Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-04-30
4 CLOSE CALL.
A "Reminiscences OF One OF Gen. Aampton's
Raids In 1862.

Raids In 1862.
Col. II. b. Crews, editor of the
/ Laurensville Herald, publishes the
following reminiscence in the last
issue of his paper which will be read
with interest by many in this county ::
At memorial meeting held in
Anderson last Sunday afternoon in
honor of Gen. Hampton several
thrilling incidents in his war career
were related. Among others was
the following as reported to The
Daily Mail of that city:
"Mr. w. w. Russell, who was a
scout and guide, rode with both
Stuart and Hampton, gave some
incidents in the raids of the latter.
He related how, one dark night, two
detachments, one under command of
Hampton, the other in charge of
Col. Crews, of Laurens, met in the
darkness while trying to flank Burn
sides army, and nothing but the
presence of mind of private saved
Gen. Hampton from being killed
like Jackson by his own men," The
facts in this incident, in which our
name is mentioned are as follows:
A short time before the battle of
Fredericksburg, some time in the
latter part of November or early in
December, 1862, Gen. Hampton
made raid and reconnaissance into
the Yankee lines, his command being
composed of detachments from the
several regiments of the brigade,
consisting of about 1 500 cavalry and
a couple of pieces of Hart's Battery.
The command crossed the Kappa
hammock at Kelley's ford and pro-
ceeded to point near Stafford's
store, in Stafford county, on road
known as the Telegraph road,
highway leading from Falmouth,
where Burnside's army was then en-
camped, to Dumphries. This road
was strongly guarded by Yankee
cavalry, pickets being posted every
half mile, with strong reserve
post of several hundred. Gen.
Hampton's main purpose was to cap
ture the reserve force. Just before
reaching the Telegraph road, which
was approached by cross. country
road, Gen. Hampton's command, with
the exception of the jeff Davis
Legion, was halted several hours
in order to allow time for the latter
regiment, which was sent circuitous
route, to get in rear of the Yankee
reserve, capture or dispense it. After
waiting a sufficient time, as supposed,
for the Legion to make the circuit,
the main portion of Hampton's com.
mand struck the Telegraph road and
proceeded upon it for the purpose of
capturing all the forces at the reserve
post that the Legion failed to cap
ture. Unfortunately the guide for
the Jeff Davis Legion made mis-
take by not making the circuit ex-
tensive enough and striking the road
between the reserve and the next
picket post. The Legion, although
failing at the reserve, captured seve-
raj smaller posts and proceeded
down the road to meet Hampton's
command, who was expecting the
Yankees to be retreating in that
direction, having beard the firing for
some time. As the Legion approached
near enongh to be distinctly heard,
Hampton's two videttes about 10
yards ahead of the advance guard, of
which the writer had chahge, called
out: "Here they come, boys p'
Whereupon Gen. Hampton, who was
abreast of the first set of fours of
the advance guard, gave the COM
mand to charge, he himself leading.
followed by the First Sonth Caro-
lima, which was the leading regiment
that night, the whole affair taking
place after dark. When the head Of
Hampton's column struck the Jeff
Davis Legion there was terrific
crash, each thinking the other the
enemy, saber and pistol being used
as in a death struggle hand.to-
hand grapple, lasting, however, but
a short time. Hampton, with his in
nate coolness and presence of mind in
every emergency, having discovered
the mistake, called out "Stop this.
men, we are all Georgia r" a4eor.
gla" was the watchword that some
what eyentful night.
When order was restored it was
fortunately found that though seve-
raj OF the men were wounded, some
of them painfully, none of them were
killed. The horses were less fortu-
nate than the men, several being
killed. The writer received severe
but not serious blow on the head and
shoulders from saber, delivered by
the hand of his chief. We remem-
ber the night as exceedingly cold,
the sky thickly overcast, threatening