July 2025 Meeting Summary

At our dinner meeting on July 16th, Mr. A. Wilson “Wil” Greene gave an excellent presentation titled: "The Beefsteak Raid, September 1864." He addressed this episode in his recently released book, A Campaign of Giants: The Battle for Petersburg, Volume 2. Attendance at the dinner was 50.

By the fall of 1864, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia suffered from a shortage of just about everything, not the least of which was protein for the soldiers. Southern farms and the Confederacy's deteriorating railroad system simply could not provide enough meat to sustain the army. Confederate General Wade Hampton and an intrepid scout found a way to solve that problem. The Federals maintained a huge cattle herd along the banks of the James River to provide fresh beef to Grant's armies around Petersburg. General Hampton, recently promoted to command all of Lee's cavalry, designed an elaborate plan to reach the cattle corral and abscond with nearly 2,500 beeves.

The major concerns that the Confederates had in planning the raid were:
• What route do the raiders take?
• How do they defeat and capture the Union guards?
• How do the raiders and cattle get back?

The raid began on September 14, 1864. Major General W.H.F. Lee’s Division protected the Confederates’ left flank and Brigadier General Dearing’s cavalry brigade guarded the right flank. The Confederates’ main attack began during the pre-dawn hours of September 16, led by Brigadier General Rosser’s brigade, along with men from Young’s and Dunovant’s brigades under Colonel Miller. By 8:00 a.m. on September 16th, the captured herd was moving and was taken into Petersburg on September 18th. There was not enough forage to feed the cattle, so they had to be butchered. The result was enough beef to feed Lee’s army for about one month.

The raid was an incredible logistical feat for the Confederates. The Confederates also did a great job incombat. General Hampton proved to be the equal of General J.E.B. Stuart. The Confederates captured 2,468 cattle, 304 Union prisoners, and numerous wagons. Confederate casualties were ten killed, 47 wounded, and four missing. General Lee was delighted with the results of the raid. 

In closing, Mr. Greene said the raid was sheer gall by the Confederates. The raid didn’t really affect the overall Petersburg campaign. However, it served as a wakeup call for the Union. General Grant ordered his base at City Point surrounded by six Union forts and the Union Army extended their lines.

Photos from the Meeting