A report by General Robert E. Lee on August 22, 1864, stated that corn to feed the Southern soldiers was exhausted.

[1] A scout, Sergeant George D. Shadburne, informed General Hampton on September 5 that there were 3,000 lightly defended cattle behind Union lines, at Edmund Ruffin's plantation on Coggin's Point, 5 miles (8 km) down the James River from Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's headquarters.

Believing the cattle were defended by only 120 Union soldiers and 30 civilians (the actual force was larger, but still less than 500), Hampton arranged for 3,000 Confederate troops to follow him.

[3] General Lee's adjutant, Lt. Col. Walter H. Taylor, said it made up for disruption of Confederate supply lines caused by the loss of the Weldon Railroad.

The Prince George County Regional Heritage Center commemorates the raid with a steak dinner each September.