The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-07-29

The following essay by Miss Chris
label Mayfeld won the prize offered
by Graham's chapter, U. D. g., OF
Denmark, being read at the closing
exercises of the Denmark hlgh
school:
South Carolina has always boldly
expressed her sentiments on any
question. Calhoun, one of her sons,
enunciated the doctrine of nullifica-
tion and the right of every State to
secede, and in so doing expressed
the opinion of the entire State. She
declared that if a president were ever
elected by a sectional vote there
could not be harmony in the union
and it would be best for the other
section quietly to secede. When Lin
coin was elected president by the
Northern States. South Carolina pre-
pared to carry out her threat by i'm
mediately seeding. Thereupon
convention was called and met in
Columbia on December II, 1850. for
for the purpose of drawing up an or
dinance of secession. Gen. D. r.
Jamison. of Barnwell district, presid-
ed over this meeting. On account
of the opposition to secession, which
was led by Wade Hampton, though
not a member, the convention met
in Charleston, where there was no
such opposition, and where 500 men,
whose slogan was secession or
death" were prepared to pledge life
and fortune to the Southern cause.
Finally, the ordinance of secession was
signed December 20. Just as South
Carolina was boldest in expressing
her views and was the first to secede,
so she did her part best in the war.
When men were needed she respond
ed to the CALL when money was
needed, she sent what she could.
South Carolina sent more men to
fight against the enemy, in compari-
son with her population, than any
other State and more money in COM
parison with her wealth than any
other. Seventy-five thousand Caro-
linians-that is, one man or boy to
every three people in her territory
70
About 50 per cent. of this number
were either killed or wounded-a
greater per cent. than in any other
State. There were 10000 old men
and boys over so and under 16 who
formed a homeguard. Besides these,
South Carolina guaranteed $130,O00,-
900 in Confederate bonds and thus
the accumulations of our people for
more than a century were poured
into this war.
OF the 56S officers who attained
the rank of general in the Confeder-
ate army, 50 were Carolinians by,
birth. Among these were: John
Pemberton, John B. Hood, James S.
Longstreet, NJ. c.. Butler, Johnson
Hagood, of Barnwell district, Micah
Jenkins. George MCGOWAN. the brave
Gen. Barnard E. Bee, who was killed
at Manassas. where he gave Gen. T.
J. Jackson the soubriquet .''Stone-
WALL" and Wade Hampton, who,
though opposed to secession, yet,
when his State seeded. asked that
he be allowed to organize COM
pany consisting of infantry. cavalry
and artillery, which he equipped
at his own expense.
At Manassas, Gen. Hampton for
hours kept large force of federals
from crossing Stone bridge and then
rushed forward and captured two
cannon. He was with Stuart, in his
famous ride around McClellan's
army. Afterwards he was sent to
keep order in Chambersburg while
Tic SOulSuCIdlSS "OiC
Through. On May II. 1864. Gen.
Hampton was placed in command
of the cavalry of Lees army, posi-
ton which was now vacant on &C
count of Stuart's death. The Caro-
linian engaged Sheridan again and
again, while Lee and Grant were fac
ing each other in the Wilderness and
around Richmond. Hampton, by
sheer fighting, obtained such repu-
tation among his enemy that North
ern writer in poem entitled Bay
Billy" said,
"On the day. we routed the terrible
Hampton"
Had the war lasted little longer
Hampton's fame would have been
equal to Stuart's. Gen. NJ. C. But
ler commanded one division of the
.a-a1r,- was ~ &c tho