"The Stoneman Raid"

State Historic Marker

State Historic Marker on the grounds of the Putnam County Courthouse square, Eatonton, Ga.

(text)

THE STONEMAN RAID

 

Closing in on Atlanta in July, 1864, Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman,

USA, found its vast fortifications "too strong to assault and

too extensive to invest." To force an evacuation, he sent Maj.

Gen. George Stoneman's cavalry (2112 men and 2 guns) to cut the Central of Georgia R.R. by which the city's defenders were

supplied. Retreating from an attempt on Macon. Stoneman was

intercepted on the 31st at Sunshine Church (19 miles NE of Macon)

by Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson, Jr., who, with only 1300 cavalry,

deluded him into believing that he was being surrounded.

Stoneman covered the escape of Adams' and Capron's brigades, then

he surrendered, with about 600 men and his artillery and train,

to what Iverson had convinced him was a superior force.

Clear of the field, both brigades marched toward Eatonton. At

Murder Creek (8 miles SW), Capron moved toward Madison and camped

north of the Monticello road. Adams continued toward Eatonton, but

paused here only to loot food and grain stocks, aware of probable

pursuit. Late that night, he camped about five miles north.

Beyond Madison (22 miles N), where he burned large stocks of

army supplies, he was joined next afternoon by Capron, who had

marched via Rutledge (9 miles W of Madison). They made camp

"twelve miles from the bridge crossing the Oconee River, near

Athens." Separated near Athens, Adams reached the Union lines

safely; but Capron, resting for two hours near Winder, was sur-

prised before dawn on August 3rd and lost his entire command.

 

117-5 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957

Photo: Ed Jackson