The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-04-17
LIFE OF WADE HAMPTON
Brief Sketch of Noted Warrior, Gov.
ernor al d Senator.

4
| S. c., in 1918. He was graduated at the
University of South Carolina. and af-
terward studied law, but without the
! intention OF practicing. Under his
| fathers training he became a good
horseman, famous hunter and an ac-
complished fisherman. He served in
! the Legislature Of South Carolina in
early life, but his political views were
those of a Democrat Of national rath-
er than CT secessional tendency, and
were not popular in his State. His
speech against the re-opening Of the
slave trade was called by the New York
Tribune "a masterpiece of logic His
earlier life, however. was devoted to
his plantation interests in South Caro-
lima and Mississippi and to the pur'
suits of man Of fortune.
When the Civil war began, Hampton
/ first enlisted as private, but soon
raised a command OF infantry, and ar
artillery. which was known as "Hamp-
tons Legion" and won distinction IN
the war. At Bull Run. 600 of his in
fantry held fce some time the Warren
ton road against Keys corps, and was
sustaining Gen. Bee when Jackson
came to their aid. In the Peninsular
campaign they were again distinguish
ed and at Seven Pines lost half Of their
number, and Hampton himself received
a painful wound in the foot. Soon af-
terward he was made Brigadier Gener-
al of Calvary and assigned to Gen. ]. e.
B. Stuart's command. He was fire.
quently selected for detached service,
| in which he was uncommonly success
full.
In the Maryland and Pennsylvania
campaigns of 1862 and 1863 Hampton
was actively engaged, and he distin-
guished himself at Gettysburg, receiv-
ing three wounds. 1t is said that Il
out of % field officers, and more than
half the men of Gen. Hamptons COM
mand were killed or wounded in this
battle. He was made a major-general
with rank from the third of August,
1868.
During the reconstruction period
Hampton's conciliatory policy found
little favor foir some time, but in 1876
he was nominated for Governor against
Daniel H. Chamberlain. Each claimed
to be elected and two governments were
organized, but Mr.. Chamberlain finally
yielded his claim.
In 1864, after several days fighting,
he gave Sheridan a check at Trevil-
lian's station, which broke up the plan
of campaign that included junction
with Hunter and the capture Of Lynch
burg. In % dSys he captured over
1000 prisoners and much material OF
war with the loss Of 719 men. He was
made commander OF Lees cavalry IN
August, with rank of lieutenant gener-
al, and in September struck the rear
of the National army at City Point,
bringing away 400 prisoners and 2,486
beeves. Soon afterward, in another
action, he captured five hundred 2riS-
oners. In one Of these attacks he lost
his son in battle.
After the war he at once engaged in
cotton planting, but was not successful.
He accepted from the first all the legit-
innate consequences Of defeat, an entire
submission to the law, and the civil
and political equality of the negro; but
he has steadily defended the motives
and conduct OF his people and their
leaders. In 1866, speaking of the negro
ho said: AS a slave he was faithful TO
us; as freeman let us treat him as
a friend; deal with him frankly, justly,
kindly"
In 1878 he met with an accident by
which ne lost leg; but, while his life
was despaired of, he was elected to
the United States Senate, and he served
until 1892. In the Senate his course
was that Of a conservative Democrat.
He advocated a sound currency, re-
sisting all imitation. He advocated
with much zeal tie nomination OF
Thomas A. Bayard fer the Presidency.
In 1892 Gen. Hampton was defeated
for the Senate by the now senior Sena-
tor, Benjamin R. Tillman, and'he has
since then led quiet life at his coun-
try home just outside the city limits
of Columbia.
In the early spring Senator John l..
AF.I '.