Anderson Daily Mail

April 20, 1902

Page 2

A CLOSE CALL

A Reminiscence of One of Hampton’s Raid in 1862

Col. T. B. Crows, editor of the Laurensville Herald, publishes the following reminiscence in the last issue of his paper which will be read with interest by many in this county:

At a memorial meeting held in Anderson last Sunday afternoon in honor of Gen. Hampton several thrilling incidents in his war career were related. Among others was the following as reported to The Daily Mail of that city:

“Mr. W. W. Russell, who was a scout and guide, rode with both Stuart and Hampton, gave some incidents in the raids of the latter. He related how, one dark night, two detachments, one under command of Hampton, the other in charge of Col. Crews of Laurens, met in the darkness while trying to flank Burnsides’s army, and nothing but the presence of mind of a private saved Gen. Hampton from being killed like Jackson by his own men.” The facts in this incident, in which our name is mentioned, are as follows: A short time before the battle of Fredericksburg, some time in the latter part of November or early December, 1862, Gen. Hampton made a raid and reconnaissance into the Yankee lines, his command being composed of detachments from several regiments of the brigade, consisting of about 1,500 cavalry and a couple of pieces of Hart’s Battery. The command crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s ford and proceeded to a point near Stafford’s store in Stafford county, on a road known as the Telegraph road, a highway leading from Falmouth, where Burnside’s army was then encamped, to Dumphries. This road was strongly guarded by Yankee cavalry, pickets being posted every half mile, with a strong reserve post of several hundred. Gen. Hampton’s main purpose was to capture the reserve force. Just before reaching the Telegraph road, which was approached by a cross-country road, Gen. Hampton’s command, with the exception of the guide for the Jeff Davis Legion made a mistake by not making the circuit extensive enough and striking the road between the reserve and the next picket post. The Legion, although failing at the reserve, captured several smaller posts and proceeded down the road to meet Hampton’s command, who was expecting the Yankees to be retreating in that direction, having heard the firing for some time. As the Legion approached near enough to be distinctly hears, Hampton’s two videttes, about 40 yards ahead of the advance guard, of which the writer had charge, called out: “Here they come, boys!” Whereupon Gen. Hampton, who was abreast of the first set of fours of the advance guard, gave the command to charge, he himself leading, followed by the First South Carolina, which was the leading regiment that night, the whole affair taking place after dark. When the head of Hampton’s column struck the Jeff Davis Legion there was a terrific crash, each thinking the other the enemy, saber and pistol being used as in a death struggle—a hand-to-hand grapple, lasting, however, but a short time. Hampton, with his innate coolness and presence of mind in every emergency, having discovered the mistake, called out: “Stop this, men, we are all Georgia!” “Georgia” was the watchword that somewhat eventful night.

When order was restored it was fortunately found that though several of the men were wounded, some of them painfully, none of them were killed. The horses were less fortunate than the men, several being killed. The writer received a severe but not serious blow on the head and shoulder from a saber, delivered by the hand of his chief. We remember the night as exceedingly cold, the sky thickly overcast, threatening snow, and although there was a young moon it gave little or no light.

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]