Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Campaign |
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31 While in Mt. Sterling, many of the men were given furlough. The Cavalry Regiments were being remounted and new clothing and equipment was issued. It was a time of rest with limited duty. Captain Cozatt of Company C was discharged on disability on the 28th of February. Sergeant Major William Taylor, Regimental Staff, was reduced to Private by order of Colonel Holeman and transferred to Company L. The third battalion joined the 11th Kentucky Cavalry during February. This battalion consisted of Companies I, J, K, L and M which were recruited in the fall of 1863 and mustered into service with their Commander, Major W. O. Boyle. Three other officers were brought into the 11th Kentucky Cavalry with the Battalion, those being Lt. Colonel A. J. Alexander, Major English and Colonel Holeman. It was here that injustice was done to Major Milton Graham. Major Graham was the starter of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and led them bravely in the recent East Tennessee Campaign. However, Lt. Colonel Riley was given command of the Regiment at the start. When Riley resigned in July, 1863, Major Graham took over the Regiment. Now the command was given to Colonel Alexander. Alexander would soon resign, but the Regimental command would go to Lt. Colonel Holeman. Holeman would resign in December and Major Boyle would take command. Major Boyle was a young man not yet 20 years old, but he was the son of General Jeremiah Boyle and the General had great influence in Kentucky. Toward the end of the war, Major Graham would finally be made Regimental Commander again. Company A received 5 new recruits in March. These men were: Harrison Spainhour, Nelson Tuder, James Walker, Drury Shrewsbury and Mariman Murphy. The number of men in Company A at the end of March was 58, 10 less than when they started in September, 1862. Company B received 2 new men, Company D only 1. Company E received 5, Company F 2, and Company H received 29. In March, 1864, the loyal citizens of Lexington, Kentucky invited Colonel Wolford to come to their town to receive their appreciation for his performance in ridding the State of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan in July of 1863. Wolford went to Lexington where he was presented with a sword. Wolford then gave a speech thanking the citizens of Lexington for this honor. However, later in the speech, he condemned the President for their call for colored volunteers to join the Union Army and said it should be stopped. In a few days time, Colonel Wolford was put under arrest by the following order: pg 32 NASHVILLE, March 18, 1864 Major General J. M. Schofield, Knoxville, Tennessee Col. Frank Wolford, First Kentucky Cavalry, has this day been ordered to report to you in person in arrest. You will cause your Judge Advocate, or some other staff officer to prepare charges against him, based on his recent speech in Kentucky, and cause, as soon as practicable, a general court martial to be convened for his trial. By order of Lieut. Gen. Grant T. S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant-General A court martial was never convened, but Colonel Wolford was dismissed from the service 6 days later by order of President Lincoln. This action caused great consternation among the men of the 1st, 11th, and 12th Kentucky Cavalry Regiments, and there was a lot of talk against the Military and Government by some of these men. The following message was written by General S. G. Burbridge, Military Commander in Kentucky, to General Schofield in April, 1864. LEXINGTON, KY. April 8, 1864 Major General Schofield: …..The influence of the First, Eleventh, and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry is very dangerous in Kentucky at this time. The quiet of the State demands that they be removed as soon as possible. S. G. BURGRIDGE Brigadier-General During this month of March, Pvt. James Holeman of Company A, deserted at Mt. Sterling on the 7th. One man deserted from Company D, and a man deserted from Company on the1st. A man from Company G deserted at North Middleton, Kentucky on the 5th and another man from that Company deserted at Mt. Sterling on the 30th. Company H had five men desert on the 12th of March. Sickness and disease are always with the Army and a man from Company B died in the hospital at Lexington, Kentucky of Pleurisy on March 15th, and another trooper died of small pox at the hospital in Aurora, Indiana on the 16th. The Provost Marshall brought in a man who had deserted from Company B on October 8, 1862. This man claimed he was a paroled prisoner but was unable to prove such a claim. He was returned to duty with the regiment with loss of pay during his absence. pg 33 The regiment remained at Mt. Sterling training the new recruits and scouting. Pvt. Eli Hurt rejoined the regiment during this month of April, having recovered from his illness at Knoxville. Nine new recruits from Company H deserted the regiment while they were at Paris, Kentucky, between April 1st and the 15th. One soldier from that Company attempted to sneak away from camp and desert, but was drowned while trying to cross the Kentucky River. Two men from Company F deserted on the 30th while at Camp Nelson and a man from Company D, who had been absent without