The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-09-03

wish to avail themselves of the op.
portunity to show their appreciation
of him not only as soldier and states.
man, but as a man and great exalted
citizen, l cannot with propriety enter
into the details of his brilliant military
services and no less brilliant achieve.
ments in civil life and pursuits Of
peace. Suffice it to say that he parti-
cipated With brilliant distinction in
the first battle Of the war at Man ssas,
and in the last at Bontouville, N. g.,
contributing in the meantime by his
commanding military talents, genius,
intuition, or whatever it may be called,
to the glorious triumphs and achieve
ments of the Confederate struggle,
especially in the army Of Northern
Virginia. His antagoniet never got
the better of him. No honorable SOL
dier, whether friend or foe, ever suf.
fered indignity at his hands. -
No act Of oppression either within
his own CT his enemies lines ever
marred his exalted character, or
bis reputation as soldier and gentle
ms'.
{ 'neral Hampton had in higher
degree than any man 1 ever knew
knowledge of what is called wood
craft, the typographical instinct. He
had been most successful field
sportsman in pursuit of wild game,
and in this way had cultivated a ma
tural talent for locating objects and
catching at glance the topographica
features of the country in which he
was operating. This gave him great
advantage over an antagonist who was
deficient in such qualities, and like
Stonewall JAG kson and Forrest, he
was constantly doing the unexpected,
doing something making some move
ment for which there was no rule laid
down in the books. AS a sportsman
and perfect horseman he had learned
the value Of secrecy and celerity Of
movement. The result was the ene-
my was baffled and misled, and often
unprepared for the audacity and sud-
denness of his attacks.
No sketch of the military side Of
Lieutenant-General Hampton's char
acter, as imperfect even as this may
be, would be satisfactory that did not
make some mention of that band of
invaluabl' assistants, the mounted
scouts. Shadburne and Hogan, and
Scott and Sparks, and Ashby and
Doolin, and Griffin and the otter rol.
licking, fearless, Nare-devil cavalry
men detailed from their respective
commands for special service, as
scouts were literally the eyes and ears
OF the general officers Of cavalry and
through them the commanding general
Of the army. They operated between
the lines of the Two armies, often
within the enemies lines, exercising
bold, audacious, sleep.o,s vigilance,
relying upon their nerve and cool oour.
age and upon their faithful horses and
ever-ready trigger, they rendered GER
vices to their generals and country of
incalculable value. All honor to the
gallant, dashing fellows who watched
while we slept and kept US advised Of
every movement Of the enemy. II
the true, unadorned story Of s,isir oz-
ploits could be written they would
stagger the credulity Of any reader.
That story will never be written, but
if General Hampton could be consult.
ed, am sure he would approve my
word Of commehdation Of these ed.
venturous, faithful aide in connection
with his life.
And nov q word 90 to his services
to his State since he sheathed his
sword. t. chs. connection, tee, Il
was my good fortune to be intimately
associated with him, and am scarcely
willing to trust rayself to speak ir
detail, for fear / may inadvertently
and almost unavoidably indulge in
egosism. which is never in good
taste.
His wonderful leadership in that
great and memorable political revolu-
tion IN this State in 1875, his election
and installation as Governor, his SUD-
ssssful administration Of that high
office, surrounded by such apparently
hopeless difficulties, bis prominent
part in connection with his fellow
oountrymen in rescuing the State
from tho depths of political degrade
tion and humiliation, establishing
peace and law and order where there
n