Hampton, WADE

Hampton, WADE, an American soldier, was born in South Carolina in 1754, served in the revolutionary war under Marion and Sumter, was twice elected to congress, and in 1809 became brigadier-general. In 1813, now a major-general, he made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Canada. He afterwards became wealthy by land speculations, and at his death in 1835 was said to own 3000 slaves.—His grandson, WADE, born in Columbia in 1818, was a state senator when the civil war began. He raised a force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, known as 'Hampton's Legion,' and served at Bull Run and in the Peninsular campaign. As brigadier-general, he commanded a cavalry force in the Maryland and Pennsylvania campaigns in 1862-63, and was severely wounded at Gettysburg. He received the command of Lee's cavalry in 1864, with the rank of lieutenant-general; and in 1865 he served in South Carolina against Sherman. He was elected governor of his state in 1876, and United States senator in 1878 and 1884.