In September of 1864, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was starving during the Siege of Petersburg. On Sept. 5, a scout brought some information to Major General Wade Hampton. Hampton was the commander of Confederate cavalry (after the death of JEB Stuart). The scout told him of a large herd of Union cattle that were ripe for the rustling. About 3,000 head of cattle were lightly guarded on the plantation of Edmund Ruffin. Ruffin had been one of the staunchest secessionists. According to legend, the fire-breather had fired the first cannon at Fort Sumter. Hampton drew up a plan and brought it to Lee. Lee, ever the risk-taker, approved the plan, but warned Hampton to avoid being spotted on the way to the plantation. Hampton’s force consisted of four brigades of cavalry. The force was about 3,500 troopers, plus a number of sheep dogs. He took a circuitous route away from prying eyes. They left on the morning of Sept. 14. That night they camped unseen near a destroyed bridge. Hampton had known about the bridge and figured the Yankees would not be watching that area because of it. Hampton had brought along some engineers who proceeded to repair the bridge. On Sept. 15, Hampton put his plan into effect. One brigade each would be sent to secure his flanks and the rest of the force would rush upon the Yankees guarding the herd without giving them a chance to mount a tough defense. The frontal attack almost caught the Union soldiers napping, literally. Some pickets sounded the alarm, but the Confederate cavalry overwhelmed the surprised cattle guarders. On the right flank, Hampton’s men routed a part of the Union force, many of them fleeing to be captured by Hampton’s center unit. Now it was time to get the hell out of there. On Sept. 16 Union pursuers struck the rear of Hampton’s unit, but they were given a bloody nose at Ebenezer’s Church and from that point on Hampton was home free, arriving back home on Sept. 17, 1864. Hampton had covered 100 miles and returned with 2,468 cattle. He had suffered only 60 casualties. The Army of the Potomac had been embarrassed. The Yankees had to listen to taunts inviting them to come over for a steak dinner. Lincoln admitted the raid was “the slickest piece of cattle-stealing” he had ever known. Unfortunately for Lee’s army, it did not have the fodder to keep that many cattle alive. And there was not enough salt to preserve the meat. So, the cattle had to be slaughtered fairly soon. The Rebels feasted, but soon went back to empty stomachs.
https://www.beyondthecrater.com/bat-sum/the-beefsteak-raid-summaries/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beefsteak_Raid
http://www.petersburgsiege.org/cattle.htm
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