lines lifted from either side as far as I could see, almost instantly, and fled in confusion."

No fair mind that considers this official exposition of the conduct of this gallant and battle-scarred command, as connected with the disaster of Hood's army at Nashville--no true and gallant soldier, who has passed through the fiery scenes of victory and defeat, and been alike the recipient of praise and blame, as his fortunes varied in the unequal struggle, can do otherwise than sympathize with the misfortunes of these overpowered men, and admire their gallantry. The surprise to the intelligent mind is, that a whole army should at once leave their lines of defence, because a breach is made at one of the salients. This is too patent to need more than a suggestion from the historian. The truth is, the preceding battle of Franklin-the dearest of all dear-bought victories-destroyed the morale of the army. It was so cut up and weakened in numbers, and in the loss of many of its best men and officers, that after that it had no confidence in its ability to cope with an adversary so superiour in numbers and appoint

ment.

After the disaster of Nashville, the Army of Tennessee swept back across the Tennessee River, through North Mississippi, across Alabama and Georgia into Carolina, where it met its old commander, Gen. Joe Johnston. Under his leadership it fought its last battle near Bentonville, North Carolina, in March, 1865. In this last fight no command more distinguished itself than that of Gen. Bate. In the absence of Maj.-Gen. Cheatham, he commanded that part of the corps (including his own division) which was engaged. He fought upon the extreme right of the line. His troops, stung by the recollections of Nashville, were not only precipitous, but absolutely reckless in the charge upon the works of the enemy, and carried all in their front in such a dashing manner as to win the applause of the whole army.

This battle, just before the surrender, terminated the military career of Gen. Bate, which beginning with the position of a captain in command of a company, ended in that of a Major-General. After having been surrendered and paroled, the crippled and heart-sick warriour made his way to a plantation in Georgia, where he had established a home, during the war, for a number of his devoted negroes who had fled from the enemy's mercies in Ten

nessee. He now claimed their protection and kindness. As a generous master he was endeared to all of them; and as an evidence of the attachment of the negro, his body-servant, "Jim," had followed him throughout the war, and had twice borne him wounded from the field. The dream of the brave man's youth had vanished. The cause in which he enlisted every aspiration of his soul, all the energy of his nature, and every impulse of his ambition; for which he had forsaken the comforts of home, the rapid accumulations of a large business, and the domestic attractions of a fond and devoted family, had perished and claimed no more the service of his preeminent capacity or the chivalric exercise of his enthusiastic patriotism. The devotion of his constant and undying love for the South found now no field for its exercise in the serious display of opposing hosts in the terrible gage of battle. Her banners all furled, no longer rallied to them devoted warriours. Sick and despondent, in the quiet and repose of his rural retreat in Georgia, Gen. Bate existed for a few weeks in melancholy contemplation of the ruin of the cause for which he and so many brave sons of the South had for four years labored and perilled, and which had passed away among the things "that were but are not."

But such meditations were averse to his better nature. They did not comport with the practical direction of his mind, or the indomitable energy which had ever characterized him in both civil and military life. As soon as his wearied and crippled body had received the rest which so long a time in active and exciting service had rendered necessary, he made his way back to his own. native Tennessee, where, among the familiar scenes of his home, and the associations of a people who had ever been partial to him, he proposed to meet the exigencies of his new existence, and lend his influence to a manly and dignified encounter of the situation.

He found his homestead desolated and destroyed. The atrocious spirit of the enemy could not forego the indulgence of a cowardly revenge upon a foeman who would have disdained to have fought them in any other way but to their face with his steel. They had destroyed his residence and laid waste his grounds, leaving no evidence of the once beautiful home, but the standing and charred chimneys, mute but damning monuments of the infamy of a cowardly Vandalism. Notwithstanding this and his many other misfortunes, and the fact that he was then as he is now, an unpar

