Wade Hampton III

"Wade Hampton III is one of the most important , complex, and—in some ways—tragic figures of the nineteenth-century South. In this carefully researched and expertly crafted account, Robert K. Ackerman covers his subject's ambitious military and political careers and gives us Hampton not as an icon but as a dynamic and flawed human being at the center of a world being torn asunder. Ackerman also introduces us to Hampton's powerful inner circle of family and friends, many of whom have been neglected in previous studies. By extension, this narrative illustrates the social and economic changes wrought during the rough transition from Old South to New as witnessed from the vantage point of the elite planter class."—Lacy K. Ford, Jr., author of Origins of Southern Radicalism: The South Carolina Upcountry, 1800–1860

"At long last we have a definitive study of Wade Hampton III, who dominated South Carolina in the second half of the nineteenth century and whose moderate racism has intrigued us ever since. Ackerman presents us with a rare objective account of the planter, soldier, and political leader. The work is at its best in recounting the stirring events of 1876 and unraveling Hampton's feud with Martin Gary and Ben Tillman."—A. V. Huff, Jr., professor emeritus of history, Furman University

"Ackerman's analysis moves beyond the hero worship that has surrounded Wade Hampton III in the past. For all of its limitations, Hampton's 'paternal moderation' offered an alternative to the racial demagoguery of men like Benjamin R. Turner and Coleman E. Blease. As governor, Hampton took significant steps toward healing the wounds between white and black South Carolinians after Reconstruction. Ackerman's assessment of these facets will make this biography the standard interpretation of Hampton for years to come. It is a must-read for all South Carolinians."—Edmund L. Drago, author of Hurrah for Hampton!: Black Red Shirts in South Carolina During Reconstruction

Winner of the 2007 Helen Kohn Henning Award, Historic Columbia Foundation
Finalist for the 2007 George C. Rogers, Jr., Book Award, South Carolina Historical Society