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Confederate Cattle Drive

Mike

Well-known member
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.”
 

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