Stonemans raid from east tennessee into southwestern virginia. One of the longest cavalry raids in history a raid that would cover as much as two thousand. Stonemans raid 1865 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Stonemans raid was one of the last cavalry raids of the war. Historical marker in blowing rock, north carolina marking location where gen. Oct 04, 2010 available from and other leading retailers, this new book is sure to become the definitive book on the operation. Always generating a great deal of interest among readers, cavalry raid studies comprise a large segment of the civil war military literature, and stoneman s raid, 1865 ranks among the best of the genre. This portrayal was likely inspired by the scouting of southerners from the 1st mississippi mounted rifles on griersons raid. In december 1864, stonemans raid into southwest virginia was an effort to cripple the northern portion of the confederacy. Its unique approach will give the reader a detailed analysis of each raid, describing the background, the initial strategy, how the action played out, and an assessment of its success. In april 1863, major general joseph hooker put his army in motion to force lee out of his fredericksburg positions. Jan 01, 20 chris hartley, a native north carolinian, is author of the recently published stonemans raid, 1865. In the spring of 1865, federal major general george stoneman l.
When the raid finally ended, stoneman \ s troopers had brought the civil war home to dozens of communities that had not seen it up close before. Available from and other leading retailers, this new book is sure to become the definitive book on the operation. History nonfiction in the spring of 1865, george stonemans cavalry division departed salisbury, north carolina, with one objective in mind. One of the longest cavalry raids in history a raid that would cover as much as two thousand miles across six confederate states began on a note of frustration. This raid is the inspiration for the bands the night they drove old dixie down and background for a tv movie.
Chris hartley, a native north carolinian, is author of the recently published stonemans raid, 1865. In the spring of 1865, george stonemans cavalry division departed salisbury, north carolina, with one objective in mind. At the beginning of the civil war, burns enlisted as a sergeant in company a, 3 rd wisconsin infantry in watertown, wisconsin on april 18, 1861 the 3 rd wisconsin was a very active unit during the first year of the war. He sent major general george stoneman s 10,000strong cavalry to move between lee and the confederate capital, richmond. Wheelers men had not gotten much rest after defending the armys supply line when they were ordered on a deep raid into tennessee to disrupt shermans supply line and, it was hoped, force him to retreat. However, after the collapse of the confederacy, the mounted division was ordered to apprehend the exiled confederate president jefferson davis, even if it meant following him to the ends. The author did not come to the raid via the book or the movie but grew up in the area of the raid. Hartley s impressive tome leaves no historical stone unturned. Always generating a great deal of interest among readers, cavalry raid studies comprise a large segment of the civil war military literature, and stonemans raid, 1865 ranks among the best of the genre. When the raid finally ended, stonemans troopers had brought the civil war home to dozens of communities that had not seen it up close before. Joseph hooker intended for stonemans cavalry corps to wreak havoc on the confederate rear and upset enemy logistics. A great deal of military supplies were destroyed but i have never been sure the confederacy had the means to transport of use most of the military supplies. From march until april 1865, major general george stoneman led a union army into north carolina and virginia with the order to destroy confederate structures and railways.
On august 10, wheeler set out with 4,500 men on a sweeping raid through eastern and central tennessee. This raid is the inspiration for the band s the night they drove old dixie down and background for a tv movie. He is a frequent speaker and has written numerous articles on civil war topics. Hartleys website touts in the spring of 1865, federal maj. The tenacious union commander, who enjoyed overwhelming numerical superiority, captured atlanta on september 2. Stonemans cavalry, about 6,000 strong, entered north carolina from tennessee in late march, intending to cut off gen. Despite its geographic scope, stoneman\s 1865 raid failed in its primary goal of helping to end the war. Nov 21, 2011 in the spring of 1865, george stoneman s cavalry division departed salisbury, north carolina, with one objective in mind. Nov 21, 2011 the 1865 stoneman s raid ends by joshua beau blackwell, 9781609493158, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. After the defeat of general gillem s union brigade at russelville, tenn, q. Despite its geographic scope, stoneman \ s 1865 raid failed in its primary goal of helping to end the war. Hartley has pulled george stonemans 1865 raid out of the shadows of history by highlighting the raid in his book, stonemans raid 1865. Given all of these events it is no wonder that stonemans 1865 raid has been in the historical shadow for so many years.
