Commemorative Plaque of Wade Hampton's Autographed Letter Signed March 8, 1871.

Description

Commemorative plaque of Wade Hampton autographed letter signed March 8, 1871.
Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) was a South Carolina plantation owner and politician who served as a Confederate general during the Civil War (1861-65). He personally organized “Hampton's Legion” at the outbreak of the Civil War and played a key role in the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas).
Despite no prior military experience, Hampton proved a natural cavalry officer and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. He participated in the Peninsula Campaign in 1862 and later served at the Battles of Fredericksburg, Brandy Station and Gettysburg. After General J.E.B. Stuart’s death in May 1864, Hampton assumed command of the Confederate cavalry corps and was instrumental in protecting Richmond and Petersburg in 1864 and 1865. After the Civil War, Hampton became an outspoken critic of Reconstruction and served as governor of South Carolina and as a member of the U.S. Senate. He died in 1902 at the age of 84
Translation of the Plaque:
Hampton Writes of Lee & the War
General Wade Hampton wrote to Colonel Charles Marshall
addressing a request by the Lee Memorial Association (estab-
lished January 1871) to eulogize General Robert E. Lee. Lee
died in October 1870 and Marshall was involved on the com-
mittee, which contacted Hampton for support, information, and
his presence. Marshall was appointed to Lee’s staff as an
aide in March of 1862, the time when Jefferson Davis appointed
Lee as Commander in Chief of the Confederate Forces. Mar-
shall accompanied Lee on April 9,1865, when he surrendered
to General Ulysses S. Grant at  Appomattox; and it was Marshall
that wrote Lee’s moving farewell order/address. Marshall was
among several eulogizers when the commissioned monument
was completed (1875) and placed in the Lexington chapel.
Hampton commanded the cavalry forces in the Carolina cam-
paign (February 1865), in an attempt to stop General William
T. Sherman’s march from Georgia. General Joseph E. Johnston’s
and Hampton’s forces of 30,000 were ineffectual against Sher-
man and his 81,000 troops who meted extreme punishment
to the mother state of secession (South Carolina, December
1860). Sherman’s forces pillaged burned and leveled much
of South Carolina, particularly Columbia. Previously, Thomas
J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s participation in the Seven Days’ Battles
(June 25-July 1, 1862), occurred on the Chickahominy River
near Malvern Hill, a few miles from Richmond. The Chick-
ahominy was the Southern line of defense, covering 35
miles of riverfront and guarded by Lee since June 1, 1862.
Wade Hampton first served in the Civil War, outfitting his own
company for men in the infantry. Cavalry and artillery at his
own expense. Upon the death of James E.B. “Jeb” Stuart in
May, 1864, Hampton became Commander of all the Confederate
cavalry forces. He retired from all military interests after the war
and returned to South Carolina tore build his home and
unsuccessfully pursued cotton-planting the first few years.
Hampton also entered politics promoting peaceful reconstruction
and was elected Governor of South Carolina in 1876. He went
on to serve as a United States Senator (1879-1891) and as
U.S. Commissioner of the Pacific railways from 1893 to 1897.
Translation of the Letter:
Wild Woods Mar. 8
th
1871
My Dear Sir
By a letter from Maj. Barker just rece’d. I am led to fear that my
reply to his kind invitation you sent has failed to reach your com.
(commi-
ttee)
I wrote to you fully some time ago, telling you of the difficulties in
the way of my complying with the request of the Com. but expressing a willing-
ness to deliver the Eulogy if you still desire me to do so.
My business im-
peratively demands my presence here for some time longer + I should in any event
be compelled to go to Columbia
(South Carolina)
to get my papers to prepare an
address. Above all, I confess to a great dread to undertake a task for which
I feel incompetent. In my last I gave all of my pros + cons, in this matter +
left the decision entirely with the Com. Only expressing a hope that they could
Find some one better qualified
- Verso
-
to carry out their wishes.
If this letter reaches you, do answer directly to
“Skipwiths Ldg. Miss River. Via Memphis” If you think it best for me to go on,
can you give me some menda to aid me? I am very glad to see that that you propose,
or rather have been selected to prepare a Life of our great Captain. It is very
essential that some authentic & reliable work should begiven to the World, & no
one can do this better than yourself. There are two or three points touching
the campaigns of Gen Lee, of an important character, which I might give you & if
you desire me to do so, I will furnish them with great pleasure. One relates to
Jacksons Monument from the Chickahominy to Malvern Hill,& the others all con-
nect with the Carl-
(Carolina)
campaign. I too may have letters + papers
which will be of use to you. Amongst Gen. Lee’s papers is a Report on the Cav.
(Cavalry)
operations during the Carl- campaign, prepared at his request: should
this come into
------
your hands, will you be good enough to preserve it for me, as it is the only
complete copy I have.
Hoping to hear from you soon & with my best wishes, I am
Very truly Yrs
Wade Hampton
Col Marshall
Purchased from The American Museum of Historical Documents.
Measures approximately 3
ft.
by 1
ft.
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