The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-09-03
WAR W AR STORIES.
Buffers Tribute to Hampton.--Splendid
Sketch of His Life and Services.


BILE capture. And his defeat Of Will
son near Stouey Creek. in 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 SOL
diers of great ability, dashing, accom-
plished, perhaps the ablest cavalry
commanders in the Federal service.
More than that, I do not think it
would be extravagant to say they
commanded the best e4uipped and
best mounted cavalry in the world.
! General Hampton remained in Vir-
ginia with the army of Northern vir-
ginia participating in all the opera
tions of that incompatible army until
January, 1865. Buffers division was
transferred to South Carolina at that
time. Wheeler's division of cavalry
reached Columbia in February, 1865,
with the remnant of Hoods army.
The two divisions united in Columbia.
Wheeler, at major general, ranked
both Hampton and Butler. The
former was promoted to Lieutenant
General aud placed in command of the
two divisions and retained command
until the surrender Of johnson army
at Greensboro, n. c., in the latter
part of April, 1865.
Before the final arrangements of
capitulation between johnson and
Sherman. both Hampton and Wheel
er left Johnson's army at Greensboro,
intending to join the Confederate
! forces in the Trans Mississippi de-
partuient, leaving Butler il command
of the cavalry Of Jchnson's army.
Their plans were changed and they
decided to abandon further resistance
to the United States armies.
This is bz; Of and imperfect state
ment of General Hampton's military
career. l have not attempted to give
in detail, (for the limits imposed by
an address like this would not permit
it,) Of his splendid achievements in
that long. perilous and unequal strug.
gle. You old battle-scarred veterans,
gallant survivors Of the greatest ar.
mics 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, mill
tary 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 guar
dianship Of Confederate valor-and
the patriotic purposes of their high
endsAvor. There were three Con9ei-
crate cavalry leaders who are entitled
to primacy in that brilliant galaxy Of
splendid dashing sabrsux, who taught
the world so much in the use OF
mounted troops IL offensive snd de-
fensive operations Of armies-Generals
Stuart, Forrest and Hampton, ranking
in the order named, not necessarily in
merit.
1twould not be profitable or appro-
pirate at this time TO draw compari-
sons between them. The friends and
admirers Of each would naturally give
the palm Of merit 70 their personal
choice. The cold criticism OF history
will in after years assign to each OF
these eatsoldiers his proper place in
the order of military merit. When
that is done we need have no fears, as
to the place our distinguished friend
and oomrade will occupy.
General Earl Van Dorm may proper.
~ be placed in this competitive list
for the first place among the great
cavalry soldiers Of the world. Allhad
one quality in common, strong, vigor-
Gus, robust constitutions, quality
not to be ignored in the makeup of 8
successful cavalry leader.
| can speak advisedly from personal
knowledge and almost constant asso.
citation with oGeneral Hampton. He
was man of most temperate and ab-
stemious habits, and in the many
long, weary, exhausting marches, en-.
gaging in almost daily oombats with
the eaemy, which sometimes swelled
into fierce battles, he never seemed 70
realize what fatigue was. Superadded
to his physical powers was another