The Washington herald., 1914-07-29

Fifty years ago today Federal cavalry
raiders under Gen. George stoneman cut
the railroad east of Macon, Ga. and ad-
vanced to within twelve miles of the
city.
The raid was, in its inception, one Of
the boldest undertakings OF the war. Cut
ting loose from Gen. W. 7. Sherman's s
army besieging Atlanta, and circling far
to the east, Stoneman intended first to
cripple the Confederate communications.
then to capture Macon and release the
prisoners there, and finally. IL possible.
TO swing yet further South. and set free
the 1900 Union prisoners in the stock
ade at Andersonville.
Primarily the raid was merely to cut
the communications Of Gen. J. B. Hood
who was striving TO hold Atlanta against
the double strength Of the Union armies
Already one of the three railroads in
Hoods rear that which ran east to Au-
gusta, had been destroyed for fully thirty
miles
The two other roads ran over one
track as far as East Point, about six
miles southwest from Atlanta. There
they parted, the one making east to Ma
con, where ware the great Confederate
arsenals, the other continuing southwest
to Pensacola, Fla, and Mobile, Ala The
Macon road was the more important. for
over IL Gen. Hood received practically all
his supplies, and, too, II would be the
one upon which Hood would depend for
re-enforcements. So on July q Gen. Sher-
man dispatched two expeditions to destroy
ii.
The first was commanded by Gen.
Stoneman, and consisted Of three brig
AIDES of cavalry under Coils. James Bid
die, sIlas Adams, and Horace Capron,
and two three-inch guns OF the twenty
fourth Infantry Battery. under Capt
Hardy The total strength Of the COM
mand was just 2,l11 men.
Gen. E NJ McCook commanded the
Second Cavalry detachment. 1t COM
prised the brigades Of Col. John T. Crox-
ton. Lieut. Col. H. p. Lamson. and Col.
Thomas J. Harrison and a section OF
the Eighteenth Indiana Battery under
Lieut. n. ]. Miller, together about 5000
strong.
McCook Cut to Pieces.
McCook marched down the west bank
of the Chattahoochee River, and Cross
ing on July Is just below Campbeltown,
fifteen miles southwest from Atlanta, sue
ceeded in reaching the Macon road at
Loyejoy's on the 18th, having previously
cut the other road at Palmetto. At Love
ioys, which is thirty miles south Of At
lanta, the track was torn up for nearly
three miles. telegraph wires were re-
moved for five miles, two trains, over
900 wagons, and 100 bales of cotton were
burned. and fully so wounded prisoners
were taken.
Having completed the work assigned
him, Gen. McCook now started to re-
turn. He was encumbered by the pris-
oners and made comparatively slow
progress, while, on the other hand, Con-
federate cavalry was rapidly riding
against him from several directions.
At Newnans, on the West Point Rail
road, about twenty-five miles west OF
Lovejoys, the Confederates caught up
with the retiring force on July 20 and
attacked II hotly. The first assault was
repulsed, but when Gems. Joseph Whee-
ler William H. jackson, and p. d. Roddy
united their commands and attacked In
full force the Federals were overwhelmed.
Gen. McCook ordered his brigadiers to
cut their way through the Confederates,
who surrounded them. and make their
escape as best they could.
The whole command scattered. By
Gen. McCook's 6rder. Lieut. Miller. Of the
Eighteenth Indiana Battery, destroyed
his guns caissons, and carriages, and
mounting his men on the horses, made
his escape. Gen. McCook and his body
guard reached the Chattahoochee q few
miles below Franklin. forty miles down
stream. from where they had crossed.
and thence made for the Union lines
near Marietta Col. 7. J. Harrison was