leave since June 20th, 1863, voluntarily returned to the regiment on the 24th of April. On the 29th of April, Lieutenant Pierce, Staff Adjutant, rejoined the regiment as an exchanged prisoner. He had been captured at Maryville, Tennessee. On the 12th of April, Captain James Pond, Commander of Company A, resigned and was transferred to the 12th Kentucky Cavalry. On April 27th, 1864, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry moved to Nicholasville, Kentucky to fully equip and prepare for the journey to join General William Sherman's forces for his push on Atlanta, Georgia. Here in Nicholasville they received their past due pay. General Sturgis had been replaced as Commander of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Ohio by General George Stoneman. Marching orders were issued by Stoneman to move to the front in Georgia on April 28th. Colonel Holeman was now the Brigade Commander which included the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry. Holeman's Brigade moved on the 30th of April, marching one day behind Colonel Biddle's Brigade. All the men of Holeman's and Biddles Brigades which were left behind reported to Colonel Capron. Capron was to see these men were fitted out and sent to their regiments as soon as possible. Pack-mule trains were attached to each regiment, which was a new experience for the troopers. The first objective of the march was Point Burnside on the Cumberland River. Many of the men, particularly of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, were passing near their homes and the temptation was too great for these men to resist. One by one they began to break ranks to pay a final visit to their relatives before going into battle once more. Soon they were deserting the column in droves. On the 2nd of May the command reached Point Burnside. A roll call was called and the 1st Kentucky showed only 71 men and 2 officers present out of over 800 men they started with. General Stoneman was furious and ordered all the absent officers to report to him under arrest when they arrived. Many of the officers and men reported later in the day on the 3rd of May. Men from the 11th Kentucky may also have left ranks, but there is no record of such. Most of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry troopers were from counties farther to the north in Kentucky. On the 4th of May, the command made some rapid marching for over 110 miles to Kingston, Tennessee, arriving there on the 7th of May. They crossed the Tennessee River at the mouth of the Clinch River and went into camp opposite Kingston. By this time, most of the absent men had returned to their regiments. They lay over at Kingston, drawing rations and preparing for the next march. pg 34 The march resumed on the 9th of May, going 28 miles and camping at the mouth of Sewey's Creek. On the 10th they reached Cleveland, Tennessee at 4:30 PM. The next day they crossed over into Georgia at 10:15 AM and encamped near Varnell's Station at 3:45 PM. Here they could hear weapons fire coming from the front. The Confederate Army under General Joe Johnston occupied a strong entrenched position at Dalton, Georgia. General William Sherman had immediate command of the three armies operating against Johnston. These were the Army of the Cumberland, The Army of the Tennessee and The Army of the Ohio (23rd Corps), all totaling about 99,000 men. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its Corps were attached to the Army of the Ohio. On the 6th of May these Armies were grouped as follows: Army of the Cumberland at and near Ringgold, Georgia; that of the Tennessee at Gordon's Mills, Georgia, and that of the Ohio near Red Clay on the Georgia line, north of Dalton. ACTION NEAR DALTON On the 12th of May, Stoneman's command relieved General McCook's forces on the left. Soon after relieving McCook's men, the enemy cavalry attacked the Union line from Varnell's Station south. Stoneman's first line, consisting of the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry, extended along the ridge from Varnell's Station to west of the Railroad. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry was in the lower left of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry and in front of a dense stand of woods. All of the officers of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry were still under arrest except two. As the enemy came into sight, Colonel Holeman came up with orders from General Stoneman, relieving all the officers from arrest. The enemy approached the line of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and made a fierce attack on that regiment. The firing continued for some time until the 11th Kentucky Cavalry was forced to fall back in supporting distance of an Infantry Regiment. The enemy did not press the attack and on the afternoon of the 13th, all the Confederate forces withdrew from their position and moved toward Resaca, Georgia. One man from Company H was killed during the fight. ------o------ The next morning Stoneman's cavalry moved on different roads toward Resaca. Holeman's Brigade, (that of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry), started early and entered Dalton at 10:40 AM, where they witnessed a number of Union Infantrymen looting stores in the town. The cavalry officers, seeing this, rebuked those men and their officers for allowing this looting to happen. Sergeant Dudley of Company A became cut off from the Union lines and was captured by the enemy. pg 35 General Stoneman had orders to cover Dalton and guard General Howard's left. