The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-08-20
HAMPTON STOII; CATTLE.
n Daring Adventure OF Two Great
Confederate Generals.

The following anccdotc Of Gen. u.
NJ. l.. Young is Il good illustration Of
the military genius Of that dashing
officer and his superior, Gen. Wade
Hampton
Some years ago the general was re-
latlng some OF his experiences in the
war. lie had been asked especially to
tell Of the capture Of the corral Of cat
tic. which General Grant had brought
together a. Il base Of supplies Of his
arm, ON the CAicEah0miny, in 1854,
says the New York Times. This cap
turr WAS one Of t. most brilliant and
! successful raids Of the war, in which
General Young had played Il gallant
ana conspicuous part but throughout
the narration 4 casual listener would
! have Thought that he was relating the
| incident To show how magniticcntly
Hampton had conducted the affair.
The conception and plan were Hamp-
| ton - II WAS arranged that a pick cd
body OF 800 cavalry, under Hampton,
should sweep around to Grants rear,
| capture the corral and drive the cattle
| into the Confederate lines. while Con.
| \ Dung should hold at bay any Federal
troops that might come to the support
OF the corral guards. The SCOUTS had
Gai hcrru every detail Of information
needed. They kncwthc exact location
OF the cattle, their number and quality
OF the troops on guard, the relative DO
slti"n of the great army Of Grant and
how long 1T would require for him to
dispatch assistance to the guard when
attacked Hampton relied upon Young
to keep back the entire army, ii ncccs,
: sary, until he could get the cattle ouv
OF reach. AS cattle have to be driven
slowly, and over fairly good country, /,
| Wa ""',""N f"r Hampton to uriv,
/ Ih' 90 o. '''.' = the cncmy's lines
M go. ..'. -" : ry much greater.
i Everything; MUrKcuo smoothly unti
: the cattle had been captured. IN,
: negro guards were soon disposed o
h and the corral. consisting of 1000 hca,
# OF cattle, was shortly being driven to
ward the Confederate camp. 10 reacl
G the rear Of The lines Hampton AN,
: Young and all OF their troops had bee
c IN the saddle day and night and ma,
) ridden iIty miles almost without
y halt. Despite the fatigue OF horse
o anu men il forced march to be made b.
y Hampton, while Young and his wear"
l. calvary had TO face the entire Fedora
) lines ana draw their fire" until tn,
o raiders were out OF harms way. Gen
l. Young accomplished this in most bril-
+ liant style. He stretched out his 100
troopers INTO 80 long line that i
l. seemed as II nothing lCSS than an arm
$ division could occupy the space. B
II rushing from ono point to another
$ considerable body OF his men and con
l. ccntrating fire on the Federal advunc
$ he succeeded in keeping up the dccer
Il ton. rhe fedcrals expected momcn,
II tarily TO engage the Confcdcratcs i
II force, and SO advanced cautiOusl y
o feeling their way. The dashing cav
airy ollccr was playing Napoconi
II tactics in miniature. Before the arm
: 0, Grant realized that it was putting
l. forth its giant strength against
= handful oi daring h0rScmcn llnmpto
II was safe, and the special lines Of tn
J. grand army Of the Confcdcrates close
up and gallopcd away, having com
II plctcd the most reckless foray Of tn
Il war. "Thc Federal caJtlc," added tn
= General, "fOrmcd tho basis Of our SUI
Q plies for the rest Of our campaign"