At the outbreak of the War Between the States, Wade Hampton, a planter and member of the South Carolina Senate, was the wealthiest man in the state and one of the richest in America. At the time of secession Hampton was at his Mississippi plantation tending the business of closing out the year, processing and selling cotton and preparing for the new season. Hampton was not a secessionist and, while in the Senate, had spoken in favor of the Union and moderation.

With the fact of secession, he felt that South Carolina needed all her sons and offered to enlist as a private in her service. Francis Pickens, then governor, recognized Hampton's worth. His social and political leadership, managerial skills and natural ability as an administrator, outdoorsman and leader demanded that this asset be used to better advantage.

Pickens secured for him a colonel's commission and directed that he raise his own command. Upon accepting the appointment, Hampton resigned from the senate and devoted his energies to recruiting his legion.

On May 3, 1861 he published a call for volunteers in the Charleston Courier. He asked for 1,000 men to be organized into a "Legion" of all arms: six of infantry, four of cavalry and a battery of "flying artillery".

Hampton had to ask but once. His summons brought forth many units, already organized, and boasting some of the best blood in the state. With more men than he needed Hampton was able to select the best possible units and leaders for his Legion. By mid-May he had all he needed. Included in this was the artillery contingent captained by Stephen D. Lee.

The four original troops of Legion Cavalry were:

    The Edgefield Hussars: CPT Matthew C. Butler, Edgefield District
    The Brooks Troop: CPT John Lanneau, Greenville District
    The Congaree Troop: CPT Thomas Taylor, Richland District
    The Beaufort Troop: CPT Thomas E. Screven, Beaufort District

The cavalry selected for service in the Legion assembled near Columbia between 18-21 June 1861, at Camp Hampton, three miles from the depot. Here they were to be inspected and mustered into service. LTC Benjamin Johnson, second in command and commander of the Legion infantry, along with Wade Hampton and a doctor, inspected each man and horse. Those rejected for unsuitable mounts were directed to obtain new mounts. Those rejected for physical impairments were either told to apply later as their health was restored or rejected for service outright.

At the end of June the Legion moved by rail to Richmond where they first went into camp at "The Rocketts", a flat on the James River adjacent to the town. This camp lasted only a short time for they would soon be moved to the Ashland race tracks for training. At Ashland they were trained by the "old army" West Pointers, including Rooney and Fitz Lee, Fields and Lomax.

The late arrival of their mounts caused the cavalry to miss the Battle of First Manassas by one day. The Legion infantry was heavily engaged and lost 35 killed and 125 wounded. Among the casualties were LTC Johnson killed and Hampton wounded.

Following Manassas the cavalry was placed at picket posts along the Potomac River. From their camp at Camp Wigfall, near the village of Occoquon, the Legion served the area of Pohick Church. Hampton was aggressive in searching out Federal scouting parties and reconnaissance forces. He would often use the infantry as a base or ambush force and the riders as attack or decoy forces. With Texas scouts employed along and over the river he was well informed of Federal activity and, ignoring all odds, pressed all who came into his area.

The Texas scouts also warned Hampton when the Federals were out to ambush his aggressive riders and on several occasions prevented their riding into a trap. On one such scout the Legion rode, Hampton learned that "Scott's 900" had been sent into his area. This regiment was armed with Lances rather than sabers.

Hampton chose to ignore the odds and sought out the lancers with his Legion cavalry. He sprung his trap and completely routed the lancers. In the pursuit that followed a large number of prisoners and horses were captured and the road was strewn for miles with lances bearing miniature US flags. The lancers were destroyed as a unit and never made another appearance.

The reorganization of the army began in April 1862 while the Legion was camped near Yorktown. Hampton would command infantry, the cavalry was commanded by Butler, and Hart's Battery would join Stuart's horse artillery. With this reorganization the infantry was assigned to Hood's Texas Brigade and the cavalry would become part of the rear guard of Thomas Rosser.

Following the Seven Days battles, the reorganization of the army would continue. The Legion organization was found to be ineffective in a war that would employ masses of troops under divisional leaders. Additional companies were added to the infantry and it was brought up to regimental strength as a part of Hood's Brigade. It would retain the name "Hampton Legion" and hold this identity throughout the war. The artillery would remain with Stuart and earn an enviable reputation as part of the famous horse artillery - Hart's Battery.

The cavalry would become part of the 2d South Carolina Regiment, but the proud members of the early squadron would always think of themselves as part of Hampton's Legion.

