Underappreciated......Wade Hampton

[War Horse]

I actually can't blame him for that. Sherman blamed the burning of Columbia on Hampton to stir up discontent, and Hampton had every right to be mortally offended by that. That, and let's remember that Hampton lost everything he had, had his brother and son killed in battle, and another son badly wounded. I suspect you'd be a little bitter too.

And he held a bitter resent of Sherman until his death.

 

[Silverfox]

And he he held a bitter resent of Sherman until his death.

I can identify with that resentment----Sherman is not one of my favorites.

 

[War Horse]

I can identify with that resentment----Sherman is not one of my favorites.

He did what was necessary,?regardless what some may think.

 

[Silverfox]

He did what was necessary,?regardless what some may think.

Not saying he was not effective---It is hard to support one's army when your food has been stolen---And its hard to keep men in the field when their families are in distress. Wade and I just did not appreciate his methods.

 

[War Horse]

Not saying he was not effective---It is hard to support one's army when your food has been stolen---And its hard to keep men in the field when their families are in distress. Wade and I just did not appreciate his methods.

Understood, despirate measures required despirate actions.

 

[James N.]

Hampton is overshadowed by Stuart and Stuart's accomplishments (the two rides around the AoP). Still, I'd rather have a less egotistical commander who was concerned with performing the mission of the cavalry than any glory rides. Stuart with his wagon raid failed to provide the screening and intelligence/reconnaissance Lee needed during the Gettysburg campaign.

It didn't help that when what was arguably Hampton's "showiest" performance - the so-called Beefsteak Raid - was transformed into a motion picture there was NO sign of Hampton himself. Instead a one-eyed eypatch-wearing Richard Widmark was the leader (reluctantly "assisted" by William Holden as the title character Alvarez Kelly) in a totally ridiculous re-telling. At least Stuart was most memorably portrayed by none other than Errol Flynn! (We'll ignore the horrible Stuart from TV's The Gray Ghost.)

 

[sjw83071]

It didn't help that when what was arguably Hampton's "showiest" performance - the so-called Beefsteak Raid - was transformed into a motion picture there was NO sign of Hampton himself.

You raise a good point. We all have views shaped by movies often without considering the historical accuracy. If the movie (which I have not seen, but have never heard anything good about) had actually featured Hampton and in a favorable light, that would make an impression on people. Especially the ones who would never crack a book.

 

[Viper21]

https://emergingcivilwar.com/2017/02/16/wade-hampton-and-judson-kilpatrick/

Here's a good account

What a great read ! Glad I read this. Would love to have a been a fly on the wall for this exchange....

 

[sjw83071]

What a great read ! Glad I read this. Would love to have a been a fly on the wall for this exchange....

Me too!