Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-04-06


Confederate army and the rear
guard cavalry and do great mischief.
Hampton had fingered just little
too long at the hotel. He decided
Quickly what to do. He had two OF
his staff with him and four other
cavalrymen. He gave the order to
charge the enemy, who were only
short distance round the street cor
ner and the order was obeyed with
will. The Federal company had
been drawn up in line across the
street and they fired on the Conted-
crates as soon as they came in sight
evidently being scared, for not one
of the Confederates was hit. AS the
enemy fled the little band pursued
with yells and shots that made the
enemy think an army was at their
heels. In their confusion and de-
moralization, they got jammed to-
gether in a narrow street, and IN a
very short time IL Federals were
killed, II were CAPTURE, including
their captain, and a number were
wounded, the rest fleeing in conster-
nation and panic. Mr.. Wells does
not say so, but have heard time and
time again, that two of he enemy
fell victim to Hampton's strong
sword arm.
Other incidents in the experience
of General Hampton and his cavalry
show that at least his command was
not in an insurance department.
Gen. Hampton was wounded in the
first battle of Manassas or Bull Run,
July 21, 1861; he was wounded
twice at the battle of Gettysburg,
July 2, 1858; his first wound at
Gettysburg was in a hand-to-hand
fight with an enemy officer, in which
he received sword wound in the
head; the blood from his wound ran
down into his eyes so that ne could
scarcely see, yet with his saber ne
cleft the head of his enemy down to
the chin. Later in the battle he was
wounded in the leg by a schrapnel
from a bursting shell.
At the battle of Burgess Mills,
on the "plank" road in Virginia,
Oct. 9th, 1864, Hampton's two
sons, Wade and Preston were wound
ed-Preston mortally. Describing
the scene Edward L. Wells says:
The young ma n, Preston, 'was to
meet death in the full flush of VIC
tory. His father, always in the
front, had been near at hand when
his son fell from his horse, and was
moment dismounted, and bending
over the dying boy tenderly kissed
his forehead and then gently whis-
pered to him some words not heard
by others amid the din of battle.
After hastily giving directions for
his removal, together with his other
SON, who was wounded but not so
seriously, he mounted and rode for
! ward with the advancing line. Such
was commanders duty, but it was
hard one to perform"
i
AS further evidence that this cav
airy was not the insurance depart
ment, it may be added here that
General Hampton's younger brother,
Lt.-Col. Frank Hampton, was killed
at Brandy Station and Gen. M. c.
Butler, of the same cavalry division
lost his leg there. And our own
Henry Reagin and Berry Richards
of Hampton's cavalry were killed at
Bentonville, N. c.
These are only a few of the
names that might be mentioned.
After the war was over General
Hampton returned to South Carolina
and taught obedience to law and 10y
atty to the United States and the
American flag. In 1876, as already
stated, he was called to lead the
fight for the redemption of the
state from negro and alien rule and
was elected governor Nov. 7th, but
was not permitted to enter upon the
office until April 11th, 1877, when
President Hayes ordered the with
drawal of troops from the state
house; then the Chamberlain gov
ernment went to pieces, and the
people of South. Carolina entered
into their own again.
Daniel H. Chamberlain had been
inaugurated governor Dec. 7th and
Hampton Dec. 14th; and from the
latter date till April 11th, 1877 there
was a dual government il. South