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry moved through Tilton at 11:40 AM the next day and camped at 7:30 PM, where they spent the night strengthening their positions. Skirmishing commenced the next morning all along the line. General Sherman ordered General Stoneman to move over to the Coosawattee River and make demonstrations on the enemy's rear. The command moved out but of the three bridges across the Connasauga River, the command succeeded in getting possession of only the lower one at File's Ferry, from which the command was soon driven off by the enemy. The 11th Kentucky and its Brigade lay on their arms on the night of the 15th and marched at 9:40 on the morning of the 16th. They reached the Coosawattee River where they ate their rations before resuming the march at 4:30 PM. On the 17th of May, General Stoneman sent the 1st Kentucky Cavalry and others, in all about 750 men, with orders to cut the railroad between Kingston and Allatoona. The Command started early, but at 1:30 PM they encountered the enemy in such force that they were compelled to halt and go into camp. During the night, the Confederate forces once more retreated south, this time to Cassville where there were strong entrenched positions. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its brigade moved early on the 18th and camped on Big Pine Creek. The next day General Stoneman's cavalry, including the 11th Kentucky, moved early, skirmishing with the enemy all day, driving their outposts into Cassville. When the Union Infantry came up at dusk, the Cavalry went into camp. A man from Company G was captured this day while acting as a courier between the regiments in the Brigade. On the night of the 19th, Confederate General Joe Johnston again retreated south across the Etowah River. While the main Union Army rested on the 20th, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry went into line near Cassville and at 7 PM went into camp near a bridge. An inspection of the horses was conducted on the 22nd which showed that many of the horses were unfit for active service. On the 23rd, Colonel Holeman's Brigade, that of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, moved to Cass Station and encamped near Colonel Strickland's Infantry Command. General Sherman had begun moving his Armies toward Dallas, Georgia on this day. The 11th Kentucky and its Brigade were left at Cass Station to guard some stores of corn and to protect the rear of General Schofield's wagon trains. pg 36 BATTLE AT CASS STATION At 10 AM on the 24th of May, Confederate cavalry, commanded by General Joe Wheeler, consisting of three brigades, attacked General Schofield's wagon train between Kingston and Cass Station, burning some and capturing others. When the first shots were heard, the men of the 11th and 1st Kentucky Cavalry mounted their horses and galloped in the direction of the attacked train. The force which was to protect the wagon train was made up of the 14th Kentucky Infantry and about 200 of the 125th Indiana Infantry. These wagons were moving to the front with the Infantry in their rear and front and the Cavalry again in the rear of them. The enemy attacked the train in the center where they were least guarded and succeeded in burning the greater portion of the train before the 11th and 1st Kentucky Cavalry moved up. The Kentucky Brigade advanced across a small stream and proceeded across an open field where they saw the enemy at the edge of a dense oak and pine woods. The enemy opened fire as the Brigade moved closer but the Brigade rushed on, driving them back to their main forces. It was seen now that the enemy outnumbered the small Brigade. The main force of Wheeler's Cavalry charged the Union Regiments. The 11th and 1st Kentucky Cavalry Regiments fell back with several losses. As they retreated through the dust and smoke, the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry became mingled with each other and also with that of the enemy. Lieutenant Harris, of Company A of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, disabled one of the enemy by a blow on the head with his saber and then captured him. Harris also emptied the saddle of an enemy trooper and Lieutenant Hall another. Several of the enemy troopers were captured in this melee. A black flag bearing a white, grinning skull was captured and brought in. As the Brigade moved back, the Infantry came up and soon the Confederate Cavalry withdrew. Back at Cass Station, Colonel Strickland had ordered the depot burned to keep it out of Confederate hands. The Kentucky Regiments then moved back and gathered up their dead and wounded and took them back to Kingston. At Kingston they buried the dead troopers and placed board markers on their graves. Their names were carved on the boards. Two of the dead were from Company D, one was from Company B, one from Company I and one from Company K. One man from Company H and two men from Company K were wounded. Company H had 4 men captured and Company G had one man captured. Company A had two men captured, being Pvt. George Bogie and Corporal Woodson Wilder. The next day, in the afternoon, the 11th Kentucky moved across the Etowah River and encamped in the rain. No dry firewood was to be found to cook their meals and they made do with just their hardtack. ------o------ On the 25th of May, General Sherman was facing the Confederate Army at New Hope Church, Georgia. The battle raged for several days. While this event was taking place, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its Division were covering the left and rear of General Schofield's Infantry Forces. On the 26th of May they marched all day and camped at 10 PM. The next day they camped within 7 miles of Dallas. