The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-24
EIAMPTON'S CATTLE RAID.
An Unexpected Surprise for Meade in Sep
tember, 1864.
Ne,rs and Courier.

Point and oppositeEto Westover, was q
large herd Of cattle belonging to the
Army Of the Potomac. From infor-
nation obtained by trusty scouts
Hampton ascertained the exact loca-
tion Of these beeves and the disposi-
ton Of the Federal troops in the vi
entity and decided that he would cap
ture the herd. To accomplish this it
would Be necessary to make an incur
sion in the rear of the Federal army
and to within almost rife shot Of City
Point. Now City Pointwas the head
quarters and base of the Army Of the
Potomac. Here Gen. Grant and his
military family were at home to
visitors, but Gid not look for a call
from Hampton. Itwas supposed to
Be as safe as1W ashington. The good
people s. Boston would have been no
more surprised BY raid made to car:
y ; away Plymouth Rock than was the
Federal army By the rummaging Of
their larder: under the very nose OF
headquarters. Itwas no wonder that
their nerves were badly shaken, and
this they certainly were. The unex-
=, a,a1 had has,n,ened TO them.
On the morning Of September Il
Hampton moved ont upon the sexpedi-
tion from his position south, OF Peters
burg. He took with him ". a. r.
Lees division, Rosserr' $ and Bearings
'brigades, and 90 men from J Young's
and Dnnovant's brigade Proceeding
southeasterly down, the west side OF
Rowanty Greek on 3 swift march he
biyouacked quietly for the night at
wilkinson Baidge, and making an
early start next morning sand bearing
nearly north Htreached during the day.
! Cooks Bridge, on the Blackwater
.Rives. M This detoar5 brought him round
The. left flank cf the Federals, nearly
due south Of Coggin s Point,sand onlr
about ten miles from where he intended
70 break through their picket guards.
The bridge atthis point had been de-
.stroyed, as he was IS n; aware, and he se-.
4leoted :the eSplacs for croBsing the river yer
:for; this reason, 40 he would not be
looked for from That direction. in 2
lew hours q temporary bridge was con- 9,
structed by the engineers, the horses
meantime rested and fed, and by mid :.
night Sthe lirar was crossed and the
ma march ,i resumed. NED North Sof the Black
water n s about nine miles, near Sycamore.
Church Was the largest detachment
.cff the. enemy nearest5to the herd Of
cattle;sRhich was about two miles fur
4herF tl i oFi: & %; The right and left Of this
:p,oint were smaller bodies Of Federals.1
bsHampto determined to attack the
largest force sirst and scatter il, and
headsof the smaller attachments, thus
preventing concentration. To Rosser
Was accordingly assigned the central
attack, after accomplishing which he
was to proceedsto ropriate and carry
.a.Way.the prospective beefsteaks. 10
w. q. F. Lees division was entrusted
the task ;. driving away the force to
the left and holding the roads leading
from City Point from which inter
ference was, to be expected Dearing
Was to ! place. bis brigade on the right
of Sycamore Church, and when he
heard the firing there was to dash into
and demolish post about three miles
+ from Fort Powhatan, on the james
River, and hold the roads leading to
the fortto prevent attack from that
quarter
At SO clock a. m. Rosser attacked
The videttes were driven in, but the
main body. a--egiment, the 1st District
Of Columbia cavalry, rallied behind
barricades in very good style. How
ever, Rosser lost no time, but made
short work Of them, annihilating the
regiment, all not killed, wounded or
captured making off in every direction,
spreading CONSERVATION throughout
the neighborhood and exaggerated ac-
counts Of the numbers Of the raiders.
AS soon as W.. a. F. Lees and Dear
ing's people beard the firing they COM
.meneed their part Of the programme,
dispensing OF riding down everything
they met. The: .hen held the roads,
as directed, thus preventing assistance
being sent to the central post, and
drove away or took all the couriess
whom they could lay hands on. Ros-
ser sent forward detachment to Sc
cure the cattle, which they quickly
did, overpovering the guard Of l2o
men and The herdsmen. Many horses
were also taken, eleven wagons, three