Member-only story

Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior, Conservative Statesman, and Symbol of the Lost Cause

Anton Foster

·5.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior Conservative Statesman

4 min read

683 View Claps

38 Respond

Save

Listen

Wade Hampton Confederate Warrior Conservative Statesman Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior Conservative Statesman

Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) was a prominent Confederate general, conservative statesman, and a leading figure in the Lost Cause movement. He played a significant role in the American Civil War and in the post-Reconstruction era.

Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior, Conservative Statesman

by Walter Brian Cisco

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2852 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages

Early Life and Military Career

Hampton was born into a wealthy plantation-owning family in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from the University of South Carolina and pursued a career in law. However, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Hampton joined the Confederate Army as a cavalry officer.

Hampton quickly rose through the ranks, distinguishing himself as a skilled tactician and a fearless leader. He commanded the Hampton Legion, a unit that became renowned for its cavalry charges. Hampton fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Gettysburg

Hampton played a crucial role in the Battle of Gettysburg, leading a cavalry charge against Union artillery on the third day of the battle. The charge was initially successful, but the Union troops eventually repulsed it. Hampton was wounded in the fighting, but he managed to escape.

Sherman's March

In 1865, Hampton was tasked with defending South Carolina from Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's march through the state. Hampton's forces harassed Sherman's army, but they were unable to stop its advance. Hampton eventually surrendered to Sherman in April 1865.

Political Career

After the war, Hampton returned to South Carolina and entered politics as a Democrat. He served as governor of South Carolina from 1876 to 1879. During his tenure, Hampton worked to restore white supremacy and to suppress the political and economic rights of African Americans.

Hampton also served in the United States Senate from 1879 to 1891. As a senator, Hampton was a staunch defender of white supremacy and the Lost Cause. He opposed federal intervention in Southern affairs and supported policies that disfranchised African Americans.

Later Years

Hampton retired from politics in 1891 and returned to South Carolina. He spent his final years managing his plantations and advocating for the preservation of the Lost Cause. Hampton died in 1902 at the age of 84.

Legacy

Wade Hampton is a controversial figure in American history. He is remembered as a skilled military leader and a conservative statesman, but he is also criticized for his role in suppressing the rights of African Americans.

Hampton's legacy is complex and contested. His supporters view him as a hero who fought for the South's independence, while his critics see him as a symbol of white supremacy and oppression.

The Lost Cause

Hampton was a leading figure in the Lost Cause movement, which aimed to glorify the Confederacy and to promote the idea that the South had fought a noble fight for its independence. The Lost Cause movement was successful in shaping the narrative of the Civil War, but its legacy is also controversial.

Today, the Lost Cause is often seen as a myth that was used to justify racism and white supremacy. However, it is important to remember that the Lost Cause was also a powerful force that shaped American history. Hampton played a key role in promoting the Lost Cause, and his legacy is forever linked to the movement.

Wade Hampton was a complex and controversial figure who played a significant role in the American Civil War and in the Reconstruction era. He was a skilled military leader, a conservative statesman, and a leading figure in the Lost Cause movement. Hampton's legacy is still debated today, but there is no doubt that he was a major force in American history.

Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior, Conservative Statesman

by Walter Brian Cisco

4.1 out of 5