The Opelousas courier., 1864-08-27
= Capture of General Stoneaaau and
Most of Els Raiders.

From the Macon Intelligencer, Sd instsnk
On Monday noon, rn,nors began to fy through
the ely that Stoneman and his command were
captured and on their way to this city. About
FIVE o'clock in the evening, hundreds Of people
of all sexes focked to the bridge to see the pris-
eners as they passed. Gen. Iverson, the captor,
with strong escort, soon came inte view. with
icade passed to Camp Ogiethorpe TO be registered
aud placed in headquarters. 7s.1
An immense number of curiosity seekers fol-
lowed, exhibiting on their smiling faces the CONF
fort the capture Of the party gave to them.
Wevisited the prisoners at the military prison
and by the courtesy Of the gentIenanly and eff
cie1t cotnrnandant Of the post, Col. Gibbes, was
permitted to soc and converse with the prisoners
They look very much worn and considerably de-
jected, StoHenlan himself complaining of much
fatigue ~ The General is large, tall thin man,
with a face very much broazed and rough some-
what haggasd features; sandy whishers and hair.
dark. keen, lowering eyes and look, darting
4shAfR piercfn looks nccassen aIly st his rnseTTo
gators. He bears tile appearance Of a man Of
iron will who exacts implicit obedience to his
Commands and Is stern inhis DEGREES. His strongs
powerful frame seems capable of enduring any
amount of hardships. aIis every feature. and
powerful, wiry motions, indicate the endurance Of
Hercules and mark liai The leader of desperate
enterprises fhs character oewhich have made him
his reputation az an inimitable raider.
In his capture there has been more canned ito
us, in .ha moral effect it Produces OH us and the
enemy, than any ethe1 capture of the n ar.ss He
well knowathat the influence it will have will be
to cheer up our people and depfess the North
very much, and it loses to Sherman The great and
most dangerous arm Of that Generat's efscsire-
ness. His Capture viii place 9 qs,iftus on The
amusement for a long time. For now that the
chief Of all the raiders has fallen and will not
soon be again on tiewar.track, raids will not
Boon be,attempted again His ambitious hopes
ARE gone to the winds, and he will be scarcely
heard again during the war, unless he escapes
but we presume such sn episode will be too care
fully guarded against to ever occur.
He informed US he, left Sherman S army on the
9th of July, and has. been actively engaged
on the raid constantly since ,ltS.41,.,,z--. 8. 3
IS Gen Iserson has been on StonernSn s track
|sines Wednesday evening, the 227th. He over
took the raiaaig party on Thursday, at the juno
ton of the South and i elbow Rivers, where Their
junction forms the Ocmulgee, some sixty miles
northwest Of tits city. sA spirited fight ensued
Kelly s and Hunie,s cavairy fought the command
that Stoneman detached for the purpose Of delay
ing pursuit Gen. I. suspected the nlanoauyra,
and left Kelly and ufna 10 finish the fight whilst
be passed around the party and eentinned the
pursuit. e Seanenian, when he ieared Macon,
detached party to operate on MiiIedseyille and
,Eatonisn. We learn this evening Monday J,
THAT il was unsuccessful, the militia having de-
tered them from attacking, and thereby saved
the capital from destruction. y sf.s ~ ss
T On Saturday night, Stonenan discovered Gen.
Iyerson.s command above Clinton, disputing his
return. He quickly decided that he could not
escape on either flank, and determined 10 fight
through the centre. His command numbered
nearly twenty-five hundred men. and he thinks
if his men had done Ss he expected, them to do.
and as they should have done, be would have
escaped 81 ~ 81 -,1f}5
E9 On Sunday morning the opposing forces began
the battle Of Sunshine Church on the Clinton
and Eatonfon road, and it was furious dGringfire
gfeatest part of the day Toward sunset, Stone-
man, finding be would be defeated, separated bis
forces, with orders for them to escape if possible
ThBy scattered, 4 porsion under Girard going to.
Hards Eafantsn. Z dams csyalry pursuing. =
Our forces consisted Of ISersoh 8 Georgia brig
ade, Adams AlabaIna and gerro o 6raof' w IL
Hams gade = S5en. Iverson commanding The
enemy had three brigades Of well mounted and
supeTbly equipped cavalry. Our forces captured
rome I've orsiH hundred up to Monday informing,
and ah their, artillery and qnipn,ents. and have
been hunting ana -puisuissE thesa Asace the
battle was decided in utter Tout. f.sp
The casualties are considerable ON 10th sides.
tsn1eh the greatest 5n the pais df the enemy
NO Estimate has been fDFEHea OF The losses, but
aien 1x6Ts0n knew of Ovef two hundred and fifty
Yankee killed having been fosind on the Aeld
n The enemy had abandoned all his artillery.
sisaxing two places on Saturday before Macon and
having nd ammunition fer the !otlier pieces on
Sunday, he left them on the field - iass
Thus has ended tho gfeatraid on Macon. The
gTeatesf, bof1est, aiid hitherSa niost suesessfui
.operstor in that lines and neafgY his command
are captured the rest dispersed and lost The
victory has been most successful Ia Gen Tvers6n