Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/42

 86 Southern Historical Society Papers.

gallantry at every turn; it bore a distinguished name for unbounded courage.

This battery, with its infantry support, successfully resisted at Get- tysburg a charge of Federal cavalry, and saved the army transpor- tation. General Farnsworth, the Federal commander, who led the cavalry charge, rather than surrender himself, blew out his own brains on the field of battle.

So this battery traversed nearly every military road in Virginia; crossed the Potomac, fought in Maryland and Pennsylvania; was ordered back to South Carolina, and aided by an enviable courage to close the career of the Confederacy.

Heretofore in these pages an allusion has been made to the ' ' Charleston Light Dragoons. ' ' This is an old and time-honored corps, dating back to 1773, when it was named the "Charles-Town City Troops," and did active service then as a company, and in hal- cyon days as gay and gallant " Dragoons," on " Muster Day " and as an escort for governors. They went to Virginia as a " Kid Glove" company, earning glory on each and every field; such men fought at " Balaklava " and at " Inkermann," and knew when and where to die. They died as they had lived "True to God and to country," and a high tribute was paid them by their commander, General Wade Hampton, who had witnessed their gallantry on more than one field. On an occasion General Hampton was riding with General Lee, and came opposite the "Dragoons." General Lee was attracted by the general appearance of the men, and in his gen- tle, quiet way asked General Hampton: "General, what command is that ? ' '

The answer came with pride and tenderness in the tone: "Gen- eral Lee, it is the 'Charleston Light Dragoons,' and sir, I would rather be a private soldier of that command than to wear to-day the decoration of the ' Legion of Honor.' '

Like wine, time sometimes flavors records of men and horses. Two of the oldest cavalry companies, "Dragoons," intact to-day, of the "Philadelphia City Troops," and the "Charleston Light Dragoons." For a principle they, each of them, fought in 1776, and for the same reason in 1861 to 1865 in the latter years one represented the blue; the other the gray. Each maintained its organization, and when the time comes, rest assured that where duty calls, these men of the " Old Dragoons " will ever be found. Thank God that we have living to-day the men who wore the "Gray" high up in rank great in military achievements and who are willing to