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry continued it movements protecting the rear and left of the Army until the 1st of June. pg 37 On the 1st of June, General Stoneman was sent, with his Command, to capture Allatoona Pass, which was done the same day with little resistance. The Cavalry now occupied the east and west ends of the Pass. The Regiment remained here until June 7th, scouting the surrounding country. On the 4th of June, the Pack Trains were ordered up. In the meantime, Confederate General Joe Johnston retreated again with his Army to Kennesaw, Pine and Lost Mountains. Lt. Colonel Milton Graham was now the Commander of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry. The Kentucky Brigade moved on June 7th to near Ackworth, and on the 9th moved to the front pressing the retreating enemy and skirmishing with them. In this skirmish, one man of Company D was wounded and one man from that Company was captured. The Regiment returned to camp that night. The next day, June 10th, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and its Brigade moved up to the front again skirmished with the enemy. On the 12th, while heavy cannonading was going all day along the line, the 11th and 1st Kentucky Cavalry were dismounted and stood within the defenses in a cold rain. On the 15th of June, the Brigade was again dismounted and moved to the front to try to take Lost Mountain, together with other regiments. However, the enemy was too strongly entrenched. The 11th and 1st Kentucky Cavalry were posted in two different places and Colonel Adams had to move between these positions to give directions. On one of his trips he was fired upon by enemy videttes (mounted pickets), with one of the balls tearing off a piece of his beard. Adams had been promoted Colonel and given Command of the Brigade. Colonel Holeman had taken a leave of absence and had gone home. He would later tender his resignation. On the 17th of June, the enemy withdrew from Lost Mountain and Colonel Adams' Brigade moved to the top. Coming down from the Mountain, Adams was ordered by General Cox to send his Brigade against some enemy artillery supported by infantry. Adams took the Brigade towards the spot and was ready to charge, when they were called back by a courier from General Stoneman. Stoneman had words with General Cox about sending his men on a mission without his consent. It is very likely that had the Brigade not been called back, it would have suffered severe casualties. The men of the Brigade thought a lot of General Stoneman at that moment. The Regiment moved on the 19th of June toward Powder Springs and went into camp. The next day they continued toward Powder Springs and formed into line of battle. The enemy being too strong for the Brigade, they pulled back about 2 miles and went into camp on a stream called Mud Creek and to the right of General Cox's Division of the 23rd Corps. Sergeant Major Harry Gee of Company A was promoted to Staff Adjutant. Lieutenant John Cotton resigned on the 20th and Corporal Howard Warren was promoted to Second Lieutenant on the same day. pg 38 On the 21st, about 1:30 PM, a large force of the enemy's cavalry made their way through dense woods to the opposite side of the Creek near Adams' Brigade and formed into line. Enemy artillery began shelling the camp, driving Adams' Brigade off. The Brigade was soon reinforced by the 12th Kentucky Infantry with artillery and the enemy was driven off. The Brigade returned to their camp. The Brigade loaded up its camp equipment, and on the 27th of June moved across Mud Creek and to the right of the main Army. They formed in line of battle and drove the enemy one mile and went into camp. Also on the 27th, General Sherman gave orders for the main forces to make an assault on Kennesaw Mountain. The assault failed with considerable casualties on the Union side. Sherman then moved his forces to flank the Confederates, causing the enemy army to withdraw from Kennesaw on the 2nd of July. While the Infantry was moving, Adams' Brigade moved out of camp at and early hour on the 1st of July. They crossed to the south side of Sweetwater Creek, and went about 6 miles further to the right wing of the Union Army, driving some enemy pickets into their camp. Three Companies of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and three Companies of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry were sent out on a scout, but found no enemy. On the 2nd of July, the Brigade marched all day, capturing some prisoners, and camped near Salt Springs. On the 3rd of July, 1864, the Command was ordered to the Chattahoochee River on a scout. They found the enemy on the opposite side, and skirmished with them. The next day, the enemy's cavalry crossed the river and fired upon