The Stoneman Raid

The Stoneman Raid (HMDHI)

Location: Covington, GA 30014 Newton County
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Country: United States of America
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N 33° 36.18', W 83° 51.504'

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Inscription
In July, 1864, Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman's army [US] closed in on Atlanta. Finding its fortifications "too strong to assault and too extensive to invest," Sherman sought to force its evacuation by sending Maj. Gen. Geo. Stoneman, with three cavalry brigades (2112 men and 2 guns), of the Army of the Ohio cavalry to cut the Central of Georgia R.R. by which the defenders [CS] were supplied. On the 27th, Stoneman moved south through Decatur, crossed the Ocmulgee (Yellow) River near Covington, and camped two miles west of Covington at 4 A.M. on the 28th for four hours.

The column passed through Covington about 9 A.M. and marched to Monticello (27 miles SE). There Stoneman learned that there were no bridges over the Ocmulgee above Macon by which he could reach the railroad; so he decided to destroy it at and beyond Macon instead. Nearing Macon on the 30th, he detached part of the 14th Illinois Cavalry which wrecked railway facilities at Griswoldville, Gordon, McIntyre and Toomsboro (E of Macon), and burned trains, trestles and the railway bridge over the Oconee River.

At Macon (65 miles SE), he was turned back by Georgia Militia, strongly entrenched. Attempting to retreat, he was brought to bay next morning at Sunshine Church (19 miles NE of Macon) by Brig. Gen Alfred Iverson, Jr., who, with only 1300 cavalry [CS] had marched to intercept him. Deluded into believing that he was being surrounded, Stoneman covered the escape northward of Adams' and Capron's brigades, then he surrendered, with about 600 men, to what Iverson had led him to believe was a superior force.
Details
HM NumberHMDHI
Series This marker is part of the Georgia: Georgia Historical Society/Commission series
Tags
Marker Number107-4
Year Placed1957
Placed ByGeorgia Historical Commission
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Friday, September 12th, 2014 at 12:17pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17S E 234768 N 3721802
Decimal Degrees33.60300000, -83.85840000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 33° 36.18', W 83° 51.504'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds33° 36' 10.80" N, 83° 51' 30.24" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)404, 678, 770
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 3166 US-278, Covington GA 30014, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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