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HISTORY OF HAMPTON LEGION INFANTRY COMPANY
"G" The Hampton Legion (less companies "G" & "H") arrived in Richmond in May 1861, where Jefferson Davis presented the regimental flag to the unit. They were then transferred to Manasses Junction in July 1861, unattached to any larger command.
On July 21, 1861, Union forces crossed the Bull Run Creek at Sudley Ford: outflanking the Confederate Army under General Beauregard. The Hampton Legion, operating independently, took position along Robinson Lane and checked the advance of the Union Army, allowing General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson time to deploy his men at the top of Henry House Hill. The Legion then retired behind Jackson's "stonewall", regroup and joined in the counterattack, capturing a Federal Battery. They played a key role in the Confederate victory at First Manassas (Bull Run).
The Claremont Rifles and Company "H" joined the Legion late in 1861: the Hampton Legion Infantry was brigaded with the 18th Georgia and assigned to the II Corps under General Jackson. The unit saw action during McClellan's Peninsular Campaign at Ethan's Landing and Seven Pines during the Spring of 1862.
The Legion and the 18th Georgia were then brigaded with the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas, completing General Hood's "Texas Brigade", part of the I Corps commanded by General James Longstreet. On August 29th, 1862, Federal forces under General Pope attacked "Stonewall" Jackson's troops deployed along a railroad cut near Manassas Junction. The next morning Longstreet's Corps smashed into the exposed flank of Pope's army. The Hampton Legion and 5th Texas spearheaded the attack into the 5th New York, which suffered the highest casualty rate during the war.
During September of 1862, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia invaded Maryland. On September 17, 1862, General McClellan attacked Lee's Army on the banks of the Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg. The battle would turn out to be the bloodiest single day in American history. Hood's Texas Brigade, under General Wolford, was in support of General Jackson, near the Dunker Church. With the federals attacking through the Miller cornfield, the Texas Brigade (then considered as General Lee's "shock troops") counterattacked. They banged away at the 6th Wisconsin and 19th Indiana before finally giving way under the Union's superior forces, losing 34 in the battle, including six color bearers.
The unit was reassigned after the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). The Legion was still attached to Longstreet's Corps, but was on garrison duty during the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. The Legion did not participate in the Gettysburg campaign, but fought the rear guard action at Boonesboro during the retreat through Maryland.
After Gettysburg, Longstreet's Corps was sent to support General Bragg's Army of Tennessee. The Legion arrived to fight in the Battle of Chickamauga and joined in the siege of Chattanooga. During the siege, the Legion fought at the Battle of Wauhatchie, one of the rare night engagements of the war. The attack failed to cut the Federal supply lines into Chattanooga and Bragg sent Longstreet's Corps to reinforce Confederate forces fighting General Burnside at Knoxville.
The Legion rejoined Lee's Army, and in March of 1864, were converted to mounted infantry and served as part of Fitzhugh Lee's Cavalry Corps. During May of 1864, General Grant began his campaign through the Wilderness which ended with the Confederate army besieged at Petersburg and Richmond. On April 2, 1865, the Confederate Government abandoned their capital. The Legion was the last unit to leave Richmond. The Claremont Rifles surrendered their arms with the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, Virginia on April 12,1865.
The flag of the Claremont Rifles was not surrendered, but was sent to the home of Captain Spann. The flag is now on display at the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room in Columbia, South Carolina.
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