Really dont appreciate the way they described my home town, ive always known it as the model city. Alvan cullem gillem led the cavalry during stonemans raid. Despite its geographic scope, stoneman s 1865 raid failed in its primary goal of helping to end the war. Kellys ford stonemans raid, april 21st 1863 library of. Based on exhaustive research in thirtyfour repositories in twelve states and from more than 200 books and newspapers, hartleys book tells the in the spring of 1865, federal major general george stoneman launched a cavalry raid deep into the. May 06, 2011 joshua beau blackwell is a native of the upstate of south carolina. George stoneman in late march and april 1865, constituted one of the last military operations in the civil war.
The 1865 stonemans raid ends by joshua beau blackwell, 9781609493158, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Timesmachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. History nonfiction in the spring of 1865, george stoneman s cavalry division departed salisbury, north carolina, with one objective in mind. Based on exhaustive research in 34 repositories in 12 states and from more than 200 books and newspapers, hartley s book tells the complete story of stoneman s 1865 raid for the first time.
Major general george stoneman was not having a good war. He also sought to liberate union prisonersofwar held in salisbury and. He and his family moved to wisconsin during his childhood. History museum of burke county remembers stonemans raid. His article on the raid also appeared in blue and gray magazine. About the archive this is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of. George stonemans 1865 union cavalry raid did much for his tattered reputation, perhaps even helping the major general to the governorship. They headed east into north carolina destroying towns and plundering along the way, then headed north into virginia on april 2 where they. It was march 21, 1865, when he finally learned that the raid stonemans 1865 raid had begun. From a reliable source we gather some facts concerning the late raid on the central railroad. Stonemans last raid is an account of general george stonemans raid that covered parts of southwestern virginia, eastern tennesse and western north carolina.
Chris hartley, author of stonemans raid, 1865, and ann greenleaf wirtz, author of blairdistributed the henderson county curb market parkway publishers, were honored on october 22nd at the 71st annual meeting of the nc society of historians in. When the raid finally ended, stoneman\s troopers had brought the civil war home to dozens of communities that had not seen it up close before. The new york times has been expanding its digital library, and today i discovered it now includes a little story on stonemans raid in boone. National archives, rg 94, returns from regular army cavalry regiments, 18331916. On the side, he chases the history that has fascinated him since childhood. For two long months, stonemans cavalry rode across six southern. George stoneman s 1865 union cavalry raid did much for his tattered reputation, perhaps even helping the major general to the governorship. When the raid finally ended, stoneman s troopers had brought the civil war home to dozens of communities that had not seen it up close before. The raid went from bean station, tennessee, all the way in to saltville, virginia.
Stonemans raid of 1865 was one of the last actions of the civil war. Title kellys ford stonemans raid, april 21st 1863 contributor names forbes, edwin, 18391895, artist. In my book, i attempt to answer the question, did stonemans raid truly drive old dixie down. Confederate general joseph wheeler warfare history network. The occupation of henderson proved to be a long term consequence of the raid. The invasion of boone was on the front page april 3, 1865, but was overshadowed by the fall of richmond and petersbur g. Stonemans great raid details of the great raid into east. The 1865 stonemans raid ends by joshua beau blackwell. The raiding party consisting of thirteen regiments of kentucky, indiana, and illinois cavalry, and numbered between six and seven thousand men. The union soldiers were tasked with orders to dismantle the country. Chris hartley, author of stonemans raid, 1865, and ann greenleaf wirtz, author of blairdistributed the henderson county curb market parkway publishers, were honored on october 22nd at the 71st annual meeting of the nc society of historians in mooresville. Stonemans raid the more successful one the result of george stonemans contribution to the 1863 chancellorsville campaign was not as devastating as planned, but his marchapril 1865 cavalry raid, crisscrossing through parts of tennessee, virginia, and north carolina, cut a swath of destruction through a confederacy already on its knees. Exhaustively researched, and with an all embracing treatment of the subject, the book is also beautifully presented in a fine cloth edition.
August 9, 1864 southern recorder the raid on the central railroad. Kellys ford stonemans raid, april 21st 1863 library. Raid is the new series from osprey publishing, which looks at both sides of these engrossing stories. Stoneman s raid of 1865 was one of the last actions of the civil war. According to a summary of stonemans raid written in the burke county history museums april newsletter, after confederate general robert e. However, after the collapse of the confederacy, the mounted division was ordered to apprehend the exiled confederate president jefferson davis, even if it meant following him to the ends of the earth. Stonemans raid of 1865 civil war history discussion. George stoneman and his 4,000 troopers in the closing days of the war between.
Hooker expected stoneman to sever lee s line of supply by destroying the strategically vital orange and alexandria railroad at the town of gordonsville. This portrayal was likely inspired by the scouting of southerners from the 1st mississippi mounted rifles on grierson s raid. Jan 15, 2019 during the course of their raid, wheelers horse soldiers had captured 600 prisoners, 200 wagons, 1,000 horses and mules, and a herd of cattle. This happy combination results in an excellent history that is a joy to read. Based on exhaustive research in 34 repositories in 12 states and from more than 200 books and newspapers, hartleys book tells the complete story of stonemans 1865 raid for the first time. Stonemans raid across 6 confederate states in march may 1865. May 14, 2016 1865 boone raid made the new york times the new york times has been expanding its digital library, and today i discovered it now includes a little story on stoneman s raid in boone. After the defeat of general gillems union brigade at russelville, tenn, q. In the process, the cavalrymen pulled off one of the longest cavalry raids in u. Hartley puts stonemans raid in perspective opinion.
Stonemans raid in 1865 was a military campaign in the american civil war by union cavalry troops led by general george stoneman which began on march 23, 1865, in knoxville, tennessee. Hartley has pulled george stoneman s 1865 raid out of the shadows of history by highlighting the raid in his book, stoneman s raid 1865. George stoneman launched a cavalry raid deep into the heart of the confederacy. Lenoir lenoir, in caldwell county, is located about 90 miles west of winstonsalem. Native north carolinians and tennesseans of the 3rd north carolina mounted infantry performed a similar service for stoneman, going ahead and securing several mountain gaps that stoneman needed for his advance and. The bonfire is a great bargain for the book buyer, as it is several books all rolled up into one. Based on exhaustive research in thirtyfour repositories in twelve states and from more than 200 books and newspapers, hartleys book tells the complete story of stonemans 1865 raid for the read more. The raid caused utter destruction in western north carolina, and the task of rebuilding the many buildings and railroads proved. For salisbury, terrifying stonemans raid held a silver. Hartleys impressive tome leaves no historical stone unturned. Joshua beau blackwell is a native of the upstate of south carolina. Lees escape routes in the event of his expected defeat in virginia. Mcclellan, who did not appreciate the use of centralized cavalry, and was therefore outperformed by the confederates, who did. Remembering stonemans raid in the chancellorsville campaign.
Chris hartley brings general stoneman to statesville. August 8, 1822 september 5, 1894 was a united states army cavalry officer, trained at west point, where his roommate was stonewall jackson. The book tells the story of this couple, starting with their life in north carolina. Stoneman s cavalry, about 6,000 strong, entered north carolina from tennessee in late march, intending to cut off gen.
Thoroughly researched and written in an easily read style, mr. Stonemans 1865 raid essential civil war curriculum. Title kellys ford stonemans raid, april 21st 1863 contributor names forbes, edwin, 18391895, artist created published. The majority of the raid happened in northwestern north carolina, close to my hometown of winstonsalem, hence, the natural interest in the book. George stoneman led a cavalry raid deep into the confederacy. Apr 28, 2016 today marks the 153rd anniversary of the beginning of stonemans raid. Today marks the 153rd anniversary of the beginning of stonemans raid. New book tells of stonemans 1865 raid on statesville news. Major general george stoneman led the last american civil war cavalry raid sixfootfourinch major general george stoneman, powerfully built, with a face that showed the marks of long and hard service in the field, watched as 6,000 men and horses formed up just outside of mossy creek, tennessee, in late march 1865. Stonemans raid, 1865 fills a woeful gap in north carolinas civil war history. Despite its geographic scope, stonemans 1865 raid failed in its primary goal of helping to end the war. New book tells of stonemans 1865 raid on statesville.
The article speaks of the battle fought in my home town of kingsport. Dec 27, 2010 the author did not come to the raid via the book or the movie but grew up in the area of the raid. George stonemans cavalry, about 4,000 strong, in western north carolina and southwest virginia in march and april 1865 was planned as a diversion to assist maj. Major general george stoneman led the last american civil. Stonemans great raid details of the great raid into. Lee s escape routes in the event of his expected defeat in virginia. Civil war cavalry raid map route, civil war cavalry battle.
Stoneman s raid was one of the last cavalry raids of the war. Mccook, the former consisting of 1,300 and the latter or 3,200 men. After graduating from the college of charleston with a ba in history, from the university of charleston with a ma in history and from converse college in spartanburg, south carolina, with a ma in teaching, blackwell is currently a high school teacher and adjunct history professor at two local. That particular emotion belonged to lieutenant general ulysses s. Stonemans raid has been described as the final blow to the confederacy during the civil war.
858 482 256 1124 333 1406 82 195 145 1355 1460 328 933 1064 1487 1066 1210 1159 835 1463 1215 662 345 1412 488 1203 1139 46 1154 610 259 241 837 1168