The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-30

main column was approaching, eX-
| pecting the Yankees to be retreating
i'll that direction, having heard oc-
! easioaal filing for some time. As
th$ legion approached near enough
toibe;'iistinetly heard, one of Hamp-
tons videttes, about forty yards
ahead Of the advance guard, (to the
command of which l had been assign
ed,) feeling assured that the expected
Yankees were closely approaching,
calling out: "Here they come, boys!
Instantly Gen. Hampton, (always at
the front) who was abreast Of the
first set Of fours of the advance
guard, gave the command to charge,
he himself leading, followed by the
LIST South Carolina, the leading regi-
nrnt that night, the whole affair
takin" place after dark When the
head OF lIampon'S 5 column struck
what WAS supposed to be the fleeing
Yankees there was, Of course, quite
clash, each thinking the other the
enemy, but instead it was Greek meet
ting Greek, or rather friend in death
grapple with frienI-sabrc and pis-
tol being used in a hand-to-hand life
destroying struggle.
1t lasted, however, but a few brief
| momcntS--llamptnn, with his innate
GOODNESS and presence Of mind in cv-
cry emergency, having discovered the
mistake. called out in clarion voice:
'St"p This. men, we re all Georgia -
The verbal signal or watchword for
that somewhat rvrnttul night was
"Gcorgia. ~
The head Of Hampton 5 main col
umn had charged The Jeff Davis I.e-
zion through mistake.
When order was restored it was
fortunately found that though sever
al OF the men were wounded, some of
them painfully. none was killed. The
horses were less Fortunate. several be-
in" Killed and wounded.
We shall moi soon forget the oc-
rnrlrnrr or The night. which was cx-
r"rdln"'v cold, The sky thickly over
east, threatening snow. and although
lh"r" wis y"un" moon il gave little
or II" lirht--n"l enough to distinguish
FRAY jacket from blue.
Among others slightly wounded in
tins affair the writer received quite
vigorous rap on the head and
shoulder from Il sabre in the hand
amt from the strong arm of his chief
--f;cn. Hampton himself. But for
the good Fortune of having an unusu-
ally thick visor t" my cap the blow
would doubtless have done me much
greater injury. AS it was, however,
the sabre cut entirely through the
VISOR and inflicted Il slight wound inst
ut the root of the hair, above the left
temple. This. with stiff shoulder
! for few days. was the extent of nv
injuries. | was more fortunate than
some Others. But when | received nv
chiefs sabre blow | saw more stars
than | ever expect to see again with.
out looking at them. and having my
SELF previously dealt some pretty
| heavy blows to others was not much
consolation. Yet my consolation did
come when t!Ic General invited me to
take supper with him and staff the
same night at the house of loyal
, Il A.
Yankee lines. The bill of fare was
h"un;ifnl. including genuine coffce-
and something Stronyer-cach Of
which luxury had been long Il strany-
or.
Gen. Hampton. rs 7 afterwards
learned. had rathcr il close call on the
night in question. One Of his trusted
scouts. Walker Russell. in the midst
ct the darkness and confusion, had
covered the General with his pistol,
hr'n" within few feet of him, and
Surp">in" ir WAS one IF the enemy.
vas IN The Er!N acl ct firing when
ilamni"N, haNin" discovered the mis-
! ''N>' ,~"'' 'i'f 'iu''I 10 cease the
struggle. Thus II terrible calamity
was narrowly averted.
That Wade Hampton was born, as
has been well claimed. GA military
"rnius.' no man rho SAW or studied
his career III the war between the
states could doubt for moment.
tie Was not military bred or educa'