The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-08-14

battle of Treviilian's S, alton, OH the
lth and 18th of June, 1864, where,
with only two divisions, Hampton's g
and Fi!z Lees, he defe, ed Sheridan
at tho head of largely superior force,
turned him back from his contemplated
raid to join Hunter IN the valley, and
compelled him to seek shelter undor
Fe lcral General Boats in the Pa
munkoy river.
After defeating Sheridan, as above
| stated, General Hampton moved across
the front Of General Lees army, met
Wilson ut tho head Of two divisions at
Sapony church, twenty miles below
Petersburg, returning from his raid
down the SOuthside railroad towards
Staunton river, and defeated him, after
an all night fight, scattered his forces,
capturing his artillery, and ambulances
and compelling him to make long de-
tour with the remnant Of his command
to regain Grants lines.
When it is remembered that Trevil-
lian's Station and Sapony church, near
Storey Creek station, arc about equal
distances from Richmond in opposite
directions, and that Hampton, practi-
cally with the same troops, defeated
two columns of cavalry, each stronger,
better equipped and better mounted
than his own, within period of two
or three weeks, the magnitude and i'm.
portance Of the achievement may be
realized.
After this, the closest and most cor
dial relations were established between
Generals Lee and Hampton. The
former not only trusted him with i'm
plicit confidence and sought his advice
on many occasions, but entertained for
his personal and military qualities the
highest esteem. And well he might,
for my candid judgment is, Iampton's
defeat of Sheridan At Trevillian's
station saved Richmond from an attack
in the rear and probable capture. And
his defeat of Wilson near Stoney Creek
in a measure paralyzed Grants cavalry
forces and impaired the prestige of its
former successes.
The Importance of this service is
further enhanced by the fact that both
Sheridan and Wilson were soldiers of
great ability, dashlng, accomplished,
perhaps the ahlest cavalry commanders
in the Federal service. More than
that, l do not think it would be ex-
travagant to say they commanded the
best equipped and best mounted
cavalry in the world.
General Hampton remained III Vir.
ginia with the army of Northern Vir-
ginia participating in all the operations
1>l Il
January, 1866. Buffers division was
transferred to South Carolina at that
time. Wheeler's division of cavalry
reached Columbia in February, 1868,
with the remnant of Hoods army. The
two divisions united IN Columbia.
Wheeler, as major general, ranked
both Hampton and Butler. The
former was promoted to lieutenant
general and placed in command of The
two divisions and retained command
until the surrender of Johnson's army
at Greensboro, N. G., in the latter part
of April, 1865.
Before the final arrangements of
capitulatlon between Johnson and
Sherman, both Hampton and Wheeler
LETT Johnson's army at Greensboro, in
tending to join the Confederate forces
in the Trans Mississippi department.,
leaving Butler IN command of tho
cavalry of Johnson's army. Their
plans, however, were changed and
they decided to abandon furthor re-
sistance to the United States armies.
This is brief and imperfect state
ment of General Hampton's military
career. have not attempted to give
in detail, (for the limits imposed by
an address like this would not per-
nit it), of his splendid achievements
in that long, perilous and unequal
struggle. You old battle-scarred vet.
erans, gallant survivors of the great
est armies the world has ever known,
know and appreciate the value Of those
achievements and services. Let us
hope the present and coming genera
tions will not allow the illustrious and
brilliant career of General Hampton
to grow dim or lose any of its lustre as
the years roll on.
Those of US, who have personal
knowledge of his great exploits, military
and civil, cannot in the course of
nature expect TO linger much longer on
earth, and must necessarily commit to
those who come after us, the guardian
ship Of Confederate valor-and the
patriotic purposes of their high en-
deavor. There were three Confeder-
ate cavalry leaders who are entitled to
primacy in that brilliant galaxy of
splendid dashing sabrcux, who taught
The world so much in the use Of
mounted troops in offensive and de-
fensive operations of armies-Generals
Stuart, Forrest and Hampton ranking
in the order named, not necessarily in
merit.
1t would not be profitable or ap-
propriate at this time to draw COM
parsons between them. The friends
and admirers of each would naturally
give the palm of merit to their per-
sonal choice. The cold criticism Of
history will in after years assign to
each of these great soldiers his proper
place in the order of military merit.
When that is done we need have no
fears, as to the place our distinguished