History UnderfootAtlanta
  • Cavalry
  • Civil War
  • July 27, 1864
  • General area only

Stoneman's raid leaves Decatur

Stoneman's cavalry, about 5,000 with Garrard's division, set out from Decatur to break the Macon railroad. The raid ended with Stoneman's surrender near Macon on July 31.

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The record

Stoneman had three brigades (2,112 men, 2 guns) and Garrard's division. He sent Garrard to Flat Rock, 12 miles southeast, to cover his rear, where Garrard skirmished heavily with Wheeler until the 29th. Stoneman himself rode by way of Covington toward Monticello and Macon. