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Remarkable record of the Haskells of South Carolina.
(T. C. De Leon, in ‘town Topics,’ November, 1907.)
The
South Carolinians were notable during all the war, in the field, the council and in society.
Tall
Jim Fraser and classic
Sam Shannon divided the vote feminine for ‘the handsomest man in the army,’ and cultured
Frank Parker,
adjutant-general to that unfortunate commander,
Braxton Bragg, was no bad second.
At dances and theatricals, as in the red sport of war, all three were in the front rank.
All have passed across the border, the first two years ago, and
Shannon wasting intellect and elegance in a new home in the far
West.
Parker settled in
Mobile, married
Miss Troost, of the old Battle family, and has grown children.
One year ago all representative classes of his adopted city followed the bier of this true old cavalier.
It was
Barnard E. Bee who christened
Stonewall on
Manassas field, just before his brave spirit went upward ‘in the arms of the white-winged angels of glory.’
And
Wade Hampton, wounded at
Bull Run, and again severely on the retreat from
Gettysburg, he was the same high-natured patriot in war and peace.
One battle sadly proved the mettle of that race.
Both of the general's boys were in his legion.
Wade, his first-born, and handsome, sunny-hearted
Preston, his very
Benjamin.
The latter rushed recklessly into the hottest of the charge, far in advance of the line.
The father called to
Wade: ‘Bring the boy back!’
The elder brother spurred to the front, saw the other reel in the saddle and caught him as he fell, mortally wounded.
At the moment a bullet tore through his shoulder and the father rode up to find one son dead and his bleeding brother supporting him.
The general took the body tenderly in his arms, kissed the white face, and handed it to
Tom Taylor.
“Care for
Wade's wound,” he called.
‘Forward, men!’
All through that long and bitter day the soldier fought with lead
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whirring by his ears and lead in his heart.
It was not until the doubtful fight was ended that he knew that the other son still lived.
Brutus of old was no more true than
Hampton.
The women of the Prestons, the Chestnuts, and many another
Carolina family proved the truth of good old blood.
One gentle old
Carolina lady, calm and tender of heart, was as heroic as
Hampton.
A veritable ‘mother in
Israel,’ she was as Roman as he. What one in Judea or the seven-hilled city sent seven spears to victory for Joshua or David—for
Scipio or
Caesar?
Yet this Christian mother of the
South hear the thunder of hostile guns without one tremor, nursed her children, torn by their shells, without repining, but with perfect trust in the hand of the One Dispenser.
Mrs. Charles Thompson Haskell (
Sophia Langdon Cheves, daughter of
Colonel Langdon Cheves) had seven sons in the army around
Richmond when I met her at
Mrs. Stanard's, in one of the several visits she made to tend their wounds.
All of them had been privates in the army before the firing on
Sumter.
She was ever quiet, but genial, hiding what suspense and anguish held her, making, unknowingly, great history for her State and for all time.
The eldest son was
Langdon Cheves Haskell, who served on the staff of
General Maxey Gregg, later on the staff of
General A. P. Hill, and surrendered at
Appomattox as captain on the staff of ‘Fighting
Dick’
Anderson, of his own State.
He married
Miss Ella Wardlaw, of
Abbeville, dying in 1886, and leaving three sons and one daughter, all adults.
Charles Thompson Haskell was the second son, a captain in the First Carolina Regulars, and was killed on
Morris Island when
Gilmore landed to attack
Charleston in July, 1863.
He, happily, left no widow.
The next was
William Thompson Haskell.
He was captain of Company H, First South Carolina volunteers, and died at the charge of that corps at
Gettysburg while commanding under
A. P. Hill.
Alexander Cheves Haskell lived through the day of
Appomattox.
He was colonel of the Seventh South Carolina Cavalry,
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of ruddy record, and still lives at
Columbia.
His first marriage was one of the most touching romances of the war.
Miss Rebecca Singleton was a dainty and lovely, but high spirited, daughter of that famed old name.
In the still hopeful June of 1861
Mrs. Singleton and her daughter were at the hospital at
Charlottesville, crowded so that
Mrs. Chestnut (as her diary tells) took the young girl for her room-mate.
She was the free chronicler of records.
Miss Singleton and
Captain Haskell were engaged, and he wrote urgently for her consent to marry him at once.
All was so uncertain in war, and he wished to have all his own while he lived.
He got leave, came up to the hospital, and the wedding took place amid bright anticipations and showers of April tears.
There was no single vacant space in the house.
So
Mrs. Chestnut gave up her room to the bridal pair.
Duty called; the groom hurried back to it the day after the wedding.
That day one year later the husband was a widower, with only the news from his far-away baby girl to solace the solitude of his tent.
After the war
Colonel Haskell married
Miss Alice Alexander, sister of
General E. P. Alexander.
She died after becoming the mother of ten children, six of whom are daughters.
A very marked favorite in society and a gallant officer was
John Cleves Haskell,
lieutenant-colonel of light artillery when he surrendered with
Lee. He married
Miss Stella Hampton, who died two decades ago, leaving one daughter and three sons, all now grown up.
About seven years ago
Colonel Haskell married
Miss Lucy Hampton, daughter of
Colonel Frank Hampton, who was killed at
Brandy Station.
They now live in
Columbia.
Very much alive is the sixth
brother, Joseph Cleves Haskell, now a resident of busy
Atlanta and popular in his new home.
When he gave up his sword at
Appomattox he was captain and adjutant-general of the First Artillery Corps, on the staff of
General E. P. Alexander.
He married
Miss Mary Elizabeth Cheves and the pair have a grown famly of three sons and a daughter.
Last in this remarkable family roster comes
Lewis Wardlaw Haskell.
He was but a youth when paroled with the remnant
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of the Army of Northern Virginia, having already served one year as lieutenant of reserves on the
South Carolina coast.
This he gave up to go to the front and serve as a private soldier and later as a courier to
Colonel John C. Haskell.
Such were the exceptional sextet of brothers, whose noble mother sent them to the field and hid her parting tears.
The good old blood of the noted strains that course through the veins of all her name made them stalwart, loyal and leal, and ready when duty called.
They had but one sister, her mother's namesake.
She is now
Mrs. Langdon Cheves, of
Charlotte.