Columbia, South Carolina, is surrounded by many ghostly tales. Some are more well-known than others, but what lurks in the shadows of graveyards, around the University of South Carolina campus, and even on roadways, is a lot of history and folklore that can’t be erased over time.
Another legend that we have never covered is the ghost of General Wade Hampton III. Some believe sightings of the General are a warning to people in Columbia that something bad is about to occur. It is thought that the story dates to the spring of 1914, when a man walked his dog near the State House grounds. The dog began to slow, while the man continued walking with his four-legged friend. Just before reaching the corner of Bull and Blanding Streets, the dog started barking again and stopped in its tracks.
The man looked above the tree line and saw a ghostly man riding a horse. Other people also observed, and the next night a crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of its second appearance. It was speculated that the horseman was one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, while others claimed it was the ghost of General Wade Hampton.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.
