Wade Hampton American

Wade Hampton's father homesteaded on the frontier of South Carolina. In July of 1776, several of Wade's siblings were killed while he and his family defended their farm against a Cherokee attack. During the American Revolution, Hampton gained a reputation as a daring cavalry officer under Major General Sumter. After the revolution, Hampton served several terms in the South Carolina Assembly. He then served in the House of Representatives from 1795 to 1805. He was the first southern planter to cultivate short staple cotton extensively. In 1808, Hampton renewed his commission in the army. He replaced James Wilkinson at the head of the U.S. forces in Louisiana. The change of command was anything but smooth, and the two men became bitter enemies. In 1813, Hampton assumed command of an army stationed near Plattsburg, a post that came under the overall command of General Wilkinson. Hampton did not bother to conceal his contempt for his superior, going so far as to ignore any orders unless they were conveyed to him directly by the Secretary of War, John Armstrong. Hampton's October 1813 expedition to capture Montreal proved a complete fiasco when his army of over four thousand was turned back by a force a third of the size. A review of his conduct by Armstrong cleared him of all blame, but Hampton resigned his commission anyway. Hampton spent the rest of his life managing his extensive plantations throughout the Deep South. By 1830, he was one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He died in 1835.