The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-01-24
WAR STORIES
Gen. Roger w. Hanson, of Kentucky.
Gen. B. ". Duke, in Home and Farm.

One Of the most remarkable men
who served in the Confederate army
was Gen. Roger w. Hanson, of Ken
lucky. No officer was more liked and
respected by tL7 Kentucky soldiers,
or possessed more thoroughly the
confdcnco o. his supporters ID COM
mand. His career previously to the
war had been en- exceedingly interest
ing, indeed, in some 1ays, an erratic
one; but in the widest escapades of
his hot AMI heady youth he retained
the regard Of his people, and received
that indulgence which even the staid
citizen extends such offcnsas when he
knows the trespasser to be honorable
and high minded. When very
young man he served, and with dis
tinction. in the Mexican war as first
lieutenant In the company of Capt.
| John 5. Williams. Williams also be-
came Brigadier General in the Con-
fcderatc service, and was an actiy.
and excellent officer.
When Hanson returned from Mexico
he soon took leading position at the
bar of Central Kentucky, and became
quite famous, if not successful, as
politician in that region. His early
manhood had been 80 much occupied
with moro attractive pursuits, that
ne had not profted: as he might have
done, by the educational advantages
offered him; but his mind, although
unused to the discipline Of study,
mastered all that it grappled with.
Friends and opponents agreed in pro-
nouncing him one Of the most .etfeo-
tive speakers in tho State. While
his reading Of law was not extensive,
he seemed to iutuitively comprehend
the principles Of the science. His
vigorous native intellect and acute
perception made him formidable even
when lacking professional informa-
tion. His ideas were always clearly
defined and his mind was never in q
mist. He had an extraordinary in- :
sight into character, sad moss re.
markable faculty of accurate obser-
vation and lifelike reproduction, es-
peoially Of ludicrous traits and inci-
dents. His command of humorous.
graphic and foroible expression was
almost unequaled. Hanson had many
noble traits Of character; was brave,
candid and truthful, and sincerely
scorned dissimulation or pretense Of
any kind. .
His personal appearance was singu.
lar and striking. In stature, below
the medium height, his form was
strong and massive but ungrsoe.
full. His keen gray eyes and aorid
complexion indicated q. sanguine tenn.
perament,- aud every feature Of bis
face was expressive of eoergy and de
termination. A wound reo.ived in a
duel had shortened one leg, giving
him a peculiar ierky graft: =. ::
Shortly after the close Of the Mexi.
can var Hanson ran for the Legisla
ture against his former oomrsde and
o'mmander, Williams. Both were
pular, and Williams was nearly Han.
oo"s equal as stump speaker. Aware,
that the support given either because
OF military record" would be chiefly.
accorded the superior in rank, Hanson
sought rather to depreciate than exalt
the merit IN THAI regard, that each
might have Justly claimed; and es.
pse'ally ridiouled the sobriauet Of.
cerro Gordo, which had been "a :, >con!. ION
ferred on Williams because of his con.
duct IN tho battle Of that maine. VIII
liams, on the other hand, discussed
such topics with the serious tone Of
one who expected them to win votes.
Williams asserted that he had cap.
tured two six.pounder brass guns a.
Cerro Gordo. Hanson denied that
the pieces had been taken in battle,
and declared that Williams, assisted
BY big Irishman had fshed them out
Of bayou, into which they had been
thrown BY the Mexioans on. their ra.
treat. He gave an extremely pio.
turesque account of,$how Williams
"dived"' for them: He. also furniah.lI
ed description !. q the charge up ;the:
bill to the ensmy'a breastw orks Whioh
ditfered:ia toto from those given Il { ,;.f hy|
Williams. Fl rs s. " ss i 81 ij5s5 8
j. Fellow.oitizens, = he y / said, & viii
his hands upon his: :hips5and5 displays,'I|
ing his ronnd and bulky figure 70 ths
best advantage, t'inasmuch as I have
never been ao.ivs and foat OF? FOOT, IlI
was the last man to reach the TOD IS osf1 r
the hill 10. that chArge--exsept ! ~, n,y;l
captain, But ah'en we 4;fel. haak 81
was tho first nsan--except Capt. vii
liams--to get back to the sptot ii baniaoa