Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

[coastaltrash]

I want to thank Tyler Underwood for the opportunity to raise Hampton's Legion for the Battle of Wauhatchie. We will be adding assignments and expanding the company list as they commit. We will not go beyond 5 solid companies to represent Hampton's Legion.

Cmdr- Patrick Landrum
Major Brian DesRochers

Co A Chad Wrinn- Breckenridge Greys
Co B Bryant Roberts- Palmetto Guards
Co C Jason Thibadeaux- Independent Rifles
Co D TBD
Co E TBD

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

Patrick, it was easy decision to make. Thank you for your dedication to the hobby and "Opening the Cracker Line" Brother!

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

Hampton Legion was my mainstream unit back in SC when I got into the hobby... Gist Rifles. Exciting to see this at a progressive event!

[bAcK88]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

The following information is from O. Lee Sturkey’s regimental history of the Hampton Legion Infantry published by Broadfoot in 2008.

Col.
Martin Witherspoon Gary. Born March 10, 1831 in Cokesbury. Graduated Cokesbury School ca. 1849; student at S.C. College but expelled in Biscuit Rebellion 1852; graduate Harvard (1854); read law in office of Chancellor J. P. Carroll of Edgefield. Admitted to S.C. Bar May 1855. Resided in Edgefield as lawyer before the war. Member, S.C. House of Representatives 1860-1861. COL 2nd S.C. Cavalry (Militia) at Charleston March-April 1861. Original Captain of Company B. Furlough of indulgence to attend extra session of General Assembly November 1-December 8, 1861. Elected Lt. Col. commanding Legion Infantry June 16, 1862. Sick furlough (debility) July 1862. Unsuccessful candidate for reelection to S. C. House of Representatives October 1862. COL. December 12, 1862 (to rank August 26, 1862, confirmed March 26, 1863). Senior member of court martial board, Jenkins Brigade August 1863. Slightly WIA (right side, contusion from shell fragment) at Wauhatchie. Present December 1861-Januray 1864. Horse killed from under him at Mattadaquin Creek May 30, 1864. BGEN June 1864 to rank from May 19, 1864 and assigned command of Gary’s Cavalry Brigade, Department of Richmond. Furlough for indulgence at Cokesbury December 1864-January 1865. Commanded rear guard at fall of Richmond April 3, 1865. Slightly wounded in hand at Appomattox Station, April 8, 1865. Escaped through the lines at Appomattox. At Salisbury, NC April 15, 1865, and at Charlotte, NC April 20-21, 1865. With Jefferson Davis from Greensboro to Abbeville, April 1865. Arrived at Edgefield early May 1865. Never paroled. Resumed law practice December 1, 1865. Appointed MGEN, commanding 1st Division, S.C. Militia by Governor Perry December 21, 1865. Arrested in the connection of the shooting of a Federal soldier March 1866 but released. Delegate to S.C. Taxpayers’ Conventions of 1871 and 1874. Architect of “Straightout Movement” of 1876 and founder of Red Shirts. S. C. Senate 1876-1880. Broke with Hampton wing of Democratic Party and forefather of S. C. Agrarian Movement. Bachelor. Resided at Oakley Park, Edgefield nicknamed “The Bald Eagle”. Brother-in-law of BGEN Nathan G. Evans and brother of W. T. Gary and S. G. M. Gary. Died April 9, 1881. Buried at Tabernacle Cemetery, near Cokesbury, Greenwood County.

Major.
Robert Bolling Arnold. Born October 27, 1833 Original 1st LT in Company E, age 27. Submitted resignation July 9, 1861, but not accepted. Promoted CAPT September 14, 1861. Hospitalized (chronic diarrhea) in private home in Richmond May 3-22, 1862; admitted to Chimborazo August 25, 1862 for hepatitis. Sick furlough August-September 1862. Promoted Major and transferred to F&S December 13, 1862. Married Mary Caroline Johnson while home on furlough in Greenville District March 26, 1863; promoted Lt. Col. June 28, 1864 (to rank May 19, 1864, confirmed January 5, 1865. Commanding Legion while Thomas Logan at St. Mary’s Church, 1st Deep Bottom, 2nd Deep Bottom. In permanent command of Legion following detachment of Col. Logan. Assigned as Col. March 15, 1865. Paroled mounted. Farmer and life long resident near Princeton, Greenville County. Appointed Col commanding 3rd Reg., 1st Bri., 1st Division, S.C. Militia by Governor Perry December 21, 1865. Died January 19, 1923; buried at Columbia Baptist Church, Princeton, Greenville County.

Company A: Washington Light Infantry Volunteers:
The Washington Light Infantry was organized as a militia company during the Chesapeake-Leopard crisis of 1807, and was named for Revolutionary War veteran William Washington, a hero of Cowpens and Eutaw Springs and nephew of George Washington. By the time of the war, it was composed primarily of young aristocrats from the Low Country. When the Legion was raised in May 1861, a portion of the militia company volunteered for service in Virginia; this contingent became Company A of the Legion. Very heavy losses in battle soon diffused the company, but it remained a formidable fighting force throughout the war. The company furnished three general officers to the Confederacy, more than any company in American history for a like four year period, and more than but a handful of regiments. Two other companies of the militia unit, raised in 1862 as Companies A and B, 25th SC Infantry also carried the name Washington Light Infantry.

Company B: Watson Guards
This company was raised in Edgefield District, in the southern part of what is now Saluda County, the Ridge Section of present-day Edgefield County and what is today the south-central portion of McCormick County. It was mustered into Confederate service at Camp Hampton, Columbia, on June 12, 1861, for the term of one year. After the reorganization in April 1862, it received some recruits from other sections of the state, but it continued to obtain most of its recruits from the original enlistment area, and remained a distinctive Edgefield unit.

Company C: Manning Guards
Captain Brown Manning, the son of former Governor Lawrence Manning and the brother of former Governor John Manning, and himself a prominent planter near Manchester, raised Company C. Recruited from Clarendon District and the lower section of Sumter District, it had a heavy sprinkling of socially prominent planters. Mustered into Confederate service at Columbia for a term of one year on June 19, 1861. Company C was the original color company of the Hampton Legion. It was wracked by heavy casualties from both battle and disease and later received a heavy influx of new enlistees from Marlboro District.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

Co A Chad Wrinn- Breckenridge Greys
Co B Bryant Roberts- Palmetto Guards
Co C Jason Thibadeaux- Independent Rifles
Co D Sam Gaylon- Trans Mississippi Hellcats
Co E TBD

[coastaltrash]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

Shifting this around a bit
Co A Skip Owens/Bryant Roberts- Palmetto Guards
Co B Chad Wrinn- Breckenridge Greys
Co C Jason Thibadeaux- Independent Rifles
Co D Sam Gaylon- Trans Mississippi Hellcats
Co E TBD

[50thGAInfantry]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

I've got a few guys here on the Georgia / South Carolina coast who are interested in joining up with company A. Is there a Facebook page / group page etc. for that company? Thanks in advance.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Hampton's Legion- Battle of Wauhatchie

Dillan, sorry for just now seeing this. I've been focused on Blakeley. Are you wanting to fall in with Skip Owens or Chad Wrinn. I initially had Chad in A Company slot is the only reason I ask.