CONFEDERATE MILITARY SERVICE
OF
CHARLES MILES PATTERSON HAMPTON
Co. H 35th ALABAMA INFANTRY
Co. F 5th ALABAMA CAVALRY
POW CAMP DOUGLAS, ILL
CSA
1837-1909
Submitted by: WILLIAM E PORTER
Charles M. P. Hampton enlisted in Co. H, 35th Alabama Infantry Confederate Army of Tennessee on March 11, 1862 at Moulton, Alabama by Judge Gibson for the duration of the war. (American Civil War 1861-1865)
The 35th Alabama Infantry went to Louisiana and was under the command of General J. C. Breckinridge (former U.S. Vice President) was active at BATON ROUGE and PORT HUDSON. Later the unit fought with General Rust at CORINTH and General Buford at CHAMPION'S HILL and JACKSON. The unit also fought at BIG BLACK RIVER and in the swamps North of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
On January 28th, 1863 Charles Hampton was a patient at the Confederate hospital at Enterprise, Alabama. Most of the 35th Alabama was hospitalized with swamp fever.
After the fall of Vicksburg, the Confederate Army of Tennessee was scattered and demoralized. The Confederate Army finally regrouped and rearmed at Dalton, Georgia during the winter of 1863-64. During this time period after the surrender at Vicksburg, many Confederate soldiers went home to take care of their family. Charles Hampton was one of these soldiers.
During this winter time period Charles Miles Patterson Hampton joined Co. F, 5th Alabama Cavalry under the command of Colonel Josiah Patterson. When Charles joined the 5th Alabama Cavalry he dropped the Miles Patterson (middle name) and was called Charles Hampton.
The 5th Alabama Cavalry guarded the railroad which was in Northern Alabama which was a vital supply route for the Confederacy. Northern Alabama also had a lot of Union sympathizers and one Tom Clark who was a robber and a thief who took advantage of the absence of the men during the war and committed many crimes. The 5th Alabama Cavalry was operating near Charles Hampton's farm which allowed him to keep his family some what safe from harm.
The next muster roll of the 35th Alabama Infantry taken February 20th 1864 at Dalton, Georgia shows Charles as deserted. He didn't desert the Confederacy as he was in Co. F, 5th Alabama Cavalry on patrol in Northern Alabama at this same period of time. The transfer papers eventually caught up with the 35th Alabama Infantry as Charles was never brought up on charges of desertion.
The 5th Alabama Cavalry was in General Roddey's Brigade, and took an active part in the operations in East Tennessee and Northern Alabama. Later the unit transferred to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana and Charles Hampton fought at BRICES'S CROSS ROADS under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Charles Hampton also was in the battles at Pond Springs and Courtland, Alabama.
Confederate Private Charles Miles Patterson Hampton was captured July 25, 1864 in the battle of Courtland, Alabama. See report of Colonel Charles C. Doolittle ( July 28, 1864) below. See (July 25,1864)
Nashville and on to Camp Douglas, Illinois. Charles arrived July 28th 1864 and was discharged from the prison hospital on June 17th, 1865. Several weeks after the end of the war. Charles was sick, with no money or food. He walked all the way from Chicago, Illinois to Moulton, Alabama. Most of the distance was traveled barefoot as Charles boots were worn out.
Charles was taken to the Union military prison at Louisville, Ky. July 26, 1864 then shipped by railroad to Nashville and on to Camp Douglas, Illinois. Charles arrived July 28th 1864 and was discharged from the prison hospital on June 17th, 1865. Several weeks after the end of the war. Charles was sick, with no money or food. He walked all the way from Chicago, Illinois to Moulton, Alabama. Most of the distance was traveled barefoot as Charles boots were worn out.
Charles oath of allegiance shows Co. F 5th Ala. Cav. Pvt. Place of residence Lawrence Co. Ala. complexion light, hair light, eyes blue, height 5 ft 8 in, oath of allegiance at Hillsboro Ala. * signature mark (no date)
Charles M. P. Hampton moved to Texas after the American Civil War was over as his farm in Lawrence County, Moulton, Alabama was destroyed by Union forces. He eventually settled in Erath County, Stephenville, Texas. Charles Hampton spent the rest of his life as a poor sharecropper. He was a faithful member of the Stephenville church of Christ.
Charles Miles Patterson Hampton was born in Lawrence County, Moulton, Alabama on July 9, 1837 and died on November 9, 1909 at 72 years old. Charles M. P. Hampton was buried in the Ramsey Cemetery in Erath County, located off of the Lingleville highway about 3 miles from Stephenville, Texas.
Charles M. P. Hampton received his Confederate headstone 95 years after his death. The headstone dedication was held on December 19, 2004. The 2nd Texas Frontier Camp 1904 of De Leon, Texas Sons of Confederate Veterans and the General Hiram B. Granbury Chapter 683 of Granbury, Texas United Daughters of the Confederacy held the ceremony. Special thanks to Commander Thomas Harrison (SCV) and to Joyce Whitis (UDC) for all of the work and preparation for the ceremony.
National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
35th Regiment Alabama Infantry Co. H CMP Hampton M374 Roll 18
5th Regiment Alabama Cavalry Co. F Charles Hampton M374 Roll 18
Photo of Charles Miles Patterson Hampton
Co. H 35th ALA. INF. Co. F 5th ALA. CAV. C.S.A.
P.O.W. Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois
and daughter, Oma Hampton, 1908 - Stephenville, Texas
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Charles Hamptons, great grandson of William Edward Porter lives in Phoenix, Arizona. A compatriot in the Sul Ross Camp 1457 Bryan / College Station, Central Brigade, Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans.