Wade hampton biography

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 28, 1818, Wade Hampton III was heir to one of the largest fortunes in the South. Wade Hampton III was a proficient businessman and legislator, who had misgivings about the slavery system. In 1860 Hampton was against secession but followed his state’s decision. Hampton had no military training or experience, but he used his own money to recruit and supply a legion of 600 troops. With the rank of colonel he led his troops into Virginia. At the start of the war Hampton was 43 years old and, unlike many young recruits – North and South – Hampton did not romanticize war. He understood that war is hellish.

Hampton’s forces fought at the Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861.  In 1862 at the Battle of Seven Pines, Hampton was shot in the foot, but he refused to leave the fighting. The surgeon removed the bullet while he was still on horseback, directing his soldiers. Hampton’s cool demeanor and bravery under fire earned him a promotion to brigadier general, and he was given a command post in Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry.

Under Stuart’s command, Hampton participated in many cavalry raids into Maryland and Pennsylvania and continued to display valor and courage on the battlefield 1862 and 1863. His adaptability and leadership earned him the trust of Stuart, so Hampton was given personal command of several cavalry raids into Union territory. At Brandy Station, Wade Hampton’s younger brother Frank, who was under Wade Hampton’s command, was killed.  At a battle near Upperville, Virginia, on June 21, 1863, Hampton led a charge that forced the Federals to retreat.

Hampton led a cavalry brigade during the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863 and the South Carolinian was severely injured during the battle: he was slashed twice in the head with sabers and was hit with artillery shrapnel.  For his bravery, Stuart recommend

American soldier and politician

"Senator Hampton" redirects here. For the New York State Senate member, see William H. Hampton.

Wade Hampton III (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was the scion of one of the richest families in the ante-bellum South, owning thousands of acres of cotton land in South Carolina and Mississippi, as well as thousands of slaves. He became a senior general in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. He also had a career as a leading Democratic politician in state and national affairs.

By 1877, at the end of the Reconstruction era, Hampton was a lead

Wade Hampton: Early Life and Political Career

Wade Hampton III was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 28, 1818, into one of the most influential families in the South. His father had served with distinction in the War of 1812 and been a U.S. senator, and his grandfather had been a Revolutionary War veteran, brigadier general and U.S. senator and congressman. Hampton grew up on a sprawling plantation tended by many slaves and received private schooling in his youth. He graduated from South Carolina College in 1836 and then spent two years studying law before returning home to manage his family’s properties in South Carolina and Mississippi. In 1838 he married Margaret Preston, the niece of Senator William C. Preston. The couple would have five children before her death in 1852.

Hampton later pursued a career in politics, and in 1852 he was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly. After two terms as a representative he went on to serve as a state senator from 1856 to 1861. In 1858 Hampton married Mary McDuffie, the daughter of a U.S. senator. His father died that same year, making Hampton one of the largest owners of land and slaves in the South.

Wade Hampton: Civil War Service

While he was unenthusiastic about secession, Hampton resigned his position in the South Carolina state senate in early 1861 and joined the Confederacy. Although he had no formal military training, his prestige helped secure him an appointment as a colonel. He soon organized “Hampton’s Legion,” a small force of cavalry, artillery and infantry. In July 1861 the newly formed unit participated in the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), and Hampton was wounded after the Legion came under heavy fire from Union troops.

The original elements of Hampton’s Leg

American military officer, planter and politician

Wade Hampton (c. 1750 – February 4, 1835) was an American military officer, planter and politician. A two-term U.S. congressman, he may have been the wealthiest planter, and one of the largest slave holders in the United States, at the time of his death.

Biography

Born in the early 1750s, sources vary on Hampton's exact birth year, listing it as 1751, 1752, or 1754. He was the scion of the politically important Hampton family, which was influential in South Carolina state politics almost into the 20th century. His second great-grandfather Thomas Hampton (1623–1690) was born in England before moving to the English colony of Virginia. Thomas Hampton's father, William, a wool merchant, sailed from England and appears on the 1618 passenger list of the Bona Novo. The ship was blown off course and arrived in Newfoundland. It would arrive in Jamestown the following year, 1619. He would send for his wife and three children to arrive in Jamestown in 1620.

Military career

Hampton served in the American Revolutionary War as a captain in the 2nd South Caroli