The “Stoneman Raid” on Athens Georgia
The myths arising from Athens brief contact with the Yankee Invader have acquired a life of their own & many Athenians believe that Athens was General Sherman’s number one target when the Yankees invaded Georgia.
A recent Athens Banner-Herald editorial on the anniversary of this important battle reported as a matter of historical fact that General Stoneman, USA had received orders from General Sherman, USA to burn Athens, Georgia during a battle with General Wheeler, CSA.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald General Stoneman, USA realising the importance of Athens to the Confederate cause had immediatey detatched two brigades engaged in desperate battle with General Joe Wheeler’s, CSA forces and ordered them to proceed to Athens at a gallop & reduce Athens to ashes.
I have every confidence that Athens was so important to the Confederate Cause that evidence will soon be uncovered that the Orders to Burn Athens came down from Lincoln himself on Tablets of Stone.
Richard E. Irby, Jr.
P.O. Box 72
Winterville, Ga. 30683
Letters Editor
Athens Banner-Herald
Athens, Georgia
July 29, 1995
Dear Editor.
The Athens Banner-Herald’s front page story , July 7, 1995, on the events of August 2, 1864, contains, as usual, several significant historical errors of fact.
I have previously informed this paper, July 25, 1994, of the less popular skirmish that occurred on the evening of August 2, 1864, at Clarke’s Crossing. The details of this skirmish are related in a letter from Mrs. Howell Cobb to General Howell Cobb, dated August 3, 1864. This information was published in the August 3. 1994, Athens Banner-Herald on page 4, columns 4 & 5.
I quote from Mrs. Cobb’s letter, page 4 “A Cavalry company was improvised from 30 of Col. Young’s some from the 16 Ga. Cavalry and the young men of Athens.
Howell & Hugh Harris went with the Cavalry. Howell rode “Easter” leaving “Nellie” to rest. They left at sunset and went out on Mr. Mitchell’s road and towards.
But I must tell you first — the Yankees, about 80 it is supposed came upon our breastworks. Taylor’s company then out skirmishing the Yankees the same and a few shots were exchanged a shot from one of Lumpkins’ Battery were fired at a few Yankees which sent the whole “gang” a scampering leaving behind guns, clothes, new shoes,....”
The United Stated troops that attempted to cross the Oconee on August 2, 1864, were not under orders from General Stoneman to destroy any property in Athens. They were a disorganized rabble, fleeing for the safety of United States lines in Marietta, Georgia, randomly pillaging and burning enroute.
I quote from General Stoneman’s report dated August 6, 1864:
“Without entering now into particulars, we were whipped, and this principally on account of the bad conduct of the Kentucky brigade in the attack during the morning and in fact throughout the day. In the afternoon the enemy attacked us, when Capron’s brigade gave way at once and was followed by Adams’ (Kentucky) brigade leaving me with Biddle’s (Indiana) brigade and the section of artillery to contend against the whole force of the enemy and cover the retreat of the remainder of my force.”
The Colonels, on the other hand, contend that Stoneman had passed an order that all was lost and it was every man for himself. In any event the two Colonel’s precipitously departed the field of Honour sans leave, much less orders, at the first sound of Southern fire with their commands close on their heels.
General Stoneman’s only orders were to cut the Macon road. General Stoneman requested and received permission to proceed to Macon and Andersonville and release United States prisoners of war being held there after fulfilling his orders to break the Macon road.
The “Force” that attempted to cross the Oconee consisted of Adams’ brigade (550 men), Capron’s brigade (800 men) and Matson’s Sixth Indiana from Biddle’s brigade (350 men). The redoubtable Colonel Horace Capron immediately went into reserve two miles to the rear. These figures are as of July 30, 1864, prior to attrition from hostile Southern Riflemen.
Colonel Adams returned to Marietta with 490 men. Colonel Capron reported his command at 300 on the 31 of July. Colonel Capron was joined by Major Buck with seventy men of the Eight Michigan Cavalry and Major Davidson, with his detachment on August 1, 1864. So we have at least 900 men plus Matson’s Sixth Indiana.
Lieut. Col. Robert W. Smith, Assistant Inspector-General, USA, was with the United States forces before Athens on August 2, 1864, and submitted a report to General Sherman on August 7, 1864. Lieut. Col Smith estimated the number as being between 1,200 and 1,300. This figure is reasonable as it allows for a 25% attrition rate, over a three day period, for men skittish of Southern gunpowder.
Again, all that was necessary to hasten these intrepid warriors on their way was another whiff of Southern Gunpowder. The ingredients of Southern Gunpowder is another story for another day.
