Member-only story

Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior, Conservative Statesman

Gilbert Cox

·5.9k Followers· Follow

Published in Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior Conservative Statesman

4 min read · 2 weeks before

1.1k View Claps

64 Respond

Save

Listen

Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior, Conservative Statesman

by Walter Brian Cisco

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2852 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages

Wade Hampton III (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War and a conservative statesman during the Reconstruction Era. He served as the 10th Governor of South Carolina from 1876 to 1879 and as a United States Senator from 1879 to 1891. Hampton was a staunch defender of white supremacy and segregation, and he played a key role in the suppression of black civil rights in South Carolina.

Early Life and Military Career

Hampton was born into a wealthy planter family in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1836 and then studied law at Harvard University. After graduating from Harvard, Hampton returned to South Carolina and began practicing law. He also served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1844 to 1860.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Hampton joined the Confederate Army. He commanded the 6th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment and fought in numerous battles, including the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Gettysburg. Hampton was promoted to brigadier general in 1863 and to major general in 1864. He commanded the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee.

Reconstruction Era

After the Civil War, Hampton returned to South Carolina and became a leader of the conservative Democrats. He opposed the Reconstruction policies of the federal government, which were designed to protect the rights of freed slaves. Hampton argued that white Southerners should control their own affairs and that blacks were not fit for citizenship.

In 1876, Hampton was elected Governor of South Carolina. He immediately began to dismantle the Reconstruction government and restore white supremacy. He appointed white supremacists to key positions in the state government and passed laws that disenfranchised black voters and segregated public facilities.

In 1879, Hampton was elected to the United States Senate. He continued to advocate for white supremacy and segregation in the Senate. He opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1890, which was designed to protect the civil rights of blacks. Hampton also supported the lynching of blacks who were accused of crimes.

Legacy

Hampton's legacy is complex and controversial. He was a skilled military leader and a staunch defender of white supremacy. He played a key role in the suppression of black civil rights in South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era.

Hampton's supporters argue that he was a great leader who saved South Carolina from the horrors of Reconstruction. They point to his military record and his success in restoring white supremacy in the state. Hampton's critics argue that he was a racist who oppressed blacks and prevented them from enjoying the full rights of citizenship.

Hampton's legacy continues to be debated today. He is a controversial figure who represents the complex history of race and politics in the United States.