the Brigade's pickets. Three Companies of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and 4 Companies of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry pursued them to the river at Campbellton, where a heavy skirmish took place. On the 5th of July, the Confederate Army took position on Peach Tree Creek and the Chattahoochee River. Sherman's Union forces began crossing the Chattahoochee at three points over pontoon bridges. Atlanta was now only 8 miles away from the Union Armies. Here Sherman gave his forces a short rest to await supplies. Leaving early in the morning of July 10th, Stoneman's cavalry moved toward Salt Springs where all the brigades would rendezvous. As they moved toward Sweetwater town, Silas Adams' Brigade, consisting of the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry joined the column as it neared their camp near the ruins of the Sweetwater factory. About noon, they reached the Campbellton Ferry. Skirmishing began immediately with Confederates who were dug in on the east side of the river. After General Stoneman ordered the artillery up to shell the enemy, and after the shelling commenced, the rebel forces "skedaddled" and the citizens of Campbellton began hanging out white flags. A large factory in the town was set afire by the shelling. pg 39 RAID TO MOORE'S BRIDGE Leaving the 5th and 6th Indiana Cavalry at Campbellton to keep the rebel forces busy, on the 12th of July, General Stoneman's Command, including the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, marched west in the direction of Carrolton to see if there were any bridges intact to cross the River. They rode about 20 miles, and went into camp. During the morning of July 13th, a scout came in with information given him by a citizen that Moore's Bridge was just down the road. The Brigades moved out about 4 or 5 miles beyond Dog Creek to Five Points where they turned southeast and headed straight for Moore's Bridge, determined to get to the bridge before it could be reinforced or burned by the Confederates. General Stoneman ordered Colonel Adams to take the 11th Kentucky Cavalry and hurry ahead to the bridge. Shortly before noon, 9 men of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, dressed in captured rebel uniforms, rode up to the bridge and leveled their guns at the rebel pickets skinny-dipping in the shallows of the river, and demanded their surrender. Some of the enemy clambered up the opposite bank and ran across the fields as fast as their bare feet could carry them. Others went for their weapons, but the Kentuckians opened fire, wounding a Lieutenant and capturing 20 others. The rebels were literally caught with their pants down. They were of the 1st Tennessee Cavalry. Late that afternoon, General Stoneman and the rest of the column arrived at the bridge. After repairing and replacing some planks on the bridge, a few men crossed over and captured some mules, some wagons and prisoners. Soon the whole Command was ready to cross over, but as soon as they started, the enemy opened fire with artillery from the woods on the other side. Rebel Cavalry under General Frank Armstrong had arrived unknowingly to the Union troopers. The Union troopers had to abandon their rifle pits and sprinted back across the bridge, where they opened fire on the enemy. Sergeant Byrum of the 11th Kentucky was wounded and later died. General Stoneman ordered the bridge to be burned, which was done. Both of the Brigades were ordered to fall back a short distance. General Stoneman then sent scouts down the river to within 13 miles of Franklin, but they found no fords or bridges across the river. The Command then fell back to Dog Creek near Villa Rica, arriving at 2 AM on the 15th of July and encamped near there. At daylight, Adams' Brigade and the 11th Kentucky Cavalry moved to Dark Corner. At 4 PM on the 15th, Adams' Brigade left Dark Corner and crossed the bridge at Sweetwater shortly before sundown. They then turned south to picket and patrol the riverbank between Sandtown Ferry and the mouth of Sweetwater Creek. On the 20th of July, General Schofield's Army and the Army of General Thomas fought a large and fierce battle near Peach Tree Creek. The Confederate Army was now under the command of General Hood, General Johnston having been relieved of his command. General Sherman ordered that General Rousseau's cavalry be sent to relieve General Stoneman's Division on the 23rd of July. He also requested that General Stoneman and his Command report to him at Headquarters. On the 24th, Adams' Brigade reunited with their Division and the whole Command crossed the bridge at DeFoor's Ferry on the Chattahoochee. General Stoneman then met with General Sherman at his Headquarters on Peach Tree Road. pg 40 THE RAID TO MACON General Sherman wanted to send the cavalry south to wreck the Macon Railroad. Stoneman's and McCook's cavalry would be given the mission. On the 26th of July, General Stoneman requested permission from General Sherman to go on to Macon with his Division, after wrecking the railroad, and release the Union Prisoners at that place. He also requested that permission be given to further move to Andersonville and free the men held there. Sherman gave his permission. Stoneman then summoned his Brigade and Regimental Commanders to his headquarters and announced his plans for the raid. The