The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-31

finest regiments in the service, being left as
rear-guard held its ground until its ammuni-
ton was expended, when 300 of the regiment
were captured. The command reached the
Union lines leaving large number of its best
officers and men in the hands of the enemy or
hiding in the swamps of the Chattahoochie.
Stoneman's column was even more unfor-
tunate. Before reaching Macon, Gen. Stone
man learned that the Union prisoners at that
place had been sent away, and he decided to
return at once by the way he had come. Moth
ing could have been more foolhardy. The
whole country in his rear was aroused, and
every road thronged with horsemen ready to
carry intelligence of his movements to the
nearest station. When Wheeler moved to the
right, joining Jackson in pursuit of McCOok,
he left Gen. 1verson to attack StoDeman, whose
force he encountered on the morning of the
3lst near Hillsboro, Ga. After brief engage
ment Gen. Stoneman decided to surrender, at
the same time sending notice of his intention
to his brigade commanders. Col. Adams, COM
manding the 1st 18th, and 10Th KY. Cav, i'm
mediately drew his men from the center of the
line, mounted and rode away, reaching Mari
eta, after a wide detour to the east, in safety.
Col. Capron, being on the extreme right, did
not receive the order so soon, and saw with
surprise the sudden withdrawal of the Ken
lucky regiments. The enemy pushed through
the gap in the center, captured Biddle's bril-
gade and made rush for the horses of Capron's
regiments. In the race that ensued, the fleet
footed Confederates, unencumbered with heavy
cavalry boots, outstripped the Union soldiers
and hand-to-h hand fight ensued for the pos
session of the horses, in which many hard
blows were given and received Col. Capron,
collecting about 200 of his men, set out in an
eastward direction, hoping by rapid march
to elude his pursuers. He was oyertaken, how
ever, while in camp on the night of the Sd OF
August, after having marched Sc miles in the
preceding "a hours. His force had been con-
siderably augmented by struggling parties who
had joined him on the march, most Of whom,
however, were unarmed and dismounted. Maj.
Davidson had joined him on the previous day,
with his battalion of the 14th I'll. Cav, and
COL Biddle, with small detachment of his
brigade who had escaped at Hillsboro.
The furious charge of the Confederate cav
airy upon the thoroughly-exhausted troops,
scattered them in all directions. Many of them
were drowned by the fall of bridge, and by
far the greater number were made prisoners.
The heroic commander, with his son and one
| companion, mounted and escaped by the supe-
| Tior speed of their horses A large number,
| hiding in the densely- wooded swamps, finally
| found their way to the Union lines. Thus, in
disaster, this expedition, planned in wisdom
and blunderingly executed, came to an I'M
| timely end.
| Gen Garrard, while in position at Flat Rock,
| Illness and Kelly's brigades of cavalry. The
engagement lasted several hours, but resulted
| in holding these commands in check, while
| Stoneman pursued his course southwark. A
charge was ordered finally which drove and
dispersed the enemy, when Garrard returned
to his position on the left of the army, near
/ Lithonia.
The following dispatches were received by
Gen. Hood at Atlanta:
| Wheeler says: eve have just completed the
killing, capturing and breaking up of the en-.
tire raiding party under Gen. McCook. Some
$50 prisoners, two pieces of artillery, and zoo
horses and equipments captured"
VERSIONS dispatch of same date is as follows
| "Gen. Stoneman, after having his force routed
yesterday, surrendered with 500 men; the rest
of his command are scattered and flying to-
wards Eatonton. Many have been already
/! killed or captured"
Hood says: Gen. Shoupe, in recording these
! two kilograms in his diary, remarks that the
first day of August deserves to be marked will
a white stone He, doubtless, in common witt
every Southerner experienced deep concern in
regard to the Federal prisoners at Anderson
| vile, as it was reported that Sherman haC
! arms in readiness for their use. Fearful, in
deed, would have been the consequences, hat
! they been turned loose upon the country in it
/ unnrotanfad condition