Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/750

foot. Soon after he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of a brigade of cavalry under J. E. B. Stuart. In the Maryland campaign of 1862 he commanded the rear guard of cavalry in the movement west from Frederick City, and did effective service. During his service under Stuart he was also frequently selected for detached service, in which he was uncommonly successful. No more desirable position could have been selected for a brave and chivalrous man, and of his troopers it has been said that * the best blood in the land rode after Stuart, Hampton and the Lees." No higher compliment can be paid to Hampton than to say that he was worthy of such a trust, and by his valor and capacity won continued promotion. After participating in Stuart’s raid in the rear of Meade s army he met the enemy’s cavalry near Gettysburg, July 3rd, and in the collision that ensued was thrice wounded. It is stated that twenty-one out of twenty-three field officers and more than half the men of Hampton s command were killed or wounded in this battle. August 3, 1863, he was promoted major-general, and given command of a cavalry division, and after Stuart fell at Yellow Tavern, May 11th, he took command in August of the cavalry corps of the army of Northern Virginia. He took part in the desperate fighting at Hawes Shop, defeated the raid of Kilpatrick and Dahlgren, and after several days fighting gave Sheridan a check at Trevilian s Station, which broke up the Federal plan of juncture with Hunter and the capture of Lynchburg. In twenty-three days he captured over 3,000 prisoners and large quantities of war material, with a loss of 719 men. In September he struck the rear prisoners and 2,486 beeves. Soon afterward in another action he captured 500 prisoners. In one of these daring attacks he lost his son. In February, 1865, he was promoted lieutenant-general and assigned to the command of the cavalry of the army of Joseph E. Johnston, where