Officers were a little stunned at the prospect and not all of them liked what they heard. Some of his Officers, especially Colonel Biddle, had no confidence in General Stoneman's ability to lead a raiding party. General Sherman himself said that "this is probably more than Stoneman can accomplish, but it is worthy of a determined effort." On this raid would be Colonel Silas Adams' Kentucky Brigade, consisting of the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry, in all about 550 men, Colonel Biddle's Brigade of 700 men of the 5th and 6th Indiana Cavalry, Colonel Horace Capron's Brigade of the 14th Illinois, 8th Michigan Cavalry, and McLaughlin's Ohio Squadron with 800 men. In addition there were Captain Hardy's 24th Indiana Artillery Battery of 54 men and General Stoneman's escort of Company D, 7th Ohio Cavalry with 32 men. On the 27th of July, 1864, the Union horsesoldiers left their camp on the south fork of Peachtree Creek and moved to Decatur, Georgia where General McCook's troopers waited. McCook would move on a separate road to Lovejoy's Station. There he was supposed to meet up again with General Stoneman's column. Several promotions were made in Company A prior to leaving Decatur. Francis Murphy was promoted to First Sergeant, Jim McDonald was promoted to Sergeant and Private Bill Yader was appointed Corporal. After meeting with McCook at Decatur, Stoneman's column moved south on the Covington Road. Crossing Snapfinger Creek they reached Latimer's Crossroads, 8 miles east of Decatur, where they halted for a brief while. They then continued south toward Lithonia. That evening they stopped for the night 2 miles southwest of Covington, and early the next morning they moved into the town. Leaving Covington about 8 AM on July 28th, Stoneman sent Colonel Adams' Brigade down the west side of the Alcovy River with orders to scout toward Mechanicsville, watch the movements of the enemy and look for a bridge which the column could use to cross the Ocmulgee River. He then sent a detachment towards the railroad with instructions to tear up the tracks. In the meantime, a train of confederate soldiers were coming down the railroad and as fast as the Union troopers tore it up, the Confederates got off the train to repair it. Soon, General Stoneman told them to forget the railroad and continue on to Macon. Adams' Brigade was to rejoin the column at Monticello at dark, but did not get to Monticello until midnight. They had moved down the west bank of the Alcovy, destroying a cotton mill. They burned Water's Bridge after crossing the Alcovy and took the road south to Mechanicsville, sending scouts down the east side of the Ocmulgee River. They found no bridge at Seven Islands, (although Stoneman thought there was one). In fact, the scouts did not find any bridge along this stretch of the Ocmulgee. pg 41 Leaving Monticello that morning on the 29th, Stoneman sent Adams' Brigade to the right to scout the country immediately east of the Ocmulgee River. They were to unite with the column again at Clinton. When Adams's Brigade arrived at Clinton, Stoneman moved south again. Adams's Kentucky Brigade was diverted to the right on the direct road to Macon. About 10 PM a flurry of gunshots crackled in the darkness. Adams' advance guard had been fired upon by the rebels, killing a 1st Kentucky trooper and critically wounding another. A little further on there were more shots ringing out and the Kentuckians raced after the rebs. When they were within thirty yards of the enemy's position, the rebels fired and the Kentuckians took cover. The enemy soon scattered, and Adams' Brigade moved on, calling a halt about 5 miles short of Macon. At dawn on the 30th of July, they were back in the saddle. Adams had received orders, delivered by a courier, to strike the river at some point above Macon and find a means of crossing it. When Adams' Brigade came back toward Macon on the Clinton Road, Stoneman's main force was in battle with the enemy in front of Macon. The 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry held the Clinton Road and skirmished with the enemy. Stoneman, feeling that the enemy's position was too strong and fearing Confederate reinforcements at anytime, decided to continue on south, and maybe go to Pensacola, Florida. Farther north, General McCook had waited for Stoneman at Lovejoy's Station. Since he had no word of Stoneman's whereabouts, he moved back toward the Union lines. General Joe Johnston was then in Macon, having been relieved of his command by General Hood a few days earlier. The Georgia Militia, with artillery, was facing Stoneman's troops here at Macon. General Stoneman ordered Adams' Brigade and the pack train to move down the east bank of the Ocmulgee River to hold a ford 7 or 8 miles below Macon until the rest of the Command arrived. After the Kentuckians had gone about 2 miles, a courier came in and told Stoneman that Rebel Cavalry was coming into Macon. Stoneman called Adams' back. Now there was nothing left to do but head back toward Atlanta and the Union lines. At 5 PM they started back up the road toward Clinton. Near Clinton, they had word that about 50 Confederate soldiers were there. The Union troopers swept into town, guns blazing. The Rebels retreated northwest of town. Releasing some of their men who had been stragglers and captured earlier, from the town