Continuing the theme of interesting questions that arise
during the Q&A, I thought we would spend a little time looking at the life
of George Stoneman, the Federal cavalry commander who led the raid through
western North Carolina in March and April 1865. Instead of a full biographical
sketch, I thought we would cover a few points.
George Stoneman commanded the Federal cavalry during the
battle of Chancellorsville. As part of Hooker's plan of battle, Stoneman was to
lead the Federal Cavalry beyond Lee's lines, destroying vital railroad
junctions, cutting Lee's supply lines and forcing the Army of Northern Virginia
back. Rain first caused Stoneman's men difficulty, forcing him to recall part
of his advance. Later the plan was changed by Hooker to be solely to destroy
the railroads and lines of communication. While Lee was concerned about Federal cavalry
in his rear, he basically ignored Stoneman and, in the end, defeated Hooker and
the Army of Northern Virginia. Hooker blamed Stoneman for the defeat. It only
took the Confederates a few days to repair the damage. Stoneman was replaced as
commander of the Federal cavalry corps in the Army of the Potomac before the
month of May ended.
George Stoneman led another raid in Georgia in July and
August 1864. Stoneman commanded one part of the cavalry of Sherman's army. Sherman ordered the cavalry to break up the
Macon and Western Railroad near Jonesboro. Stoneman proposed that after
"destroying" Confederate cavalry in the area, he move to Macon, and
then on to Andersonville, where he could free 23,000 Federal prisoners. The
movement began on July 27. In Monticello, Stoneman learned that the bridges
over the Ocmulgee did not exist, and chose to move on towards Macon, instead of
turning back towards the west and linking up with other Federal forces. When he
reached the outskirts of Macon, he found thousands of militia troops. Soon,
Confederate cavalry closed in. On July 31, at Sunshine Church, Stoneman
attempted to fight his way out. In the end, Stoneman surrendered his command.
Stoneman was the highest ranking officer ever captured by the Confederates. He
was exchanged in late September for Brigadier General Daniel C. Govan (captured
during the battle of Jonesboro).
George Stoneman led a raid into North Carolina and Virginia
in March and April 1865. After much delay, the raid began on March 20, 1865,
moving through Morristown, Tennessee, on March 23, and skirmishing with home
guardsmen in Boone on March 28. Instead of writing a blow-by-blow account, I
would like to consider the question that has arisen more than once: what was
Stoneman's directive? US Grant wrote to Stoneman's superior on January 31:
"Stoneman might penetrate South Carolina well down towards Columbia,
destroying the railroad and military resources of the country, thus visiting a
portion of the state which will not be reached by Sherman's forces. He also
might return to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury, N.C., this releasing some
of our prisoners in rebel hands." Stoneman's goal was to destroy the railroad and "military resources" of the places that he
went.
There you have it - three points that have come up in my
discussion regarding George Stoneman.
