The Story of Ephraim Hampton

After their marriage, Phyllis Sutherland Hampton and Griggs Hampton moved to a farmhouse located in Daywood, Grayson County, Virginia. Both being Graysonites, Phyllis and Griggs reared a family of fourteen, six girls and eight boys, teaching them to be proud Southerners. Of the eight boys, four fought in the Civil War and three were too old to fight.

The four sons, Thomas, Joseph, Litrille, and William, left for the war on the same day. Requested by Phyllis, the sons and their families gathered at the old farmhouse. After everyone had said their goodbyes, Phyllis announced she would walk the boys down the road as far as she could. So, Phyllis, walking, and her four sons riding their horses, left the farmhouse with the wives and children crying and screaming. Once Phyllis turned around to tell the families to stop crying and be quiet. Walking along behind her sons, Phyllis signaled for them to stop when they got to the end of the road. She went to the boys and called each by his full name. Then she said, "I've gone as far as I can go, so keep your powder dry and trust in God."

Being the famous General Wade Hampton's first cousins might have inspired these Hamptons to be proud Rebels. But whatever the reason, Litrille, Joseph, and Thomas were generals and William (Dilly) was a First lieutenant. Thomas and Billy died in the war, but Litrille and Joseph made it back to their homes in Grayson County.

Joseph's favorite story about the Civil War was how he got his black stallion. In the battle of Manassas, Joseph had his horse shot out from underneath him so he grabbed a mule. With his feet dragging, he shot a northern general off his black stallion. With his forefinger and thumb, Joseph grabbed the bridle and caught the stallion. He named his horse Manassas Jack and proudly rode it home from the war. Later, though Joseph was murdered in Old Town in Grayson County, VA.

As if losing two brothers wasn't enough, Andrew and Alex Hampton (also sons of Phyllis and George) had sons die in the war. Alex Hampton's son, Alfred was killed in the battle of Shiloh while serving under the staff of Albert Sidney Johnson.

Although Dr. Andrew Hampton was too old to serve, he and his wife Polly had two sons and, one son-In-law to fight in the Civil War. Born on June 17,1836, Ephriam, their oldest son, was labeled as probably one of the bravest of all Rebels.

After marrying Sally Jennings and having three sons, John, William (Bud) and Isom, Ephraim joined the Southern army at an early stage or the war. Extremely tall and good-looking, Ephraim had one brother, one brother-in-law, four uncles, and many cousins fighting with the Rebels, (Note: His brother-in-law would have been Solomon Jennings.)

Ephraim's brother, Isom, died of the fever during the war. Alter procuring a wagon, Ephraim started home to Grayson County to take his brother's body back. It was a long trip and on those cold nights Ephraim would lie on the ground under the wagon to sleep. Alter successfully returning his brother's body to Grayson County, Ephraim rejoined the Rebel army.

From a camp in Georgia, Ephraim wrote a letter to his wife and sons in December, 1863. He thanked them for the chestnuts that they had sent him. Ephraim wrote that many soldiers had offered him twenty-five cents apiece for the nuts, but he had eaten them himself. Although he already had a good pair of shoes, he told his family that he would like his calfskin jacket and some pepper. Sometimes he said the soldiers would kill sheep or hogs when they got to suffering from hunger too much. He wanted pepper to add flavor to the meat. Because the soldiers had been killing the stock, he added that there were no hogs to be found unless in a pen.

In his letter, Ephraim also offered that everything was fifty times its value, Apples were fifty cents to one dollar each; ginger cakes, one dollar each; small pies, three dollars each; half a chicken, two dollars; molasses, two dollars a pint; sweet potatoes, one dollar a pound; and flour one dollar a pound. Even though times were bad, Ephraim had not drawn any money yet.

Enclosed in Ephraim's letter to his family were needles. During a battle at Chicamauga on September 20th, he had taken these from a dead Yankee's body.

Ephraim told his family through this letter about a battle at Chattanooga, TN which had taken place on Nov 23-25, 1863. The fighting had begun on Monday at Lookout Mountain and had continued until Thursday about eleven o'clock. With skirmishing at many other points. The Yankees had beaten the Rebels back and came near to getting all their artillery, but got only two pieces. The Rebels spiked the Northerners and ran them over a cliff. On the last day of the fight, the Rebels were giving the Yankees a good fight until the Yanks advanced on the center. Then two brigades were forced to run to Missionary Ridge. That mistake cost the Rebels the battle and all their artillery except for twelve pieces. After the defeat at Chattanooga, Ephraim and his division were forced to retreat to Georgia. Ephraim stated in his letter that the Yankees had "outnumbered us four to one, but our men had stood their ground, they were fair but middling."

Ephraim also added that on the twenty-sixth, the Yankees followed his division, but "...they whipped them back, took three stains of colors, and killed 600 on the field. Then the Yanks disappeared."

Sally Hampton Jennings, Ephraim's sister, received a letter from her husband and Ephraim's best friend, Solomon Jennings, on September 4th, 1861. Solomon stated he had received a letter saying that Sally was sick. He had asked for a pass to see his sick wife, but knew it was in vain. Solomon told Sally that he was lucky to be well because there were so many prevailing diseases. He added that an Army camp was a terrible place to be sick and he had been tending to many of his sick friends.

Ephraim Hampton was killed at the age of 29 during a battle on August 31st, 1864. Ephraim had seen a good friend, believed to be Solomon Jennings, lying on the ground. Throwing off his knapsack and gun so he could move more quickly, Ephraim said, "I'll bring him back or die." But on his attempted rescue, Ephraim was shot in the back and killed. Ephraim's body was never returned to Grayson County.

This article was apparently written by Sally Agnes Hampton Collins. She was the daughter of john Andrew Hampton and grand-daughter of Ephraim Hampton.