tecting providence.
Later in the war, when the resource!
Of the South were taxed TO the utmost 4
maintain our men IN the field and wheI
from every home one OF more vas missed
never again to meet st Christmas timt
with those who mourned them. there wa.
a pathos in the Christmas gathering tha
made il more a quiet, loving cOmmem0
ration of the heroes of the home than
great festival Of happiness and joy.
The Christmas of 1864 in South Caro-
lima vas q day of solemn commemorative
for the dead and anxious prayers for the
living. Little children. Iight-heaTted and
free from care, we're happy. but their ell
ders we're contemplating the destruction
OF their homes and the ruin of theii
State. The devastating march Of SheT-
man through Georgia had prepared Tho
people Of South Carolina to look for a like
fate without en- adequate force 10 op-
pose his army the Christmas that was
before them was 10 be day of Their
Interest trial Never before. nor since
vas there such a Christmas in our old
State The old hemes in the low country
were deserted, and the torches that were
4 Gre them were being lighted By thous-
snds OF willing hands
Judge II. j. BoyI>in Dead.
FORT WORTH, Tex. Dec. 25-Judgt
Robert J. Boykin died yesterday. aged six
ty-two His death was due 10 injuries re,
ceived last spring by falling from train
He was a graduate of the University 0
Afshor,o 5rs7 University of Vircsn5s u.