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|name=Wade Hampton III

|name=Wade Hampton, III

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|party=[[Democrat]]  

|party=[[Democrat]]  

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'''Wade Hampton III''' (1818-1902) was a [[South Carolina]] planter, soldier, and politician especially prominent during the [[Civil War]], [[Reconstruction]], and the post-Reconstruction era. He served in the army of the [[Confederate States of America]] during the war, rising to the rank of lieutenant general and commanding the cavalry of [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Army of Northern Virginia from 1864 to 1865. In South Carolina during Reconstruction, he emerged as a leader of the "[[Redeemers]]," southern [[Democratic]] whites who were opposed to [[Republican]] rule and sought to regain control of their state governments. After Reconstruction ended in South Carolina, Hampton served from 1876 to 1879 as the state's governor, then from 1879 to 1891 as U.S. Senator.  

 

'''Wade Hampton, III''' (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was a [[South Carolina]] planter, soldier, and politician especially prominent during the [[Civil War]], [[Reconstruction]], and the post-Reconstruction era. He served in the army of the [[Confederate States of America]] during the war, rising to the rank of lieutenant general and commanding the cavalry of [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Army of Northern Virginia from 1864 to 1865. In South Carolina during Reconstruction, he emerged as a leader of the "[[Redeemers]]," southern [[Democratic]] whites who were opposed to [[Republican]] rule and sought to regain control of their state governments. After Reconstruction ended in South Carolina, Hampton served from 1876 to 1879 as the state's governor, then from 1879 to 1891 as U.S. Senator.  

One of the wealthiest planters and largest slaveholders in the antebellum South, Hampton was widely regarded as a typical figure of the region's planter-aristocracy, and also respected for his wartime exploits and gentlemanly conduct. During his post-war political career, despite the partisan and racial conflicts that divided the region, he presented himself as a proponent for national unity and racial reconciliation.

One of the wealthiest planters and largest slaveholders in the antebellum South, Hampton was widely regarded as a typical figure of the region's planter-aristocracy, and also respected for his wartime exploits and gentlemanly conduct. During his post-war political career, despite the partisan and racial conflicts that divided the region, he presented himself as a proponent for national unity and racial reconciliation.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

 

Wade Hampton III was born on March 28, 1818, in Charleston, South Carolina, the first child of Wade Hampton Jr. and Ann Fitzsimons. The Hampton family had originally immigrated from [[England]] to [[Virginia]] in the early 17th century, later moving to the South Carolina frontier, where Hampton's grandfather (the first Wade Hampton) served as a prominent militia officer in the [[Revolutionary War]] (and would later lead a column of troops during the failed invasion of [[Canada]] during the [[War of 1812]]), and developed large plantations in the state as well as in [[Louisiana]] and [[Mississippi]]; many considered him the richest planter in the South. Wade Hampton Jr., who also fought in the War of 1812, eventually inherited his father's plantation empire and married Ann Fitzsimons, the daughter of a Charleston merchant.

Wade Hampton III was born on March 28, 1818, in Charleston, South Carolina, the first child of Wade Hampton Jr. and Ann Fitzsimons. The Hampton family had originally immigrated from [[England]] to [[Virginia]] in the early 17th century, later moving to the South Carolina frontier, where Hampton's grandfather (the first Wade Hampton) served as a prominent militia officer in the [[Revolutionary War]] (and would later lead a column of troops during the failed invasion of [[Canada]] during the [[War of 1812]]), and developed large plantations in the state as well as in [[Louisiana]] and [[Mississippi]]; many considered him the richest planter in the South. Wade Hampton Jr., who also fought in the War of 1812, eventually inherited his father's plantation empire and married Ann Fitzsimons, the daughter of a Charleston merchant.