On August 10, 1862, the cavalry was in camp at Atlee's Station. Here they were joined by the 4 troops of the 4th Battalion South Carolina Cavalry, "Easley's Squadron", the experienced "Boykin Rangers" of CPT Alexander Hamilton Boykin, and the Bonham Light Dragoons under CPT Thomas J. Lipscomb. They were designated the 2d SC Cavalry and M.C. Butler appointed their colonel.

From this point until their return to the state in 1864, they would ride as part of Hampton's Brigade and participate in more than 75 battles and skirmishes. During this time their strength was very much reduced and in the major actions at Brandy Station, they mounted less than 250 sabers. Here they lost Butler when his foot was taken off by a cannon shot, and Frank Hampton who was sabered from the saddle while trying to hold a charging regiment with thirty men.

Gettysburg again saw the regiment with less than 200 in the saddle and losses of one-third of their number.

The regiment was returned to South Carolina for recruiting and refitting in the spring of 1864. The Beaufort Troop that had left the state with 86 riders returned with 14. All needed new mounts, new equipment and new riders to fill their ranks. During this time the regiment was employed on James Island and along the Charleston-Savannah Railroad. They would rejoin their old commander Hampton in February when his division, now under Butler, would be sent to South Carolina to resist W.T. Sherman.

With scouts keeping tabs on the progress of the Federals, other individuals and detachments would harass or destroy the rampaging bummers and foraging parties.

The Second Regiment would fight in the Carolinas at Goldsboro and at Bentonville. Since no roster is available of those who surrendered with Johnson's army, it must be assumed that those of the Second who surrendered were small in number. Like many cavalry, they simply rode away before formalities were concluded or after an action, drifted back into the state, and sanitized the rear areas as their numbers permitted.

Wade Hampton was the embodiment of the "Grand Signoir" of ante-bellum South Carolina. Not educated as a military leader, he possessed the qualities of leadership and management that earned him the love and respect of those whose knew him. His concern for his men and the manner in which he treated all, regardless of station, gained for him a deep seated devotion that endured long past the war years.

Like Nathan Bedford Forrest, Wade Hampton possessed an instinctive skill for the use of force, power and resources. His practiced planter's eye analyzed the terrain and revealed the right moment when a wavering enemy would break under an audacious charge.

His reputation, warmth and devotion to South Carolina brought some of the state's best men to his service. Of those who would begin their service in the Legion, six would wear the wreath of general officers:

    Wade Hampton and Stephen D. Lee as Lieutenant Generals
    M.C. Butler as Major General
    Martin Gary, Conner and Logan as Brigadier Generals
    Thomas .J. Lipscomb, who joined the newly formed regiment at Atlee's station would be it's last commander.

During the Spanish-American War, M.C. Butler would be appointed to the rank of Major General, U.S. Volunteers.

The infantry of the Legion that carried on the name would be mounted in 1864 as the Hampton Legion and Martin Gary, who was it's commander, would be appointed Brigadier General to command a brigade of cavalry that would fight to the end at Appomattox. Gary said, "South Carolinians do not surrender", and left along with a number of his men who returned, first to Johnson's army, then to the state with their weapons and battered pride intact.

A Co. CPT A.H. Boykin, Kershaw, Boykin Rangers
B Co. CPT Thomas E Screven, Beaufort, Beaufort Dist Troop
C Co. CPT John Meighan, Richland, Congaree Mounted Riflemen
D Co. CPT J.C. McKewn, Charleston
E Co. CPT Alvin H. Dean, Spartanburg
F Co. CPT John Westfield, Pickens
G Co. CPT J. Winster Gary, Edgefield, Bonham Light Dragoons
H Co. CPT James P. McFie, Richland
I Co. CPT T.H. Clark, Edgefield, Edgefield Hussars
K Co. CPT Leonard Williams, Greenville, Brooks Troop

Ride Around McClellan, Many skirmishes along the Potomac, Sharpsburg and South Mountain, Chambersburg Raid, 2d Manassas, Chancellorsville, Stoneman's Raid, Gettysburg, Buckland Mills, Raccoon Ford, Kelly's Ford, Stevensburg, Parker's Store, Kinston, Averysboro, James Island, Bentonville. The 2d also participated in the action that routed Kilpatrick from his camp near Durham Station.

CONFEDERATE CAVALRY REGIMENT

Consists of about 830 men plus command and staff. The regiment was divided into 5 squadrons, squadrons contained 2 companies of 80 men and 3 officers. Squadrons were commanded by the senior captain of the companies. Before the end of the first year of the war regiments were at less than 50% strength, with the average being about 325 sabers of all ranks.

c1994, J. J. Fox