The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-27
~ GENERAL Is. II. rEAGuE.

rights and independence no more IL
luxurious Of renowned command up
Eeid the honor Of the state by it's in
Tcpidity. fortitudc and glorious
achievements than the Hampton I.e-
rion. Organized as legion. ii took
-he name of Its FIRST commanding Off
ser--Wade iiampton-a name dear TO
the. heart of every South Carolinian
and one in the annals Of the State
over associated with noplepess, BRAY
cry. truth and honor.
With battalion OF infantry, a
squadron Of cavalry and n battery of
artillery As an integral military force.
IT arrived at the seat OF war In time
Tor the Infantry to participate IN the
first battle OF Manassas
New In business OF war and untrain-
ed. the legion bravely fought the out
numbering enemy at a crucial point
and though the battle waged on the
flank in favor of the Northern foe, tho
Nalor of the Southern soldier rendered
him fearless OF panic and uncon-
scious OF defeat. Hc fought on until
reinforcements turned tho day from
disaster To a glorious Victory for the
Southern arms. Though the loss IN
numbers was not very large yet In the
death OF the brave Lieutenant Colonel
Johnson. who fell early in the day the
legion met with an irreparable loss
Brave and gifted, he at the time held
-
as no other officer In IT,
The jolly start.
Just previous to the battle the le-
zion cncanped In Rockets II suburb
nf Richmond. This cncampmcnt was
remembered by It's old soldiers Az the
JoiIicst one OF the war. Camp life
with every comfort and with the full
belief that one victory would end the
war and return them home to be lion
ICED gave to the men the best OF spirits
and nlirth. and jolliiy reigned supreme
The fiery baptism Of Manassas dis
PEELED these pleasant anuclpations of
pcace. and as they realized practical
warfare a more series cast came TO the
countenances OF the men.
rs the more perfect organizations
or the army were effected. the legion
was di.!ntegrated The cavalry and
artillery being detached and put into
other companies. the infantry was
nl!ed out to the full strength of resi-
ment. Thus reorgan!zed. it's compa-
MES came from the different sections
Of the Stale. from Greenville to Char
lesion, and from Edgeheld TO Claron-
don. Retaining ~ distinctive name,
the Hampton LEGION II was rema rk-
able as being one OF the few full reg
iments--lf not the only one--in the
service of the Confederacy which was
known and designated by a name in
stead OF a number II the writer IL
not mistaken all other leGions were
but sectional parts OF larger com
nands. or were never full regiments
The cavalry portion helped 10 form
the celebrated Second South Carolina
cavalry regiment. and was command
ed by that noble soldier and able SEN
ator, General NJ. c. Butler. The artil-
iery, first under Captain stephen D.
Ice, followed the rounds OF different
branches Of the Army OF Northern
Virginia and came out OF the great
struggle for liberty covered with
laurels and known As Harris Battery.
The Hapton Legion proper had per-
haps a more varied experience OF war
than any other regiment from South
Carolina. First 1t was assigned to
Writings Brigade; then in the in
vincihle Hoods Texas Brigade. under
the peerless Loader, Stonewall Jack
son. II became familiar with the foot
cavalry" business; then in the brigade
Of the brave and gallant General
Jenkins It learned hard lighting un-
der the trusted Longstreet Lastly.
being metamorphosed from infantry
into cavalry, II served on the left OF
Lees army during the last year Of
the war In a brigade commanded by
the dashing General NJ w Gary It
was in the spring OF the year 1854
that this last change was made.
The New Boys.
About the same time a call of the
Confederacy for the acknowledgements
oids" Included the writer of this
Jketch--a willing youthful recruit. who
a Charleston school boy. had had
study driven from his mind by the
thunder and rumple OF the guns as
he heard them open the first act of the
wars tragic drama--the scenes being
those OF the firing on the Star of the
West, the battle OF Fort Sumter and
the bombardmcnt of Port Royal The
pedagogue. himself moved with pa
triotic zeal substituted the discipline
or the school OF the soldier for that
OF the scholar, and. laying aside his
rattan" took the sword In command
Of the Pickens Rifles. in which boy
company II was privilege for me
to become an amateur soldier. The
impending invasion of the city. how
ever. drove n majority of it's families
to places OF greater safety in the in
terror OF the state EdEefed was our
place OF refuge. Here, under parental
authority. the amateur soI.lier burned
to enter the lists. The time came at
last. and when the boys Of the gallant
Watson Guard were choosing and ca
parisoning their steeds and recruiting
themselves as cavalry the heart OF the
youngsters was won from Company A.
his first love, 1.-THE company of our
fathers the Washington Light In
fantry, OF Charleston, s. c.. and his
name was entered on the roll of Com
pany B. The personal recollection Of
the legion by the writer. therefore. be-
gan ait this time. and though | revert
and tell the tale OF the legion as In
fantry, tell st as 1t was told to
me by its veterans.
After the battle.
After the battle OF Manassas the
legion camped in the .neighborhood OF
the battle-ground for some time when 1t
int uyfn rta
Ocquacon Bay. Potomac River. In tho
spring, after dull and inactive exist
enoe of several months, It moved under
orders to Yorktown Beyond few
skirmishes no engagement OF import
ance with the enemy took place during