==Civil War General==

==Civil War General==

Hampton, like most of the planter class, was a firm defender of the institution of [[slavery]] and of [[states' rights]], though he did not take an especially prominent role in the sectional debates of the 1850s. Early in the decade, he did oppose the movement for South Carolina to secede from the Union, and in 1859 spoke at length in the state Senate against a proposal to re-open the international slave trade, calling it "cruel and inhuman." A supporter of [[John C. Breckinridge]] in the 1860 presidential election, he was on hand for the secession convention that followed [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s election, and this time supported leaving the Union. Following the firing on [[Fort Sumter]] in April 1861, Hampton organized a so-called "legion" of about 1,000 infantry, cavalry, and artillery for service in the new Confederate Army, with himself as commander with the rank of colonel. "Hampton's Legion," as it was called, departed for Virginia that summer, seeing its first action in the [[First Battle of Bull Run]] on July 21, where it suffered heavy casualties but was praised by observers for its courage and skill under fire; Hampton himself was singled out as displaying "soldierly ability."  

Hampton, like most of the planter class, was a firm defender of the institution of [[slavery]] and of [[states' rights]], though he did not take an especially prominent role in the sectional debates of the 1850s. Early in the decade, he did oppose the movement for South Carolina to secede from the Union, and in 1859 spoke at length in the state Senate against a proposal to re-open the international slave trade, calling it "cruel and inhuman." A supporter of [[John C. Breckinridge]] in the 1860 presidential election, he was on hand for the secession convention that followed [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s election, and this time supported leaving the Union. Following the firing on [[Fort Sumter]] in April 1861, Hampton organized a so-called "legion" of about 1,000 infantry, cavalry, and artillery for service in the new Confederate Army, with himself as commander with the rank of colonel. "Hampton's Legion," as it was called, departed for Virginia that summer, seeing its first action in the [[First Battle of Bull Run]] on July 21, where it suffered heavy casualties but was praised by observers for its courage and skill under fire; Hampton himself was singled out as displaying "soldierly ability."  

Stuart was mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Yellow Tavern]] on May 11, 1864, and Lee informally placed Hampton in command of all the army's cavalry, officially confirmed in August 1864. Despite the Confederacy's declining fortunes, he achieved a number of limited victories raiding and checking Union advances during the Siege of Petersburg (despite the personal tragedy of witnessing his son Preston's death at the Battle of Burgess Mill in October). In January 1865, in response to the invasion of South Carolina by Union forces under General [[William T. Sherman]], Hampton (promoted again to lieutenant general the following month) and a division of cavalry were sent back to defend the state, though as they were heavily outnumbered, there was little that could be done. As the remaining Confederate armies surrendered in April, Hampton, in conference with President [[Jefferson Davis]], sought to continue the war west of the Mississippi, but the total collapse of the Confederacy and Davis' own capture in May 1865 rendered this idea moot, and Hampton remained in South Carolina, disbanding his remaining troops.

Stuart was mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Yellow Tavern]] on May 11, 1864, and Lee informally placed Hampton in command of all the army's cavalry, officially confirmed in August 1864. Despite the Confederacy's declining fortunes, he achieved a number of limited victories raiding and checking Union advances during the Siege of Petersburg (despite the personal tragedy of witnessing his son Preston's death at the Battle of Burgess Mill in October). In January 1865, in response to the invasion of South Carolina by Union forces under General [[William T. Sherman]], Hampton (promoted again to lieutenant general the following month) and a division of cavalry were sent back to defend the state, though as they were heavily outnumbered, there was little that could be done. As the remaining Confederate armies surrendered in April, Hampton, in conference with President [[Jefferson Davis]], sought to continue the war west of the Mississippi, but the total collapse of the Confederacy and Davis' own capture in May 1865 rendered this idea moot, and Hampton remained in South Carolina, disbanding his remaining troops.

==Political Career==

==Political career==

 

Like many Confederate leaders, Hampton was left impoverished and deeply embittered toward the North following the war. Nonetheless, he counseled peace and reconciliation among his fellow South Carolinians, applying for amnesty in summer 1865 and supporting the pro-Union state government soon established. (He also rejected a campaign to nominate him for governor, warning it would accomplish nothing but to antagonize the federal government.) He rejected, however, the [[Reconstruction]] policies of the [[Radical Republicans]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]], such as the disenfranchisement of white Southerners while former slaves were armed and given voting rights. In an open letter published in 1866, Hampton stated that South Carolina would be a loyal state, but "She will not return to the Union {as} an unequal partner."  

