Alternative History
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton
6th President of the Confederate States
In office
February 22, 1892 – February 22, 1898
Vice PresidentBenjamin Tillman
Preceded byWilliam Mahone
Succeeded byDavid Gardiner Tyler
Senator from South Carolina
In office
1880–1892
Personal details
Born March 28, 1818
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Died July 5, 1899 (aged 81)
Miami, Florida, C.S.
Political party Dixiecrat (1872–1902)
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States flag Differently Confederate States of America
Service/branch Confederate Rebel Flag Confederate Army
Years of service 1861–1865
Rank Confederate Rebel Flag Lieutenant General
Commands Hampton's Legion
Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles/wars War for Southern Independence

Wade Hampton III (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1899) was the sixth president of the Confederate States, serving from 1892 to 1898. A member of the Dixiecrat Party, he previously served as Senator from South Carolina from 1880 to 1892. Prior to his political life he combated in the War for Southern Independence.

Born into a wealthy planter family from South Carolina, he had an active outdoor life during his youth, riding horses and engaging in hunting, especially at his family's North Carolina summer retreat, High Hampton. In 1836, he received a law degree from South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina), but never practiced law. He instead managed some of his father's plantations in South Carolina and Mississippi, in addition to becoming active in Democratic state politics. He was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 1852 and as a state Senator in 1858. Following his father's death in 1858, Hampton inherited his vast fortune, plantations, and slaves.

Family[]

He was the son of Wade Hampton II (1791–1858), a combatant in the War of 1812 who later made a fortune on land speculation, and Ann Fitzsimmons, member of a wealthy family from Charleston; he also had four younger sisters. His grandfather was Wade Hampton (1754–1835), lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the American War of Independence, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and brigadier general in the War of 1812. His uncle by marriage, James Henry Hammond, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Governor of South Carolina and later U.S. Senator from South Carolina.

After the War for Southern Independence broke out, Hampton resigned from the South Carolina Senate and enlisted as a private in the South Carolina Militia. Despite his lack of military experience, his years managing plantations and serving in state government were considered signs of leadership. He organized and partially funded the unit known as "Hampton's Legion," which consisted of six companies of infantry, four companies of cavalry, and one battery of artillery. He was described as a natural cavalryman—"brave, audacious, and already a superb horseman".