Hampton ' s Legion Hampton ' s Legion was an American Civil War military unit of the Confederate States of America , organized and partially financed by wealthy South Carolina plantation owner Wade Hampton III . Initially composed of infantry , cavalry , and artillery battalions , elements of Hampton ' s Legion participated in virtually every major campaign in the Eastern Theater , from the first to the last battle . History . A legion historically consisted of a single integrated command , with individual components including infantry , cavalry , and artillery . The concept of a multiple - branch unit was never a practical application for Civil War armies and , early in the war , the individual elements were assigned to other organizations . Organized by Wade Hampton in early 1861 , Hampton ' s Legion initially boasted a large number of South Carolina ' s leading citizens , including future generals J . Johnston Pettigrew , Stephen Dill Lee , Martin W . Gary , and Matthew C . Butler . Originally , the Legion comprised six companies of infantry , two of cavalry , and one of light artillery . The infantry and cavalry fought in the First Battle of Manassas , where Colonel Hampton suffered the first of several wounds during the war . In November 1861 , the artillery was then outfitted with four Blakely Rifles , imported from England and slipped through the Union blockade into Savannah , Georgia . By the end of the year , each element of the Legion had been expanded with new companies to bolster the effective combat strength . With the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia in mid - 1862 , Hampton ' s Legion was broken up and reassigned . The cavalry battalion , with an expansion in size and numbers , became the 2nd South Carolina Cavalry under Colonel Butler . It remained directly under General Hampton ' s control and served in his brigade and then division for the rest of the war . The artillery was converted to horse artillery and renamed Hart ' s Battery , after its commander , Capt . James F . Hart . Lt . Colonel Gary ' s infantry element , retaining the designation Hampton ' s Legion , was initially brigaded with Georgia troops in Stonewall Jackson ' s command , but was transferred in June to John Bell Hood ' s " Texas Brigade . " The various elements of the Legion fought in most of the major Eastern operations of 1862 , including the Peninsula , Northern Virginia , and Maryland campaigns , suffering substantial losses . The Legion helped to dislodge the Yankees at the battle of Chinn Ridge , and the Second Battle of Bull Run , and to inflict the horrific amounts of casualties on the 5th New York Regiment . Battered at Antietam , the much depleted Legion infantry was sent to the rear and performed garrison duty for months while refitting and recruiting . It did not participate actively in the early part of the Gettysburg Campaign ( unlike the cavalry and artillery elements , which played a major role in several battles during the campaign ) . It fought a minor rear - guard action at Boonsboro , Maryland , during the army ' s retreat from Gettysburg . It returned to action in the fall of 1863 in Longstreet ' s Corps during the Battle of Chickamauga and the subsequent Chattanooga campaign . The Legion infantry later returned to Virginia and rejoined Robert E . Lee ' s army . In March 1864 , it was converted to mounted infantry and reassigned to Fitzhugh Lee ' s cavalry brigade . It harassed Federal supply depots throughout northern Virginia , and fought in several actions during the lengthy Siege of Petersburg . What was left of the Hampton Legion infantry surrendered with General Robert E . Lee at Appomattox Court House in early April 1865 . The South Carolina cavalry regiment and the horse artillery ( by then renamed as Halsey ' s Battery after Hart ' s wounding ) participated in the Carolinas Campaign with General Hampton and surrendered at Bennett Place in North Carolina along with the rest of General Joseph E . Johnston ' s forces on April 26 . Organization of the Legion . Original composition . Six companies of infantry : Co . A Washington Light Infantry Volunteers ( Charleston ) < br > Co . B Watson Guards ( Edgefield ) < br > Co . C Manning Guards ( Sumter ) < br > Co . D Gist Riflemen ( Anderson ) < br > Co . E Bozeman Guards ( Greenville ) < br > Co . F Davis Guards ( Greenville ) Cavalry battalion : Co . A Edgefield Hussars ( Edgefield ) < br > Co . B Brooks Troop ( Greenville ) < br > Co . C Beaufort District Troop ( Beaufort ) Artillery : Washington Artillery ( Charleston ) Additional units . Infantry : Co . G Claremont Rifles ( Statesburg ) 19 Aug 1861 < br > Co . H ( 1st ) German Volunteers ( Charleston ) 22 Aug 1861 < br > Co . H ( 2nd ) South Carolina Zouave Volunteers 29 Jul 1862 < br > Co . I Capt . D . L . Hall ' s company 11 Nov 1862 < br > Co . K Capt . John H . Bowen ' s company 11 Nov 1862 < br > Co . H 16th North Carolina Infantry Cavalry : Co . D Congaree Troop ( Columbia ) 5 Aug 1861 Artillery : Co . B German Artillery ( Co . H ( 1st ) ) 1 Nov 1861