Colonel Capron could not keep up with the main body and was attacked by Confederate Cavalry on August 3rd. Colonel Capron abandoned his men, escaped through the woods and staggered into Marietta on August 8, 1864, afoot. The men stampeded (Capron’s words) and many were drowned when the bridge over the Mulberry River collapsed precipitating them into the river. The ones that scattered into the woods were tracked down and slaughtered. Colonel Capron’s losses, killed, wounded and missing, amounted to 572 men of the original 800. This does not include losses of the First Ohio Squadron, which was part of Capron’s brigade of 800 men, as I have do not have official causality figures for this unit. Colonel Capron was promptly given another command.
Very truly yours,
Richard E. Irby, Jr.
Richard E. Irby, Jr.
PO Box 72
Winterville, Georgia 30683
Letters Editor
Athens Banner-Herald
P.O. Box 912
Athens Georgia 30603-0912
July 31, 1994
The announcement, Athens Daily News/Athens Banner-Herald, July 31, 1994, page 7A, column 1, of the memorial service in observence of the Battle of Barber’s Creek contains several errors of fact. As I have previsously informed this paper, July 19, 1994, Another Bit Of Southern History, the Libscomb Volunteers were recruited in the early summer of 1863 for six months service and their enlistments had expired before the Battle of Barber’s Creek on August 2, 1864. Many former members of the Libscomb Volunteers did join the Mitchell Thunderbolts. The Mitchell Thunderbolts were formed in the summer of 1864 just in time to participate in the events of August 2, 1864.
The action at Barber’s Creek was not the only skirmish on the outskirts of Athens on August 2, 1864, much less the only skirmish on the outskirts of Athens. Again, I have previously informed this paper, July 25, 1994, Even More Southern History, of the less popular skirmish that occured on the evening of August 2, 1864, at Clarke’s Crossing. The details of this skirmish are related in a letter from Mrs. Howell Cobb to General Howell Cobb, dated August 3, 1864.
A third skirmish occured on the outskirts of Athens on January 5, 1865. Confederate Veteran, Vol. XVII, page 207, column 2, contains a capsule version of a description of this engagement supplied to the Confederate Veteran by Anderson P. Cagle of Konawa, Oklahoma. Mr. Cagle participated in the fight on our side and personaly took three Yankees prisoner. One of Mr. Cagle’s chief treasures is a handsome pearl-handled revolver that he retrieved from one of his prisoners.
Very truly yours,
Richard E. Irby, Jr.
Richard E. Irby, Jr.
PO Box 72
Winterville, Georgia 30683
Letters Editor
Athens Banner-Herald
P.O. Box 912
Athens Georgia 30603-0912
July 25, 1994
Even More Southern History
The members of the Athens ‘64 Breastworks Preservation Group are to be commended for their good work in preserving the gun emplacements on Barber’s Creek but I am not convinced that this is the location of the Breastworks. It is my understanding that the fortifications at this location consisted of gun emplacements and infantry trenches with standard ramparts and a parapet. Breastworks have long been used as standard fortifications but the War Between the States was the first conflict to use trench warfare and writers were careful to distinguish between trenches and breastworks.
Lumpkin’s Artillery established their main encampment on the Mitchell Bridge Road and fortified this location with breastworks. A second unsung encounter, between this battery of Lumpkin’s Artillery and about eighty Yankee raiders, occurred on the evening of August 2, 1864 with the same result as the more popular action that morning on Barber’s Creek. In fact, Athenians had been busy erecting breastworks, digging trenches and constructing fortifications in general since Sherman’s arrival on the outskirts of Atlanta. Mrs. Franklin and Mrs. Rutherford would have had their choice of breastworks to defend but from June, 1864, on Athens was an armed camp and the main problem was not men but supplies.
The deepest mysteries of the events of August 2, 1864, are the location of the Double Barreled Cannon and the whereabouts of Dr. Moore’s Artillery. The Southern Banner and Southern Watchman both printed urgent requests on July 6, 1864, for the members of Moore’s Artillery to meet on July 7th at 5 o’clock to discuss important business.
Dr. Moore’s Artillery then dropped out of sight until October 12, 1864, when the Southern Banner reported they had engaged in target practice near Sandy Creek on Saturday the 8th of October. The Banner reported that a cold collation was served following the firing and a very pleasant time was had by all.
Legend relates that Dr. Moore had been appointed Master of the Double Barreled Cannon and the question is, was the Double Barreled Cannon part of Dr. Moore’s battery and if so where was this battery stationed during the crucial days of August?
Athens defenders could have saved themselves considerable excavating if they had taken a page from General Sterling Price’s book. On September 20, 1861, General Price, CSA, used a number of large bales of marijuana as a rolling breastwork during the battle of Lexington Missouri.. The marijuana bales were soaked with water to increase their ability to absorb shot, rolled to the front and worked to perfection. The southern riflemen shot Yankees, rolled their marijuana bale, shot more Yankees and repeated the process until they ran out of Yankees to shoot. The Battle of the Marijuana Bales was a brilliant victory for the South. No information is available on the fate of the marijuana bales following the battle.
Very truly yours,
Richard E. Irby, Jr.
Azilum
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