The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-08-13
BUTLER'S TRIBUTE
TO HAMPTON.
SPLENDID SKETCH OF HIS
LIFE AND SERVICES.

SPLENDID SKETCH OF HIS
LIFE AND SERVICES.
AS Cavalry Leader and as n
Statesman Without Fear and
Without Reproach.
The tribute of Gen. M. G.. Butler to
his friend and commander, Gen. Wade
Hampton, which was read before the
convention of Confederate veterans on
Thursday, is given herewith
Comrades and Friends:
1t is eminently proper and appro-
pirate that we should suspend the cere-
monies usual at our reunions and ded-
icate few hours to paying homage
and respect to the memory of our most
distinguished comrade-General Wade
Hampton, who has died since our last
meeting.
He was literally, and in the fullest
sense, my immediate comrade, as he
was of many of you here today. With
the exception of brief int ervals, when
he was in command of an infantry
brigade, or we were absent from the
army disabled by wounds or sickness,
we were in the same command from
the beginning to the end of the war.
General Hampton began his military
career In the Confederate army as
colonel of the Hampton Legion, an
organization made up largely by him
or through his influence. He Con-
tributed freely from his own private
means to it's equipment and prepars-
tion for service in the field.
The Legion was composed of eight
companies of infantry, four troops of
cavalry, and battery of horse
artillery, afterwards increased TO
two. 1t was kept together until
the summer of 1862, when, as
Legion, 1T was broken up. The i'll
fantry retained the name. The cavalry
by the addition of six troops was. in
creased to regiment known as the
Second South Carolina cavalry. The
First brigade OF cavalry of the army
of Northern Virginia was composed of
and the First North Carolina. The
Cobb Legion cavalry, the Phillips and
jeff Davis Legions of cavalry and
Hart's battery. Pending the organ
ization and getting together of this
brigade, General Hampton was put in
command of brigade of infantry.
After the organization of the first
cavalry brigade, General Hampton was
assigned to its command in the latter
part of the summer of 1862.
He remained in command Of this
brigade until the 9th of June, 1868,
when he was promoted to major gen.
eral and assigned to the command OF
the First Cavalry Division composed
of Buffers, ROsser's and Young's
brigades, ranking in the order named.
After General Stuart's death from
a mortal wound at Yellow Tavern, in
May, 1864, General Hampton became
the ranking major general of cavalry
in the army of Northern Virginia. The
cavalry corps of that army consisted of
Hampton's, Fitz Lees and VIM. III. Il.
Lees divisions.
! General Hampton, although the
ranking major general, was not placed
in command of the corps until
September, 1864, when M. G. Butler
was promoted to major general and
assigned to the command of Hampton's
division. 1t is due to the truth of
history to say that General Lee,
from some sinister influence, had not
duly appreciated General Hampton's
high military qualities until after the
battle of Trevlllian's Station, on the
lth and 18th of June, 1864, where,
t with only two divisions, Hampton's
/ and Fitz Lees, he defeated Sheridan
, at the head of q largely superior force,
} turned him back from his contemplated
, raid to join Hunter IN the valley, and
\ compelled him to seek shelter under
Federal General Boats in the Pa.
. munkey river.
After defeating Sheridan, as above
Y stated, General Hampton moved across
' the front of General Lees army, met
Wilson ut the head Of two divisions al
a Sapony church, twenty miles below
/, Petersburg, returning from his raid
/. down the Southside railroad towards
y Staunton river, and defeated him, after
an all night fight, scattered his forces
Q capturing his artillery, and ambulancei
Q and compelling him to make long de-
tour with the remnant Of his command
o to regain Grants lines.
nj When 1t is remembered that Treyil
.s lian's Station and Sapony church, nea
Storey Creek station, are about equa
j. distances from Richmond in opposit,
n directions, and that Hampton, practi
y cally with the same troops, defeated
l. two columns of cavalry, each stronger
r better equipped and better mounte'
than his own, within period of tw'
ID or three weeks, the magnitude and i'm
le portance of the achievement may b
ID realized.
Q. After this, the closest and most col
I'd dial relations were established betwee
IN Generals Lee. and Hampton. Th
former not only trusted him with iu
ie pliciL confidence and sought his advic
In on many occasions, but entertained Il
ul his personal and military qualities Il
highest esteem. And we'll he nigh
for my candid judgment Is, Hampton
ed defeat of Sheridan al Treyillian
,er station saved Richmond from an attae
"a. in the roar and probable capture. Ar
1ofank Uvtian,. ., "a Ga .. n O.. ~ 4.