Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/41

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> ape. After the war, \\lu-n ( it-neral Butler was in the Senate, Kilpatrirk said to him: "When I heard the Rebel yell in my camp I threw up both hands and exclaimed: 'My goodness, four years' hard fighting and a major-general's commission gone in four min- utes. ' '

The next day we comparatively rested, and rode into Fayetteville, N. C., and, while we were all at breakfast, gallant Hugh Scott noti- fied General Hampton that one hundred Yankees were at the door, and said: "General, give me four or five men and I will run them out of town." General Hampton, hearing the words of this beard- less boy, was inspired, and he said: "You scouts follow me, and I will lead this charge." He killed two with his own pistol and cap- tured the captain, who acknowledged that he had one hundred men, of whom quite a number were killed and captured. Here is a copy of General Hampton's letter complimenting those gallant boys who followed him:

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, iyth March, 1865. Lieutenant :

I take great pleasure in commending to you Privates Wells, Bellinger, and Fishburne of your company, who, with Private Scott and one of Wheeler's command, whose name I regret I don't know, acted with conspicuous gallantry in charging and driving from the town of Fayetteville that portion of the enemy's cavalry which en- tered the town before it had been evacuated by my troops. Their conduct on this occasion reflects high credit upon them as soldiers.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WADE HAMPTON, Lieutenant- General.

Lieutenant Harleton, commanding Company K, Fourteenth South Carolina Cavalry.

It seems that one hundred blue-coats rushed into town and were surprised to find us there. The whole thing was done so quickly that some of us knew nothing about it until it was all over. General Han lee crossed the river with his foot-sore veterans. Butler's rear guard followed leisurely, burning the bridge over Cape Fear river behind them. Bachman's battery was among the last to cross the bridge, and an historic battery it was, recruited in Charleston, com- posed of sturdy, brave, determined Germans. It enlisted for the war. Mi\<d in the trying years in Virginia, was complimented for