doned rebel, pursued, indicted for treason, his estates libelled, and himself hunted by "Union men" with suits for fictitious damages because of his course in the war, he resolved to remain in his native State, and try again the fortunes of the profession of the law, in which he had formerly distinguished himself. Since the surrender, Gen. Bate has taken no part in politics. Disfranchised by the usurping Government of Tennessee, because of his devotion to a cause which he esteemed dearer than life, he awaits the sense of returning justice, which will do him, and the brave men who acted with him, the fullest vindication, and haply restore them to the rights of which an accidental power now deprives them. His intercourse with those who differ with him exhibits that manly independence which must always command respect, characterized as it is by a courtesy which attracts while it does not invite, and which is independent without being repulsive, Free from the disgusting sycophancy which so many have adopted as the best means to a sordid and material advantage, he pursues the even duties of his professional life, indifferent to the estimation of his enemies as he is jealous of the regard of his friends. As a soldier, he was brave, chivalric, energetic, and untiring; as a citizen, he is conservative and dutiful; as a husband and parent, domestic and affectionate; as an enemy, fierce but not ungenerous; as a lawyer, just to all who come within the purview of his practice; as a friend, free and open-handed, reserving to himself nothing in selfishness; as a man, replete in all that constitutes the man's true standard.

47

LIEUT.-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON.

CHAPTER LXIX.

An Englishman's remark on the military aptitude of the Southern planter.-Wealth and culture of Wade Hampton.-The Hampton Legion.-Its mettle tried at Manassas.-Gen. Hampton in the campaign of 1862.-Detached enterprises against the enemy. In the battle of Brandy Station.-Wounded at Gettysburg.-In the campaign of 1864.-Fights with Sheridan.-Trevillian Station.-Sappony Church. -Hampton's "beef-raid."-He joins Gen. Beauregard's command.-Operations against Sherman.-A severe commentary on the enemy's atrocities.-Peculiar compliments of the Northern Radicals to Gen. Hampton since the war.—His admirable speeches and advice to his countrymen.

AN Englishman recently writing on the subject of the American War, ingeniously remarks: "The richer planter, possessing many slaves dependent entirely on him in regard to food, clothing, medicine, and discipline, acquires habits of command and of organization highly useful to the affairs of an army. A man capable of managing the affairs of a large plantation, and ruling his servants with order and regularity, has advanced far in the qualities necessary to make a good Colonel of a regiment." It was in this school that Wade Hampton of South Carolina was eminently educated-a school where was not only taught the art of command, but which inspired the best notions of chivalry, and produced an aristocracy haughty and narrow in some respects, but singularly pure, circumspect, and aspiring.

He was one of the richest planters in his State, owned several large tracts of land well stocked with negroes, and had the reputation, extending beyond his neighbourhood, of an enlightened and liberal agriculturist. He was born in Charleston in 1818. His family was among the most ancient and honoured in the history of South Carolina. His grandfather, Gen. Wade Hampton, was a

gallant officer in the Revolution which gained American Independence, and was one of the most eminent and respected citizens of South Carolina, in those days. His father, Col. Wade Hampton, was a distinguished officer in the war of 1812, and was an aide-decamp to Gen. Jackson in the memorable battle of New Orleans.

Before the war made upon the South, the subject of our sketch was considered one of the wealthiest men in the State of South Carolina. As a man and a citizen none stood above him in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. He had served with distinction in both branches of the Legislature of his State. His first wife was a daughter of Gen. F. P. Preston, of Virginia, and after the death of this estimable lady, he married a daughter of the celebrated Gov. McDuffie, of South Carolina. He owned the greatest number of negroes of any gentleman in the State, and was distinguished as the most humane and indulgent of men in the management of his servants. All his surroundings were those of a gentleman of culture and honour. His residence at Columbia, South Carolina, was known both in Europe and America as the abode of splendid hospitality, and as one of the most superb residences in the United States.

In the first gathering of troops in Virginia to oppose the Grand Army of the North, a regiment of legionary formation (i. e. of the different arms-infantry, cavalry and artillery), commanded by Col. Hampton, and honourably known throughout the war as "Hampton's Legion," was among the earliest contributions of South Carolina. In the early encampments around Richmond it was recognized as the élite of the regiments, and obtained the best of the social honours that were then so profusely distributed among military men. Its associations were aristrocratic; its dress-parades at Rocketts, were the wonder and fashionable resort of Richmond; and as a corps of gentlemen soldiers, they were perfect in every appointment. The munificent spirit of the commander was testified by the fact that out of his own private means he had contributed largely towards the equipment of the men. Their flag was the patriotic and sacred gift of the ladies of South Carolina, and in accepting it, the Legion had promised to defend it as long as one of their number remained to step the field of conflict.

The mettle of the Legion was tried on the first field of Manassas. It was here that Hampton's 600 infantry held for some time the