Beefsteak Raid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beefsteak Raid
Part of the American Civil War
"The Great Cattle Raid at Harrison's Landing" (from Harper's Weekly)
Date September 14, 1864 (1864-09-14)–September 17, 1864 (1864-09-17) Location Prince George County, Virginia Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
	Wade Hampton
Strength
	3,000
Casualties and losses
304 captured 2,685 cattle captured	10 killed 47 wounded 4 missing

The Beefsteak Raid was a daring Confederate cavalry attack during the American Civil War. It happened in September 1864, as part of the Siege of Petersburg. Confederate General Wade Hampton led 3,000 horsemen on a 100-mile journey. Their goal was to steal cattle meant for the Union Army. The Union Army was at the time trying to capture the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia.

Why the Raid Happened

Confederate Food Shortage

The Confederate soldiers defending Richmond often ran low on supplies. By August 1864, their food situation was very bad. General Robert E. Lee reported that they had no corn left to feed their troops.

Finding the Cattle

A scout named Sergeant George D. Shadburne found something important. On September 5, he told General Hampton about 3,000 cattle. These cattle were behind Union lines at Coggin's Point. This spot was about 5 miles down the James River from the Union commander's headquarters.

The cattle were not very well guarded. Hampton believed only 120 Union soldiers and 30 civilians were protecting them. In reality, the Union force was larger, but still less than 500. Hampton quickly planned to take 3,000 Confederate troops on this mission. Some of these men were known for being good at stealing cattle.

The Raid Begins

Crossing the River

On September 14, 1864, Hampton led his men. They rode south of Petersburg, past the Union trenches. Their plan was to go around and attack from behind Union lines. Hampton chose to cross the Blackwater River where Cook's Bridge used to be. He knew an attack from this direction would be a surprise. His engineers quickly rebuilt the bridge so his men could cross.

The Attack

At 5 a.m. on September 16, Hampton's force launched their attack. They used a three-part strategy. The main part of their attack went straight for the cattle. The Confederates successfully captured over 2,000 cattle. They also took 11 wagons and 304 Union prisoners. By 9 a.m. on September 17, they had led their captured goods back to Confederate lines.

What Happened Next

Confederate Losses and Gains

The Confederates faced some fighting during the raid. They lost 10 soldiers killed, 47 wounded, and 4 missing. In the end, 2,468 cattle successfully reached the Confederate lines. This was a huge amount of food for them.

Short-Term Relief

Even though the raid was a big success, its long-term impact was not as great. The Union Army had many resources and could easily replace their lost cattle. The Confederates, however, did not have enough hay or grain to feed the cattle for long. They had to slaughter the cattle almost right away. This led to a huge "feast" for the Confederate soldiers. They had to eat the beef quickly before it spoiled. Salt, which was needed to preserve meat, was very hard to find in the Confederacy.

For days after the raid, the Southern soldiers would joke with the Northern guards. They thanked them for the food and even invited them to dinner. There was so much beef that Confederate guards sometimes traded it. They would exchange beef with Union guards for luxury items that the Union soldiers had plenty of. But once the beef was eaten or spoiled, the Confederates went back to their difficult food situation.

Famous Reactions

Abraham Lincoln called the raid "the slickest piece of cattle-stealing" he had ever heard of. General Lee's assistant, Lt. Col. Walter H. Taylor, said the raid helped make up for problems with Confederate supplies. These problems were caused by the loss of the Weldon Railroad. However, most historians think this claim was a bit too strong.

Remembering the Raid

Much of the Beefsteak Raid happened in Prince George County, Virginia. The Prince George County Historical Society remembers the raid every September. They hold a special steak dinner to celebrate it.

The 1966 movie Alvarez Kelly shows a made-up story based on this raid.