Like many Confederate leaders, Hampton was left impoverished and deeply embittered toward the North following the war. Nonetheless, he counseled peace and reconciliation among his fellow South Carolinians, applying for amnesty in summer 1865 and supporting the pro-Union state government soon established. (He also rejected a campaign to nominate him for governor, warning it would accomplish nothing but to antagonize the federal government.) He rejected, however, the [[Reconstruction]] policies of the [[Radical Republicans]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]], such as the disenfranchisement of white Southerners while former slaves were armed and given voting rights. In an open letter published in 1866, Hampton stated that South Carolina would be a loyal state, but "She will not return to the Union {as} an unequal partner."  

Soon after Hampton's reelection, the state legislature nominated him as U.S. Senator to replace the outgoing Republican incumbent, reasoning that he would be better able to represent South Carolina on the national level. Hampton agreed, though still recovering from his injury, and was elected by the legislature in December 1878. Hampton served as U.S. Senator for South Carolina from 1879 to 1891. During that time, he called for peace between North and South, as well as such causes as civil service reform and a more just policy for the western Indian tribes. He also continued a stance of racial moderation, opposing the disenfranchisement of those African-Americans already eligible to vote, though he did call for educational and property qualifications. This position alienated many white Democrats in the state, especially the emerging [[Populist]] wing under [[Benjamin Tillman]], and though Hampton had been re-elected to the Senate in 1884, they denied him a third term in the 1890 election.  

Soon after Hampton's reelection, the state legislature nominated him as U.S. Senator to replace the outgoing Republican incumbent, reasoning that he would be better able to represent South Carolina on the national level. Hampton agreed, though still recovering from his injury, and was elected by the legislature in December 1878. Hampton served as U.S. Senator for South Carolina from 1879 to 1891. During that time, he called for peace between North and South, as well as such causes as civil service reform and a more just policy for the western Indian tribes. He also continued a stance of racial moderation, opposing the disenfranchisement of those African-Americans already eligible to vote, though he did call for educational and property qualifications. This position alienated many white Democrats in the state, especially the emerging [[Populist]] wing under [[Benjamin Tillman]], and though Hampton had been re-elected to the Senate in 1884, they denied him a third term in the 1890 election.  

==Later Life==

==Later life==

 

After leaving the Senate in 1891, Hampton was appointed U.S. railroad commissioner by President [[Grover Cleveland]] in 1893, remaining in that position until his retirement in November 1897. In and out of office, he continued to defend the Southern cause in the war and to call upon the younger generations to revere the Confederacy's memory. "If we were wrong in our contest," he told a gathering of Confederate veterans, "then the [[Declaration of Independence]] of 1776 was a grave mistake, and the revolution to which it led was a crime....If Washington was a patriot, Lee cannot have been a rebel." His health gradually declined, and after a brief illness, he died on April 11, 1902, at his home in Columbia.   

After leaving the Senate in 1891, Hampton was appointed U.S. railroad commissioner by President [[Grover Cleveland]] in 1893, remaining in that position until his retirement in November 1897. In and out of office, he continued to defend the Southern cause in the war and to call upon the younger generations to revere the Confederacy's memory. "If we were wrong in our contest," he told a gathering of Confederate veterans, "then the [[Declaration of Independence]] of 1776 was a grave mistake, and the revolution to which it led was a crime....If Washington was a patriot, Lee cannot have been a rebel." His health gradually declined, and after a brief illness, he died on April 11, 1902, at his home in Columbia.   

{{reflist}}  

{{reflist}}  

[[Category:American Civil War Commanders]]

[[Category:American Civil War Commanders]]

[[Category:South Carolina Governors]]

[[Category:South Carolina Governors]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]