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Wade Hampton

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Wade Hampton

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Auction Date:2014 Apr 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Confederate military officer and politician (1818–1902) who replaced J. E. B. Stuart as Lee’s Chief of Cavalry following Stuart’s death on the battlefield. A decade after the war, he was elected Governor of South Carolina, and later served as the state’s senator. ALS, eight pages, lightly-lined two sets of adjoining sheets, 4.75 x 8, September 14, 1867. Letter to Reverend John William Jones, former chaplain of the Army of Northern Virginia, who published The Personal Reminiscences of General Robert E. Lee in 1875. In part: “The sketch of myself in the Record of this date, signed with your initials, makes me refer to your letter of the 14th Dec. last in reference to the Bellefield expedition. Last winter I met Maj. Norman Starke, who was on Gen. Hill's staff & from him learned how the mistake to which I called your attention had arisen. As it appeared from the statement of Maj. Starke that this mistake arose very naturally. I intended to write to you in regard to it & your letter has been lying on my table for some months, that I might give you the facts obtained from Maj. S. who though not present with Gen Hill on this occasion alluded to, was cognizant of all the facts. He was under the same impression that you were, getting it from the same source, that Hill changed his route on my advice not on discussing the matter, he supported the solution of the whole error. Gen. Lee wrote to me, to say that Hill had been ordered to move his command either in the direction of Stony Creek Depot or that of Bellefield, as he found necessary, & directing me to cooperate with him against the enemy. When he wrote this letter the movement of the enemy was not developed, & I did not receive this communication until Warren had passed Stony Creek & I was engaging him on the Halifax Road. About this same time the letter reached me, two of Hill's staff joined me & I gave them full information of the position & movement of the enemy, telling them that I was sure that the movement was against Bellefield. I wrote too to Gen Hill to this effect & urged him to push on to Bellefield, saying that I should go there at once to check Warren. I have no doubt the mistake you were led into arose, & very naturally so, from this communication of mine to Hill. I did advise him go to Bellefield, but not until the enemy had passed the other point Stony Creek, & when indeed Hill himself was en route towards Bellefield. I thought that it was due to you to let you know these facts which explain fully how the misapprehension as to my advice to Hill came about, & which show that neither you or Hill's staff were to blame in the slightest degree for the mistake. As you have done me the honor to select my name for a sketch, I give you some…which may assist you. After Gettysburg, l was promoted Maj. Gen. & I had command of the 1st Div. Cavy. of which I assumed cmd. just as the enemy attacked the 7th Jn. near Stevensburg. My Div. was engaged in all the subsequent movements of that campaign. On the 1st Mar. 64 Kilpatrick with 5000 men made his raid on Rd. We attacked him at him at Atlee's Stn. with 275 men…drove him from his camp & took prisoners from 5 Regts. This attack was made at 12 o'clock at night in a snow-storm. When Grant crossed the Rapidan I moved up to Shady Grove & we participated in all the fights in Spotsylvania Co. After Stuart's death his divisions were kept separate till the 11th when I was placed in cmd of the corps. On the 28th May, we had a very hard fight at Hawe's Shop, where our loss was heavy & that of the enemy over 1000. Fought on the same ground on 3rd June & drove the enemy out.” In fine condition, with light toning.

On December 7, 1864, Union general Gouverneur K. Warren was marching toward Stony Creek along the Weldon Railroad, destroying it along the way to disrupt the important Confederate supply line. Upon hearing of the Union's movements, Hampton dispatched two divisions of his cavalry in pursuit; at the same time, General Lee sent the telegram that Hampton mentions in this letter, informing him that he had sent A. P. Hill out to intercept Warren before reaching Bellefield and Hicksford, two towns held by the Confederacy on opposite banks of the Meherrin River. Hill's command could not catch up to Warren, but Hampton managed to engage him at Hicksford and prevented them from crossing the bridge to Bellefield, and Warren decided to withdraw. As the Union troops marched toward Petersburg they burnt everything in sight, often under the influence of 'Apple Jack whiskey' stolen from the townspeople, leading this skirmish to be informally known as the 'Apple Jack Raid.' Even though he had ultimately been repulsed, Warren did considerable damage to the Confederate supply line, which was not fully repaired until March 1865.