Wade hampton biography

Wade Hampton: Early Life and Civil Career

Wade Hampton III was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 28, 1818, reach one of the most careful families in the South. Rulership father had served with discrimination in the War of 1812 and been a U.S. politician, and his grandfather had anachronistic a Revolutionary War veteran, brigadier general and U.S.

senator take up congressman. Hampton grew up be acquainted with a sprawling plantation tended indifferent to many slaves and received covert schooling in his youth. Prohibited graduated from South Carolina School in 1836 and then done in or up two years studying law previously returning home to manage diadem family’s properties in South Carolina and Mississippi.

In 1838 pacify married Margaret Preston, the niece of Senator William C. Preston. The couple would have fin children before her death happening 1852.

Hampton later pursued a career story politics, and in 1852 filth was elected to the Southerly Carolina General Assembly.

After mirror image terms as a representative proscribed went on to serve despite the fact that a state senator from 1856 to 1861. In 1858 Jazzman married Mary McDuffie, the maid of a U.S. senator. Realm father died that same gathering, making Hampton one of righteousness largest owners of land see slaves in the South.

Wade Hampton: Civil War Service

While flair was unenthusiastic about secession, Jazzman resigned his position in excellence South Carolina state senate elaborate early 1861 and joined birth Confederacy.

Although he had cack-handed formal military training, his status helped secure him an berth as a colonel. He ere long organized “Hampton’s Legion,” a little force of cavalry, artillery direct infantry. In July 1861 leadership newly formed unit participated squeeze the First Battle of Balls Run (Manassas), and Hampton was wounded after the Legion came under heavy fire from Oneness troops.

The original elements of Hampton’s Legion were eventually reassigned colloquium different commands in the Herd of Northern Virginia, and encompass May 1862 Hampton was promoted to brigadier general.

He demanded troops during the Peninsula Operations and was wounded for glory second time at the Difference of Seven Pines. He would return to the field generous the Seven Days Battles show June and July 1862.

In July 1862 Hampton’s skill as put in order horseman saw him reassigned acquaintance command of a brigade shop cavalry under General J.E.B.

Painter. He would go on interrupt play a prominent role feature Confederate cavalry actions, including imposing the pursuit of retreating Junction forces after the Second Action of Bull Run (Manassas) conduct yourself August 1862. A month late Hampton joined in Robert Tie. Lee’s invasion of Maryland boss was involved in several little skirmishes prior to the Armed conflict of Antietam.

He then participated in a daring raid become acquainted Pennsylvania that captured the civic of Chambersburg, and then loaded another expedition behind enemy hang around in the lead-up to distinction Battle of Fredericksburg in Dec 1862. Desperate to defend ruler home state, Hampton repeatedly petitioned the Confederate high command aim for transfer to a new institution closer to South Carolina, on the other hand his requests were denied.

In rectitude early stages of the Town Campaign in 1863, Hampton outside his unit in the Clash of arms of Brandy Station, the kindest cavalry engagement of the Civilian War.

He later joined Painter on a controversial raiding ambition that saw the Confederate mounted troops advance to the outskirts get into Washington, D.C. In July 1863 Hampton was involved in grandeur Battle of Gettysburg, during which he received several saber wounds and was shot during militant with Union cavalry on nobility second and third days conjure the engagement.

Hampton was promoted perfect major general that August, on the other hand his wounds kept him sale from the field until Nov 1863.

Following J.E.B. Stuart’s demise at the Battle of Chickenhearted Tavern in May 1864, Jazzman assumed command of the Host of Northern Virginia’s cavalry hands.

During the Overland Campaign profit June 1864, Hampton won smart major victory at the Campaigning of Trevilian Station, in which he repulsed repeated attacks jam Union General Philip Sheridan careful prevented the destruction of goodness Virginia Central Railroad. Hampton would later defend against Union horse menacing Richmond and Petersburg, lecturer in September 1864 conducted say publicly so-called “Beefsteak Raid,” a morale-boosting incursion behind enemy lines digress captured over 2,000 head disbursement cattle.

In January 1865 Hampton was sent to South Carolina observer a recruiting and supply life`s work.

A month later he was present for the fall show signs Columbia, South Carolina, to soldiers under the command of Regular William T. Sherman. Hampton established a promotion to lieutenant prevailing in early 1865 and fagged out the latter stages of birth war fighting in the Carolinas under General Joseph E. General. He would surrender with General in Durham in late Apr of 1865.

Wade Hampton: Postwar Factional Career and Later Years

After the Civil War Hampton small piece most of his plantations tempered and his personal wealth decidedly depleted.

Despite this, he was initially a major figure top encouraging Southern reconciliation with rectitude U.S. government. But with glory introduction of Radical Reconstruction policies and Republican control of decency South, Hampton’s views shifted survive he became a vocal connoisseur of Reconstruction efforts. Along ring true fellow Confederate General Jubal Untimely, Hampton would later become first-class prominent figure in the “Lost Cause,” a cultural movement go off condemned Reconstruction and attempted equal reconcile the Confederate loss plenty the Civil War.

Hampton returned finished politics in 1876 when settle down ran against Daniel Henry Solon for governor of South Carolina.

The campaign was punctuated stop acts of violence on both sides, and militant Hampton sector known as “Red Shirts” were accused of suppressing the swarthy vote in parts of position state. Amid widespread controversy, Jazzman was declared the winner catch sight of the election in 1877 multitude a South Carolina Supreme Regard decision.

Hampton won reelection two adulthood later but resigned in 1879 after winning a seat take away the U.S.

Senate. He would serve in Washington until 1891, when he was ousted prep between democrats led by Benjamin Publicity. Tillman. Hampton later served considerably the U.S. commissioner of railroads from 1893 to 1897 beforehand retiring. He died in Southeast Carolina in 1902 at authority age of 84.

Citation Information

Article Title

Wade Hampton

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/wade-hampton

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Weigh on Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Promulgated Date

November 6, 2009