The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-10-20

One of the Most Notable Events Of
The War Recalled.

Chatham Record.
Today, September 16. is the fftieth
anniversary Of one Of the most notable
and novel events Of the War Between
the States. On the 18th Of Septem-
Der, 1854, General Wade Hampton,
who then commanded all the cavalry
of the Army Of Northern Virginia,
captured and carried off nearly $500
cattle or beeves, which were fatten-
ing to feed the Union army near e.
tersburg and Richmond. These cat
tie had been collected by the commits
sary department Of General Grants
army and were grazing near Coggins'
Point on the James river. At that
time the Confederate soldiers rarely
tasted fresh beef, and SO it was de-
termlned to make an effort to give
them a taste OF these cattle. Such
an undertaking seemed almost fool
hardy because the C~Onfederates had
to pass to the rear of the Union army
and force their way through it's lines.
This of itself was sufficiently danger
ous and difficult, but it seemed i'm
possible to drive the cattle Of the
Union lines even if the Confederates
succeeded in reaching them.
Notwithstanding sc dangerous I'M
difficult an undertaking, as it seemed,
yet General Hampton determined to
make the attempt. and so successful
was he that out of 2.486 cattle cap
tured 2,468 were brought into the
Confederate lines and afforded fresh
beef to thousands of soldiers who had
not tasted such a luxury in a long
time. No such cattle raid was ever
made in any a The loss of SO
much beef to the Federal troops was
not missed much by them because
they had a plenty without beef, but it
was a perfect godsend to the half
starved Confederates.
OF course only cavalry were en-
lgaged in this expedition, for success
depended upon CELEBRITY Of movement
The troops selected by Hampton for
this expedition were the division Of
General William Fl. F. Lee and the
brigades OF Generals Rosser and
bearing, and with them he started or
the 14th Of September, 1854, and de.
: termined to force the enemy's lines a.
!. Sycamore church, in Prince George
. county. The next day the Confeder.
ates were detained some time in con.
, structing a bridge over the Black.
water river, and did not begin thei1
attack on the enemy until shortly be.
fore dawn on the 10th of Septem
Der. They met with quite a stubborn
e resistance, but finally defeated tn,
| enemy, driving them some distance
: and then retaining a sufficient fore,
to hold pack the Federals if the,
q | SuOUlO rally, Tic IcIIldl1OoE OIL 1a0QD
tons command captured the cattle am
o drove them pack into the Confederat
lines, as above stated.
g In addition to capturing the CATH
three camps Of the enemy wer
e burned, after securing from them val
r liable stores and supplies, including
e a large quantity of blankets. Beside
o destroying a number of army wagon
the ~COnfederates brought back wit
: them eleven wagons and 40 prisoners
They were absent from their quarter
three days on this expedition and dur
ing that time Ia marched about 10
n miles n defeated the enemy in tw
engagements, and our loss was /
k killed. At and 4 missing.
III Wonder how many of our reader
,r ever before heard of his famous cat
e tie raid?
l.. The Amazon Valley in the frs
n fhroo mnrthS Of 1014 aYnOrtad %