jail, the troopers burned the jail down. Stoneman's column moved on and at 9 PM they were about 3 miles beyond Clinton. Here the advance guard of Colonel Capron's Brigade met a column of oncoming Confederate troops. These men were from General Iverson's Cavalry of Wheeler's Command. Stoneman's men pushed Iverson's cavalry back about half a mile. Then the Rebs received reinforcements and more shots rang out. A charge by the 8th Michigan Cavalry drove the enemy back again. Colonel Adams' and Biddle's Brigades were still back on the road coming up from Clinton and did not get up to Stoneman until late that night. General Stoneman waited until dawn on July 31st, to determine where exactly the enemy positions were. pg 42 When the whole Command assembled, Stoneman ordered the men to dismount. Adams' 1st Kentucky and 11th Kentucky Cavalry were ordered to charge up a slope at the dug in enemy. Some of the Kentucky men balked in the face of fire and refused to advance. Silas Adams rushed up, saber in hand, and tried to rally the Kentuckians to advance, but to no avail. Many of his men, especially in the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, were due to be mustered out in 2 weeks and no one could budge them. If the 1st Kentucky would not charge, then the 11th Kentucky wouldn't either. Finding themselves surrounded, Stoneman's men put up a furious defense for the next few hours. The Kentuckians had retreated to the rear, but reformed and went up to the line. Colonel Capron's Brigade was attacked and they fell back in panic to their horses, many of them were killed, wounded or captured. Next the enemy charged the 1st and 11th Kentucky Cavalry. The Kentuckians retreated back to where the 5th Indiana lay waiting. The Hoosiers charged the enemy but they too were driven back. Most of Adams' Brigade took refuge in a ravine while solid shot and shell rained down on them with considerable accuracy. Captain Pierce, of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry's Company A, had just formed up the Company when a shell burst sent a piece of iron slicing into Lieutenant James Humphrey's knee. Captain Wolford and others dismounted to assist him and another shell came in tearing away the head of the Captain. Captain Pierce then hurried Company A out of range of the Rebel Artillery. Finding Colonel Adams, Captain Pierce told him they could not stay here, that they must cut their way out. Adams had heard General Stoneman was going to surrender. The Kentuckians were now nearly uncontrollable at the thought of becoming prisoners and being sent to Andersonville. Colonel Adams went to see General Stoneman and told him that many of his 1st Kentucky men were near their expiration of enlistment and it would not be fair to condemn them to captivity. In addition, many of the men in the 11th Kentucky were ex-confederates, and if they were captured that would surely be shot as deserters. Stoneman told Adams to take a flag of truce and surrender the Division. He said "if the men tried to cut their way out, they'd be shot down like dogs." Adams replied, "General, do you order me to do so?" "What else do you propose to do?" said Stoneman. "Cut my way out" replied Adams, "and where I go my Brigade will follow". Stoneman then told him to try it then and he would remain behind and hold off the Rebels as long as he could, thus giving Adams a chance of getting out. The two men then shook hands with tears in their eyes. pg 43 Adams' Brigade mounted up and galloped into the woods, then across open fields, over fences and over hills and deep ditches, all without a sign of a road to guide them. Horace Capron's Brigade soon followed. Most of the men in Stoneman's Command wanted to cut their way out as Adams had. Individual men of the 8th Michigan had gone out with Adams and Capron. Lt. Colonel Matson rode up to some of his men of the 6th Indiana Cavalry and announced "anyone who wanted to escape should follow him." Major Orlando Smith told other men of the 6th Indiana "if you don't want to go to prison, follow me". About 300 men and officers fell in behind them and galloped into the woods. At least 40 men of the Division were either killed or wounded before the breakout. Privates Andy Cooley and Cincinnati Alverson of Company A were captured. General Stoneman remained with about 500 men and when their ammunition ran out, they surrendered. Colonel Biddle's earlier remark about having no confidence in Stoneman's ability to lead a raid was prophetic. He was with Stoneman at the surrender. After emerging from the woods, Silas Adams' Kentucky Brigade followed the Milledgeville Road as far as Blountsville before turning north toward Eatonton. Shortly before midnight, the Kentuckians rode into Eatonton. Staying only briefly, they hurried north on the Madison Road. Five miles north of Eatonton, Adams called a halt to rest his worn out Command. They moved out a dawn and about 9 AM, on August 1st, Adams' Brigade rode into Madison. Lingering only a short spell, they once more rode off north, crossing Hard Labor Creek on the Monroe Road. By the time the Brigade had reached Fair Play Crossroads, they had ridden 56 miles in 21 hours. While at the Crossroads, men of the 8th Michigan and Matson's 6th Indiana arrived that afternoon. A little later Capron's Brigade arrived. Capron, the senior Colonel, asserted his right to