Hampton's Cattle Raid

[CSA Today]

As the summer of 1864 ended with General Grant's army still laying siege to Petersburg, Southern sources learned of a large herd of cattle being held on the James River near Coggin's Point. Knowing that this beef was to be issued to Northern soldiers, Confederate cavalry commander General Wade Hampton received permission to do a little cattle rustling. Leaving their camps on September 14th about 3,000 Southern cavalry and four artillery pieces began the ride of more than 100 miles around the Union Lines.

Successfully reaching their destination two days later, the Confederates overwhelmed the guards and rounded up some 2,000 head of cattle. To the south and at Sycamore Church, another contingent of Southern cavalry skirmished with a Federal outpost, capturing most of the command. After re-crossing the Blackwater Swamp, Hampton's horsemen sent the captured herd on a more southerly route across the Jerusalem Plank Road at Hawkinsville, leading towards Freeman's Ford on the Nottoway River. To the northwest near Belsches' Mill at Ebenezer Church, Confederate cavalry fought a delaying action while attempting to hold back Union General Henry E. Davies troopers from retaking the passing cattle. They were successful. Davies fell back to Petersburg that evening.

By morning of September 17th, Hampton was back in his lines with the fresh beef for Lee's commissary. His men had captured more than 300 Union prisoners and 2,486 steers (about 2 million pounds of beef). Confederate losses during the foray were 19 killed, 47 wounded and four missing. It was one of the most brilliant cavalry raids of the war.

The Washington Star said of the raid, "As a piece of raiding rascality - it was perfect." Lincoln agreed, saying, "It was the slickest piece of cattle rustling I ever heard of." During a rather strained dinner missing a juicy beef steak, Grant was asked by one of the officers who had attempted to stop Hampton, "General, how long will it take to starve out Lee and take Richmond?"

Grant removed the cigar from his mouth, studied the ash intently for a minute then quietly replied, "Forever, if you keep feeding Lee's army with beef."


Source: Virginia Civil War Trails, Glory at a Gallop: Tales of the Confederate Cavalry, By William Riley Brooksher,

 

[Rebforever]

View attachment 65876

As the summer of 1864 ended with General Grant's army still laying siege to Petersburg, Southern sources learned of a large herd of cattle being held on the James River near Coggin's Point. Knowing that this beef was to be issued to Northern soldiers, Confederate cavalry commander General Wade Hampton received permission to do a little cattle rustling. Leaving their camps on September 14th about 3,000 Southern cavalry and four artillery pieces began the ride of more than 100 miles around the Union Lines.

Successfully reaching their destination two days later, the Confederates overwhelmed the guards and rounded up some 2,000 head of cattle. To the south and at Sycamore Church, another contingent of Southern cavalry skirmished with a Federal outpost, capturing most of the command. After re-crossing the Blackwater Swamp, Hampton's horsemen sent the captured herd on a more southerly route across the Jerusalem Plank Road at Hawkinsville, leading towards Freeman's Ford on the Nottoway River. To the northwest near Belsches' Mill at Ebenezer Church, Confederate cavalry fought a delaying action while attempting to hold back Union General Henry E. Davies troopers from retaking the passing cattle. They were successful. Davies fell back to Petersburg that evening.

By morning of September 17th, Hampton was back in his lines with the fresh beef for Lee's commissary. His men had captured more than 300 Union prisoners and 2,486 steers (about 2 million pounds of beef). Confederate losses during the foray were 19 killed, 47 wounded and four missing. It was one of the most brilliant cavalry raids of the war.

The Washington Star said of the raid, "As a piece of raiding rascality - it was perfect." Lincoln agreed, saying, "It was the slickest piece of cattle rustling I ever heard of." During a rather strained dinner missing a juicy beef steak, Grant was asked by one of the officers who had attempted to stop Hampton, "General, how long will it take to starve out Lee and take Richmond?"

Grant removed the cigar from his mouth, studied the ash intently for a minute then quietly replied, "Forever, if you keep feeding Lee's army with beef."


Source: Virginia Civil War Trails, Glory at a Gallop: Tales of the Confederate Cavalry, By William Riley Brooksher,

THAT is really funny!!

 

[Carronade]

View attachment 65876 During a rather strained dinner missing a juicy beef steak, Grant was asked by one of the officers who had attempted to stop Hampton, "General, how long will it take to starve out Lee and take Richmond?"

Grant removed the cigar from his mouth, studied the ash intently for a minute then quietly replied, "Forever, if you keep feeding Lee's army with beef."

That fellow missed a real good opportunity to keep his mouth shut!

 

[rhettbutler1865]

View attachment 65876

As the summer of 1864 ended with General Grant's army still laying siege to Petersburg, Southern sources learned of a large herd of cattle being held on the James River near Coggin's Point. Knowing that this beef was to be issued to Northern soldiers, Confederate cavalry commander General Wade Hampton received permission to do a little cattle rustling. Leaving their camps on September 14th about 3,000 Southern cavalry and four artillery pieces began the ride of more than 100 miles around the Union Lines.

Successfully reaching their destination two days later, the Confederates overwhelmed the guards and rounded up some 2,000 head of cattle. To the south and at Sycamore Church, another contingent of Southern cavalry skirmished with a Federal outpost, capturing most of the command. After re-crossing the Blackwater Swamp, Hampton's horsemen sent the captured herd on a more southerly route across the Jerusalem Plank Road at Hawkinsville, leading towards Freeman's Ford on the Nottoway River. To the northwest near Belsches' Mill at Ebenezer Church, Confederate cavalry fought a delaying action while attempting to hold back Union General Henry E. Davies troopers from retaking the passing cattle. They were successful. Davies fell back to Petersburg that evening.

