Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/136

 124 Southern Historical Society Papers.

right oblique he came to a high stake-and-rider rail-fence. Looking to the front he saw, standing on a large stump, some four of five feet in height, a soldier, whose blue coat bound with orange-colored braid, and pantaloons with stripes of the same color on the outer seams, indicated that he was a United States Cavalryman. He seemed to be what the Scots term a " braw lad," and, although not engaged in a political campaign, had " taken the stump," doubtless that he might get a better view of the Confederate troops on the elevated plateau south of the woods.

The contour of the ground hid General Hampton from his com- mand when he halted at the fence. As he drew his pistol the quick- eyed skirmisher saw him, and they both fired at the same instant. The ball from the soldiers' rifled carbine splintered a rail near the horses head, and that from Wade Hampton's 44 calibre revolver made the bark fly from the stump. The duel was clearly irregular, as there were no seconds, and the principals were about one hundred and twenty-five yards apart, instead of fifteen or twenty paces, as prescribed by the code of honor, and they were unequally armed, although each was within fair range of the other's weapon. Hamp- ton held his pistol muzzle up at a ready, and courteously waited on his antagonist, who threw back the lever of his carbine, and flinging out the empty shell put in a fresh cartridge.

A CLOSE CALL.

Again the reports of the carbine and pistol blended, and a bullet passed through Hampton's gray cavalry cape, grazing his right breast.

The soldier then inserted a third cartridge, but could not close the breech of his rifle, the trouble evidently being that the gun was foul, and hence the butt of the metallic case did not go in flush with the socket. He raised his right hand with the palm to the front, as if to say to his adversary: " Wait a bit, I'll soon be with you," and then drew his wiping rod, and, after driving out the stuck cartridge, took a piece of rag from his pocket, and, wetting it with his tongue, at- tached it to the slit in the rod, and deliberately cleaned out his car- bine. The delay sorely taxed the patience of Hampton, as it would that of any gentleman who was kept waiting to be shot at. But he was as incapable of taking an unfair advantage of his enemy then as he was at Brandy-Station, where, during the fiercest cavalry engage- ment of the war, he dashed up to a Federal colonel to cut him down,