The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-04-23
THE GREAT LEADER.
Outline Of the Career Of South Caro-
lina's Noblest Son,
LIEUT.. GEN. WADE HAMPTON.
Scian of u Family OF den Nofe" Io,
Their Courage. Some Incl
dents OF an Event
lul Life.

Lieut.. Gen. Wade Hampton was
born in Charleston on March 2>. l>lS.
In IIasel street. within the sound OF
the chimes of old Saint Michael>. he
first saw the light. His great grand
father came from Virginia to the
colony of South Carolina prior to the
Revolution and settled in Spartanburg
district. where he and most OF the
family were murdered by Indians in
I1.5. Several of the sons Including
Gen. Uampton'S grand father were
away at the time and escaped the
massacre, and a.. served in the war
for Independence. Wade Hampton.
the deceased generals grand father.
was in WaShington'S cavalry. and was
lieutenant colonel at the battle OF
Eutaw. The swish Of Col. Hampton'S
sword was always heard in the charge.
In the war of 1872 this soldier was Il
general. He was one Of the first cot
ton planters and acquired much land
in Mississippi and Louisiana as we'll as
South Carolina. Col. Wade Hamp-
ton. the dead chiefs father, was a
planter with large estates, and he
loved blooded stock. He had private
race track at his beautiful home near
Columbia, burned by Sherman. Col.
Hampton was a warrior also. lie
served on Gen. Jackson'S staff at the
battle of New Orleans and bore news
to Washington, riding one horse the
entire distance to Columbia, at the
rate Of y miles day.
The deceased general learned to
ride, shoot and speak the truth" at
NIillwood, and received rare training.
His mother was a Miss FitZSimonS.
Gen. Hampton was educated at the
South Carolina university from which
he graduated in the class Of 1886. He
then studied law, but with no inten-
tion Of practicing: however. Prior to
the war the young mans planting in
terestS in Mississippi consumed much
Of his time and he usually spent his
winters there. The last crop before
the war raised on this place was 5000
bales. The command Of the great
number of overseerS and laborerS gave
him good schooling for what he was
soon to devote his attention-the com
mand Of soldiers.
When the State seeded Hampton
obeyed the call to arms quickly, going
in as private, but soon raising the
Hampton Legion composed Of six COM
panieS Of infantry, four troops OF cav
airy and one battery Of artillery. He
commanded this organization with
conspicuous gallantry at Bull Run,
where he received a wound in the head.
Such command was hardly fitted for
good service. The different arms Of
the service were separated, and each
became the progenitor Of famous
body Of it's kind" 1t was corps elite.
Of it's original members TWO became
lieutenant generalS-Hampton and
Stepnen D. Lee; one a major general,
Butler, and three brigadier generals
Connor, Gray and Logan. At Seven
Pines Hampton was again wounded in
the foot, his troops Distinguishing
themselves. On July 2S, 1862. Hamp-
ton was made a brigadier general of
cavalry and his command was known
as the Hampton Legion. 1t was COM
posed of. South Carolinians, North
Carolinians and VirginianS. At it's
head Hampton rodein Stuart'S famous
raid in August, 1862, round PopeS
flank and rear. He made the Federal
general date his correspondence from
Headquarters in the Saddle" Gen.
Hampton was always successful in de-
tached service. His work was dash
ing in the Maryland and Pennsylvania
campaigns lS62-63, and full Of Incl
dents. The story of Hampton's meet
ing with Col Mcclure Of ChamberSburg
is one Of the best of the campaign in
that section. At Gettysburg Gen.
Hampton was thrice wounded in the
momentous struggle. About half the
men were wounded in this battle. In
June 1868 at Brandy Station, Gen.
Hampton's younger brother, 1t. Col.
Frank Hampton, was killed. Gen. But
Ter lost his leg here also.
''On another part Of the field" says
the historian. Gen. Hampton was
that Gay performing brilliant service
in many a charge. One of these a
mounted charge against a Federal
brigade, was said to have been the
most hotly contested and magnif-
cent horse encounter Of the war, but
Hampton'S star lighted the path and
his Saber cleft the way to victory. AS
the general dashed to the head OF his
command to lead them on this occasion
his eyes swapping fire. as the men
used to say, he threw of his overcoat
to leave bis sword arm free and flung
it to his son, Preston, acting orderly a
mere boy, who was afterwards killed
at Burgess Mill" who threw it away
saying be didn't come to carry coats
but to fight. At Gettysburg Gen.
Hampton was severely injured, though
after receiving his wound he, in hand
to-hand conflict cleft the skull of his
adversary with his Saber. In August
1868 he was made major general and
then soon followed the magnificent
campaign Of Virginia, where Hamp-
ton won his fame as general. Hamp-
ton broke up Federal plans with the
move at Trevillians' Station, and in
% days captured 5000 prisoners and
much war material with a loss Of only
719 men. In August 1864 Hampton
was made commander Of Lees cavalry
with the rank of lieutenant general.
In September he struck the rear Of the
Federal army at City Point and
brought away 400 prisoners and about
$500 beeveS.
It is impossible here to tell Of the
many brilliant battles conducted By