The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-04-16
GENERAL WADE HAMPTON.
Soldier, Statesman and Citizen

~
The Greenville Mountainser, April II.
The bell is tolling the requiem of
South Cardinals foremost c~itlzenl
Wade Hampton is dead, and a nation
will mourn the departure of a man who
was exalted III character, superb in ac-
ton and wise iii council. Southern in
thought, word and deed, he was yet
catholic in sentiment, liberal In dispo-
sition and kindly in conduct. His TEN.
permanent was truly conservative, and
yet when aggresslveness was demand
ed by the occasion, there was the dash
and daring of a Chevalier Bayard, with
all the civic and military virtues as
cribed TO ''the good knight" whose
loyalty, purity and scrupulous honor
for him the title of a ~'scavalier
without fear and without reproach."
Lieutenant General Wade Hampton,
of the C~onfederates States army, was
born on the 2Sth of March, 1918, in
the city of Charleston, within sound of
old st. Michael's chimes, aud he died
in Columbia at 8 O'Clock on Friday.
April Huh, 1902. He was the third of
his family to bear the name he made so
illustrious and honored, aud his G and
father served with distinction as a sol.
der in the Revolutionary wal under
Marion and Sumter, belonging to the
cavalry regiment commanded by Col.
VIM. Washington, of which he was
lieutenant colonel at the battle of Eu.
taw. His son, Wade Hampton, was a
! planter with extensive interests and
large estate, and lived at Wildwood, a
few miles from Columbia, where the
third Wade Hampton was reared in
luxury and affluence, but was taught
the manly virtues under refining in
fluences that were characteristic of his
long life.
Gen. Hampton was a graduate of
the South Carolina College, and after
ward studied law, but without any in
tention of entering upon the practice
of the profession. He was recognized
in early life as one OF the prominent
men of the State, though his time was
not occupied so much with public at
fairs as with hiG landed interests in
South Carolina and Mississippi, devot-
ing himself to the activities of a planter
with ample fortune, and using for re-
creation the rod and the gun rather
than Willing away time with ~listlcss
purpose in fashions circles. He was
called upon to serve the people in the
Legislature, and made an excellent re-
cord In that body for common sense
and sound judgment. lie was a mem
Der of the State Senate when the war
broke out, and his political sentiments
were strongly conservative, not being
Inclined tn a top,nrabnn>o r ~
Union.
When the State decided upon a
withdrawal from the Union, he prompt
ly offered his services as a private i'm
the defence of South Carolina, but was
shortly afterwards given authority 10
organize a command of infantry, artil-
lery and cavalry, which became known
as the Hampton Legion, and achieved
great distinction in each arm of the
service. He commanded the infantry
OF the Legion with marked ability at
the First Manassas, and was wounded
in the head. In the campaign on the
Peninsula, the command again added
10 its reputation, and at Seven Pines
increased the distinction and fame of
its leader, who was again wounded
"''oi pSiioiL mug SdllduG anu cIfGCtlVG
service. He was commissioned as
brigadier general on the 2Sth of july.
1862, and was assigned to the com
mand Of a cavalry brigade under Gen.
j. E. b. Stuart, which figured very
prominently In the army of Northern
Virginia.
Gen Hampton was henceforth iden-
titled with the cavalry service, and in
the Maryland campaign of 1862 he was
in charge OF the rear guard of the cav
airy division in the movement west
ward from Frederick City, s perilous
and important position, as the enemy
was pressing the C~onfederates with
vigor and persistence. He was often
chosen by Stuart for detached service.
and in this he wa uncommOnly sue
c%essful, enhancing his reputation as a
and daring leader, whose valor
capacity won for HIM continued
promotion as the war progressed. He
was a participant in SLuart's raid in the
rear of Meade's army, and he met the
enemy's cavalry near Gettysburg on the
Bird of July, in which engagement he
was wounded three times, and two of
hem were sabre cuts. His command
suffered very heavily in this battle,
nearly one-half Of his men being killed
wounded.
On the 3rG of August, 1868, lust
month after the Gettysburp f1bt