command. Adams objected, but after some heated words he agreed to obey Capron's orders. Adams wanted to move northwest via Monroe and Lawrenceville, but Capron had heard of Rebel Cavalry in that direction and said they would go northeast towards Athens. The whole column then moved toward Athens shortly after dark. At midnight they were at High Shoals on the Appalachee River near Watkinsville. Adams' Brigade charged into Watkinsville virtually unannounced. Adams' Brigade moved from Watkinsville toward Athens and to find a crossing across the Oconee River. Should he find a crossing, he would send word back to Capron. Three and a half miles south of town they were fired upon by artillery concealed behind fortifications. Adams withdrew and detoured westward, sending a courier to report to Capron. They came that night to a point about 16 miles northeast of Lawrenceville, and halted at midnight, the Command lying to horse, unsaddled, without going into camp. The Brigade was completely worn out, not having had any sleep for four days and nights. pg 44 Meanwhile, Colonel Capron had moved his men westward after Adams. After six miles he discovered his civilian guide had purposely led the column astray. After 6 hours of delay, Capron abandoned his idea of fording the Oconee River. He struck off to the northwest on the Hog Mountain Road about 4 PM. We can only wonder what he did to the civilian guide. That night, Capron's men were asleep in camp when they awoke surrounded by the enemy. Some of the men mounted and escaped, others fought briefly and were either killed or captured. When a private from the 11th Illinois Cavalry came up on Adams' column, he told Adams that "Capron has been attacked and cut all to pieces". The Kentuckians spurred ahead to help Capron. When they came to Capron's camp, all they found were guns, pistols, blankets, etc. strewn all over the ground, these items being from Capron's Brigade. Moving on farther about a mile, the Kentuckians collided with Rebel Cavalrymen escorting some prisoners. Adams' men jumped into their midst and captured most of them. Deciding not to pursue those who escaped, Adams moved to his left on the Hog Mountain Road and that morning crossed Hog Mountain and rode on the Peachtree Road. At Pinckneyville, he detoured due north. About an hour before sundown the advance guard struck the Chattahoochee River at a ford a couple of miles above the ruins of McAfee's Bridge, at or near Martin's Ferry. By 9 PM everyone had crossed the River safely. They halted and camped in a cornfield about 2 miles beyond the River and near Newtown Crossroads. Since sunrise, they had ridden about 40 miles. Early on August 4th, Adams and his Kentucky Brigade mounted up and leisurely continued westward on the Warsaw Road through Roswell. About 11 AM his men began straggling into Marietta. They were back! Colonel Adams made his report to General Sherman. Generals Garrard and McCook had already returned and had told General Sherman they were unable to hook up with General Stoneman at Lovejoy's Station, and did not know where Stoneman was. When Sherman learned what happened from Colonel Adams, he was furious. Never having much faith in the Cavalry before, he had far less now. Stragglers from Adams' Brigade and Capron's Brigade continued to return to the Union lines. Many had walked back, hiding by day and traveling by night. The 11th Kentucky Cavalry had at least 8 men missing, believed captured or killed. One wounded man from Company D died on August 5th in Marietta. Colonel Biddle's Command consisting of the 5th and 6th Indiana Cavalry and a section of the 24th Indiana Battery, were captured with General Stoneman. General Sherman ordered that Colonel Adams collect all of General Stoneman's cavalry and make his depot at Marietta, and to picket Roswell in connection with the Regiment of Infantry there. Colonel Adams was asked to make a minute report of the facts and to let General Sherman draw the conclusions. On August 5th, all of Adams' Command that were fit for duty moved to Roswell Factory. The horses sent to Roswell were mostly broken down, and hooves worn out for want of shoes. pg 45 General Sherman sent a message to General Schofield, telling him that he may send a detachment to Marietta and secure the horses of Colonel Adams' Brigade and use them to mount other men. After the Macon raid, General Schofield was left practically without any cavalry for his Army of the Ohio. He told General Sherman, on August 9th, "that he had no good cavalry commander and that Colonel Adams was the best he had, but that Adams' tour of duty was up and he would be discharged". When asked if he wanted Capron, Schofield replied "I don't know Capron personally, but understand he is not of much account". "Colonel Garrard is the best man I have, but he is wanting in dash." On August 9th, Colonel Capron and six men came in during the morning and also Captain Bell of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, who was left on the battlefield July 31st. All came in on foot. For the next few days, the 11th Kentucky Cavalry stayed in the Roswell area on picket duty. The 1st Kentucky Cavalry had been ordered back to Kentucky, and shortly thereafter, the 11th Kentucky also returned to Kentucky for refitting. They had no horses, so the Regiment went by train. Arriving in Lexington, they went into camp. |