Stoneman Raids

[gjpratt]

Back in April I read an interesting nugget on the Battle of Mumford thread — that the Battle of Munford and action near Hendersonville NC were the last shots of the CW in the Eastern Theater. I am familiar with the Hendersonville area so I began trying to pinpoint where this action occurred. As is my usual, when I could not find anything definitive online I took a deep dive into as many books as I could find on Stoneman's Va/NC raid and Western Carolina in the CW., including the ORs. iThere simply are no details in any of these resources. What I can piece together, on April 23 Confederate troops tried to move 4 cannons from Hendersonville to Asheville ahead of the arrival of one of Stoneman's parties. Learning of the move the party pursued and captured the guns that afternoon. The place of the interception is reported as either 8 or 12 miles from Hendersonville. Not even the road is identified. The Howard Gap Road, which the raiding party followed from the east to Hendersonville, is one possibility. The other is the Asheville Road. Either way, 8-12 miles places the capture in the vicinity of Fletcher. I cannot pinpoint it any ore precisely. I was in Hendersonville a couple of weeks ago and went to the exceptional history center there but it is closed during the pandemic. Any help or citation to other resources would be appreciated.

This quest, as usual with me, spurred many more questions as I discovered new historical facts. I was fascinated by some of the personal diaries of the troopers. And reminiscences of the soldiers. Little details like observing a beautiful waterfall above Howard Gap — probably Little Bradley Falls. And many comments about the steepness of Howard Gap Road on the east side. Yep. Still is. Another soldier wrote about Caesar's Head and that many of them carved their names on rocks at the summit. Are they still visible today?

Finally, I am finding little on Stoneman's infamous capture during his raid on Macon in July 1864. Even more puzzling to me is his exchange after 3 months and, presumably, what Confederate Major General was exchanged for him?

 

[damYankee]

I wonder if there is a local historical society that would have the information you are searching for. Sounds like a great detective story, please keep us informed..

 

[Sgt. Tyree]

There are books about Stoneman's 1865 Raid that may be of some help to you. I confess I have not them. They are available on Amazon. The one by Chris Hartley gets good reviews.

 

[gjpratt]

Hartley's book is excellent. The most comprehensive account I found.

So little happened in terms of military action in this area I am trying to explore and pin down as much as possible.

@damYankee the history societies are closed during the crisis. Grrrr. I am too impatient.

 

[JD Mayo]

I use to take part of the reenactment in Boone NC in the Hickory homestead we played the home guard. They do the play for Daniel Boone as well there.