By morning of September 17th, Hampton was back in his lines with the fresh beef for Lee's commissary. His men had captured more than 300 Union prisoners and 2,486 steers (about 2 million pounds of beef). Confederate losses during the foray were 19 killed, 47 wounded and four missing. It was one of the most brilliant cavalry raids of the war.

The Washington Star said of the raid, "As a piece of raiding rascality - it was perfect." Lincoln agreed, saying, "It was the slickest piece of cattle rustling I ever heard of." During a rather strained dinner missing a juicy beef steak, Grant was asked by one of the officers who had attempted to stop Hampton, "General, how long will it take to starve out Lee and take Richmond?"

Grant removed the cigar from his mouth, studied the ash intently for a minute then quietly replied, "Forever, if you keep feeding Lee's army with beef."


Source: Virginia Civil War Trails, Glory at a Gallop: Tales of the Confederate Cavalry, By William Riley Brooksher,[/QAbsolutely great thread! I have a Barnum CW Chilmark of "The Beefsteak Raid"--never knew it was this particular raid until now! I was too embarrassed to ask Francis (Barnum) --"why is this important enough to make a sculpture of?" Now I know why! Thanks, CSA!

 

[rhettbutler1865]

I sincerely hope you can read the above response from me--it answered a question I have wondered all year about!

 

[rhettbutler1865]

A "juicy steak" would not appeal to Grant, anyway. He detested the sight of blood, and insisted all his meat be cooked to black...

 

[TinCan]

Do you guys know if one of my favorite William Holden movies, Alvarez Kelly, was based on this raid?

 

[rhettbutler1865]

Do you guys know if one of my favorite William Holden movies, Alvarez Kelly, was based on this raid?

Yes...it is.

 

[donna]

That is a good movie.

 

[texaswildcat]

The Blue and Gray Magazine has one issue dedicated to this event. I would recommend it and it is quite detailed.

 

[Youngblood]

I believe the Confederates also picked up a fair number of Henry rifles and ammo in this raid. Like 200. I wonder what other goodies they came away with.

 

[Lee]

I believe the Confederates also picked up a fair number of Henry rifles and ammo in this raid. Like 200. I wonder what other goodies they came away with.

This is true and General Hampton carried his for the remainder of the war. But captured Henry rifles had the same drawback as captured Spencers in that the Confederates only had the ammunition they captured to get more they had to capture more as Richmond could not manufacture any.

 

[rhettbutler1865]

Welcome to the forum, Youngblood! Absolutely a wealth of knowledge here! Hope you enjoy it as much as I am...

 

[texaswildcat]

About the Henry rifles. Those statements are true. One Confederate remarked that though he liked the Henry, it was easier to load a Sharps.

 

[ole]

I believe the Confederates also picked up a fair number of Henry rifles and ammo in this raid. Like 200. I wonder what other goodies they came away with.

If the Confederates had been able to make ammunition for the Spencer and Henry, the result might have been different. But they couldn't, didn't, and the result is what we know it to be.

Meanwhile, the Beefsteak Raid was brilliant and successful. However, it was not enough. 3,ooo beeves do not feed 30,00o men for very long.

 

[Alex Scotland]

Great story thanks for sharing

 

[Rebforever]

A "juicy steak" would not appeal to Grant, anyway. He detested the sight of blood, and insisted all his meat be cooked to black...

Maybe the reason Grant couldn't get General Lee out of Petersburg was because Lee had the beef and Grant had the potatoes!

 

[Blessmag]

Do you guys know if one of my favorite William Holden movies, Alvarez Kelly, was based on this raid?

This film was on today in the Twin Cities. Never saw it before. Not too bad once you get past all the 'romance' stuff

 

[MRB1863]

"Forever, if you keep feeding Lee's army with beef."

I've gotta say..."now here's a real thinker"!!!

 

[USS ALASKA]

Anniversary Bump

14 Sept 1864

Virginia. Confederate Major-General Wade Hampton departed with three cavalry brigades to make a raid on a herd of cattle gathered for the Union army at Coggin's Point, six miles below City Point.

https://www.wadehamptoncamp.org/beefsk-map.jpg

In his after-action report, Hampton wrote: "the command returned to their old quarters after an absence of three days, during which they had marched upward of 100 miles, defeating the enemy in two fights, and bringing from his lines in safety a large amount of captured property, together with 304 prisoners. Of the 2,486 cattle captured 2,468 have been brought in, and I hope [to] get the few remaining ones. Three guidons were taken and eleven wagons brought in safely, several others having been destroyed. Three camps of the enemy were burned, after securing from them some very valuable stores, including quite a number of blankets. My loss was 10 killed, 47 wounded, and 4 missing."

Full article here - https://www.wadehamptoncamp.org/hist-bs.html

Hampton's "Beefsteak Raid"..... | Eastern Theater

In September 1864, Wade Hampton led a raid behind union lines that became know as "The Beefsteak Raid". This raid ranks right up there with any raid by the other great cavalry men of the Civil War. Hampton and his riders went behind union lines and absconded with all of Grant's cattle herd...

civilwartalk.com

The beefsteak raid of 1864 - short video | Eastern Theater

The youtube channel I am a part of recently released a short video on the beefsteak raid of 1864. Hope you will consider giving it a watch, feedback is most welcome, both here and on the video.

civilwartalk.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA