STONEMAN'S RAID IN EAST TEN NESSEE, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. Early in February 1865, General Granf directed Gen eral Thomas to send an expedition under Gen eral Stoneman from East Tcnnessee to pene trate North Carolina and well down to Colum bia, S. C., to destroy the enemy's railroads and military resources in that section and visit a portion of the State beyond the control or reach of Sherman's column, which had started on its march northward from Savannah. On the 27th Grant wrote that Stoneman was to repeat the raid of the previous fall, destroying the rail road as far toward Lynchburg as he could. As the movement was merely for the purpose of destruction, Stoneman was to avoid any heavy engagement. Stoneman's force, which was concentrated at Mossy Creek, East Tennessee, 22 March, consisted of the cavalry division of Gen. A. C. Gillem, three brigades of three regi ments each, under Cols. W. J. Palmer, S. B. Brown and I. K. Miller, numbering about 6,000 men. It had now become known that Sherman had captured Columbia, S. C., and there were rumors that Lee's army would evacuate Petersburg and Richmond, with the possible intention of moving by way of Lynch burg to Knoxville; and Stoneman was, there fore, directed to move toward Lynchburg, give his first attention to the destruction of the railroad, and then sweep through western North Carolina. On the 24th Stoneman moved to Morristown, and sent Miller's brigade to cut off a Confederate force between Jonesboro and Carter's Station, but the force escaped, and on the 26th Miller rejoined Stoneman, who had advanced to Jonesboro. All encumbrances were thrown aside, and with but four guns, and two ambulances to accompany the column, Stone man left Jonesboro on the 26th and, crossing Iron Mountain, arrived at Boone, N. C., on the 28th, where he captured a body of home guards, and the column was divided marching by two different routes across the Blue Ridge and through Wilkesboro, Jacksonville and Mount Airy, N. C., and Hillsville, Wytheville, Christianburg and Salem, to within four miles of Lynchburg, destroying bridges and railroad track, capturing trains and prisoners, and causing the Confederates to abandon many guns. This was accomplished by 6 April, at which time Stoneman had possession of 90 miles of the Virginia Central Railroad, from Wytheville nearly to Lynchburg. The bridges over Roanoke and New rivers were destroyed, and on the 9th the entire command arrived at Danbury, N. C. Next day at Germantown, beyond Danbury, Palmer was detached and ordered to Salem, N. C., where he destroyed the extensive factories which were supplying the Confederate • armies with clothing, then destroyed the railroad south of Greensboro, and also a part of it between that place and Danville, Va. The main column moved toward Salisbury, dispersing small bodies of the enemy, and bivouacking on the night of the 11th 12 miles north of that place. At midnight the march was resumed, and • the South River crossed, and at daybreak the Confederate pickets were driven in and across Grant's Creek two miles from Salisbury. The bridge across the creek was defended by 18 guns, under com mand of Col. J. C. Pemberton (formerly a lieutenant-general) and about 3,000 men, com manded by General Gardener. The flooring of the bridge had been taken up. Detachments were sent up and down the stream to cross and come in on the Confederate rear; and time be ing given for this, a charge was made on the bridge, the men went over on the stringers, and the Confederates were totally routed and pur sued through Salisbury, Stoneman capturing the 18 guns, 1,364 prisoners, 10,000 stand of arms, and some wagons. At Salisbury an im
mense amount of public property was destroyed, and the railroad was wrecked for several miles south of the place. Having raided over 500 miles, destroying railroads, and capturing horses enough to refit his entire command, Stoneman concluded to take the prisoners and the captured artillery not destroyed to East Tennessee. He withdrew from Salisbury, on the 13th, and reached Lenoir on the 15th, where he turned over the command to General Gillem and, with a strong escort, conducted the artillery and prisoners to Tennessee. His instructions to Gillem were to scout on the east side of the Blue Ridge; to put Palmer's brigade at Lincoln ton to scout down the Catawba; Brown at Mor gantown, to connect with Palmer on the Catawba; and Miller at Asheville, to open com munication through to Greenville, Tenn. When Gillem, with the two brigades of Brown and Miller, reached the Catawba, two and one-half miles from Morgantown, the bridge was found to be torn up, the ford blockaded, and the pas sage of the river disputed by General McCown with about 300 men and one gun. A flanking force was sent up the stream about two miles, crossed, and gained McCown's rear; the force in front attacked with artillery; and the infan try, crossing on the sleepers of the bridge, charged McCown and routed him, killing some of his men, and capturing his gun and about 50 prisoners. On the 19th Gillem moved to ward Asheville, by way of Swannanoa Gap, reaching the gap on the 20th, which was found to be blockaded and defended by about 500 men with four guns. Leaving Miller to feint in front, Gillem, with the rest of his force, on the 21st, moved to Rutherford, 40 miles south of Swannanoa Gap, and at sundown on the 22d had passed the Blue Ridge at Howard's Gap, with but slight resistance and was in the enemy's rear. At daylight of the 23d his ad vance entered Hendersonville, where it was learned that the Confederates had retreated through the place. Pursuit was given and 70 men and four guns captured. The entire column then moved on Ashville, and at 3 P.M., when near the town, was met by a flag of truce, with a communication from General Martin, stating that he had received official notice of a truce between Generals Sherman and J. E. Johnston, and proposing a meeting next morning. At 11 P.M. an order was received from Sherman directing the command to move to Durham Station or Hillsboro. Being convinced that Sherman had given the order in the belief that the division was at or near Salisbury, and as it would have required a march of about 200 miles to reach Durham Station, and was but 60 to his base at Greenville, Tenn., Gillem deter mined to march to the latter place, and so in formed General Martin, when he met him next morning, of whom he requested rations to make the march, and thus relieve him of the necessity of subsisting on the country, already impover ished. Martin furnished the rations, and on the 25th Gillem set his brigades in motion for East Tennessee. The raid was one of the most suc cessful and destructive of the war. Gillem and Stoneman report the capture of 25 guns taken in action, and 21 that the Confederates were forced to abandon in southwestern Virginia; about 6000 prisoners, and 17 battle-flags. Con sult