The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-27
THE HAMPTON LEGION.
"BRAVEST OF BRAVE'

!.
But McClelians on to Richm ond''
movements drew the Confederate forces
from the Peninsula. and concentrated
them to the north. Of the Threatened
city in It's defenBc against this inva-
sion. May 81 the opposing armies
joined in the hard fought battle OF
Seven Pines, in which the legion did
gallant service but lost heavily. It
was in this engagement that the butler
OF the regiment, Jacobs Of Clarendon,
n noble Israclite. fred with patriotism
forsook his wagon and business shout
dered a musket and fell IN the front
rank with the bravest volunteer
martyr to the cause. After this battle
With Hoods Brigade. the legion was
rapidly marched to the north TO Join
Stonewall Jackson, and under him par
ticipated In the glorious victories
known as the Seven Days Fight"
which drove Mcclellan TO Harri sons
Landing and relieved the capital Of
the Confederacy. The legion especi-
ally distinguished itself at Gainess
Mill and at Malvern Hill. After n
few days rest and recuperation, being
transferred and attached to Long
streets Corps with the main army II
started northward. and after fdeced
marches reached the ncishborhood Of
Manassas. Here. August 81, 1862, a
second battle was fought on this re-
nowned field the positions OF the Con-
federate and FederRls being In a re-
verse order to the order OF the ~
battle 4 signal victory TO the South
was the result. The Iceion's part in
this battle was very conspicuous and
eventful II swept three lines of the
enemy from its front. capturing three
stands OF colors and a battery OF ar
,illery. SO completely did IL demolish
Duryea's Zouaves that they were never
aftcrward reorganized.
The Shnrpsburg Slaughter.
Following the lead OF the now idol
lied Lee, the legion with the army
crossed the Potomac River near Lees
burg. engaging with the enemy at
Boonsboro and South Mountain. but
it was at Sharpsburg on the 10Th and
l1th OF September that death with a
relentless hand decmated the ranks
OF this dauntleHs and intrepid regi-
ment. Trimmed by previous losses. II
went into this battle with nine COM
missioned officers and sevcnty-fve rank
and file
OF this number nifty privates and
noncommissioned officers were killed
OF wounded. FIVE commissioned off,
GERS were killed and two wounded
No single company could muster a
corporals guard. and thus dwlndled
a once strong regiment was for the
time formed into two sparse compa-
MES. By an mpetuous advance the
legion had penetrated 'the enemies
lines. and being banked on each side
and opposed by reinforcements in
front. WAS compelled 10 retreat to
escape complete humiliation from the
deadly concentrated IRE OF the foe
II was during this rain OF leaden hall
that the colorbearers were killed in
such quick succession that the flag
fell to the ground and the men hest
tated to lift it, Seeing 1t lying in the
dust. Major Dingle seized 1t and held
II aloft 10 seal the gallant act with
his life. with devoted fortltude Priv
ate Marion Walton. OF EdgeGeld next
rescued 1t and bore II safely out of
the fight. For this brave deed he
was appointed color-sergeant. Fear
ing the loss OF the coiors under SINH
lar circumstances, It. was deomed best
10 return the flag to the State for safe
keeping, but after the war 1t was de-
stroyed by fire, I believe, with the
home OF General Hampton. The legion,
after this, fought under small bat
tie Nag, presented by the ladies of Lieu
tenant-Colonel Logan's family This
flag was received while tho legion. on
its return from Maryland. was a Char
lottesville. Va.
BIoodIexn Battles.
Tho fruitless victory of Sharpsburg
caused Tho return OF the army and
after few weeks OF camp life In the
Valley OF Virginia the legion marched
TO fredericksburg and went into win
ter quarters 1t was during the dull
days OF this winter 10 give diversion
TO the men and keep them In spirits
as we'll as proficient in drill and
manoeuvre. that the SNOWFALL battles
were introduced and fought by the
soldiers of Lees army led by their
generals and line officers, regiments
and briEades OF Southern soldiers in
mock battle would Vie with each
other with an earnestness bordering
on seriousness The missiles being
snowballs. no damage was done ex
cept when piece of ice would acct
dentally become incorporated in the
tlaky projectile. confusion would
be the result. giving the wounded an
acceptable off-du,y spell Of n few days
These days of fun and frolfc were
very shortly brought to an end by
the gathering of the enemy on the
Rappahannock. Then was fought the
battle of Fredericksburg, n terrible
defeat to the Federals and glorious
victory 10 the Confedcrates, I'm which
the legion participated with slight loss
In the spring of 1859, Lee having
determined on a second advance into
Maryland, the legion was detached
with the rest OF Jenkins Brigade from
the main army and stationed near
Richmond as a protection against the
Federals urder General 3. r. Butler on
the Peninsula. 1t thus escaped the
horrors of the bloody field of Gettys-
burg and the retreat into Virginia
During this time the legion was re-
cruited. reinforced and thoroughly
drilled. and beyond a few excursions
and skirmishes OF the Peninsula had
quiet time. Soon after the return
or Lee from his disastrous campaign
IN Pennsylvania. the legion rejoined
the Army of Northern Virginia, snd
when Lonsstreet's Corps was ordered
to reinforce tho Western Army with
this portion OF the army reached
Chickamauga in time to participate in
the closing scenes of that hard-won
battle. The subsequent camping and
hghtins around Chattanooga WAS att
tended with much hardship and SUI
ferins The siege OF Knoxville by
Longstreet was the next act In the
program of the war, In which the
legion took part--,nade interesting by
alternate assaults and sorties, The