The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-04-30
WADE HAMPTON'S
Farewell to his Old Soldiers from bis
Piazza Last May.

~-~-i-Ns''ssSsA ~ NAG VAV SoiuACAp hA0aA ssAo
Piazza Last May.
When the Confederate Reunion was
held in Columbia last May the old SOL
diers called on General Hampton A4
his home in body. On that occasion
ne made the following speech:
My Comrades: I have indeed, as
Maj. Hart has said, heard that Rebel
yell often before and when heard it
from my own men, from the men whom
l had the honor to command. I knew
that we were safe. I think it is one
OF the British poets who said:
''The kites know we'll
The long leagues swell
That bids the Rc:.a1's close"
! might paraphrase this by saying:
The Yanks knew well
The Rebel yell
That bade the Johnnies close.
My old heroes, / hope it never will
be forgotten. I hope it will be trans
mitted to your children and to your
obildren's children il not for them to
use to tell how it used to ring from
the forests Of Virginia, how it rang
from Gettysburg to the west, and how
it always told Of men who were willing
to die for their southland, to die for
truth, for honor, for manhood, for
chivalry and for a great truth. I
want you to try and teach to your
children and to your children's chill
dren that ours was not lost cause.
1 want you to tell them that we were
fighting for the right. George Wash
ington was rebel, but Lee was not.
When Great Britain recognized the
independence Of this country she did
not recognize the independence Of the
United States, but Of each sovereign
State as independent and sovereign.
There were 13 independent and sover-
eign States. They founded this union
and they had the right to withdraw
from it whenever they chose so to do.
We were not successful---it is not
given to mortals to command success.
You have done moze-you have de-
served it. s.
/ And now in your declining years and
when nine have extended long beyond
the period allotted to man, you, my
old comrades, whom I loved, whom I
trusted and with whom I felt as cafe
as do now, I want to say to you all
that all the love you hnve given me
has been more than reciprocated; that
all that I have ever been able to do
for you, for any one Of you, OF for
South Carolina, has been more than
repaid by the honors you have inso-
licited conferred upon me and by this
the browning honor of my life. may
not see you again. / remember q
story Of an old bishop who, when
ready to retire from public life, went
to the abbot and said:
Father abbot, an old man whose
heart is broken by the storms Of state
is come to lay his weary bones among
you"
That is, all I shall ask Of South Car
olin. "A few feet Of earth where -;
kindred for Elk generations are resting.
AndI am proud to say that one or
more Of each generation, since they
were known in South Carolina, has
filled q bloody grave for South Caro-
lima. (Applause.> claim no credit
for that. Every South Carolinian
who was true was willing to give his
blood and his life for the old State.
am sure that / was willing TO do so.
think Lean say SO to you, my men,
that I never turned my back upon any
Of you when your faces were turned
toward the enemy. The greatest
honor that felt during the war was
once when ] came upon poor private
who was dying. I stopped beside
him and he said; ''I am happy to die
fighting and am proud to die fighting
under you" IS.
T pray God will bless you and will
give you peace and prosperity, give it
to the old State, give it to each one Of
you and that.you will go home and
tell your kindred that you have seen
your old comrade and that he thanks
them through you.
May-"Yes, I'm going to marry
Jack White" Maude-"NIy! from