Wade Hampton III to Robert William Hughes, October 11, 1852

Algernon Sidney Johnston by Harvey Mitchell (Source: Peter Binckley)

[Wade Hampton III at Columbia, South Carolina, to Robert William Hughes at [Richmond, Virginia], October 11, 1852. Folder 24, Floyd-Johnston-Preston Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary. This is my rough, annotated transcription from a copy graciously provided by William Myers. Extra paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.]

Columbia Oct. 11^th 1852

My Dear Sir

Upon my arrival on the 9^th I rec’d your letter of the 4^th, asking for information as to the death of Mr. Johnston. Much to my regret I was absent when it occurred, & can give you only a few particulars.

He was taken sick but no one had the slightest fear of the result, & all supposed the attack to be merely some slight derangement which would soon pass off.

My father went up to Columbia, to bring him here to his house & Johnston promised to come the next day. On that day however when the carriage went for him he postponed the visit for a day or two.

Several of his friends were with him that night & he insisted that they should all go home, saying he would be well in the morning.

In the night his servant heard him groaning & going to his bedside (about 12 o’clock I think) found him speechless. Several of his friends were immediately summoned, but he never spoke again, dying about 2 A.M.

The Dr. supposes that there was inflammation of the bowels which caused his sudden death.

Every respect which affection & esteem could prompt was paid to his memory, & the town, where he was perhaps more universally beloved than other citizen, honored his remains by a public internment.

I, as one who loved him as a brother, have ordered a tombstone erected over his grave. Several of my family wish to join in its erection, as he was dear to all of us.

There was no one out of my immediate family whose loss I would have mourned as much as his. Indeed he was of my household, & was worthy of the love & esteem I bore him.

I will see to having all his affairs arranged at present, & will do all I can towards their final settlement.

                    With my love to Eliza, I am

                         Yrs very Resp’y

                          W. Hampton Jr.

R. W. Hughes Esq.

[Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) had married Margaret Buchanan Frances Preston (1818-January 27, 1852) in 1838 at Abingdon, Virginia.

Robert William Hughes (1821-1901) had married Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909) in 1850 at the Governor’s Mansion, Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Johnston = Algernon Sidney Johnston (October 17, 1801-September 22, 1852).

My father = Wade Hampton II (1791-1858).]

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]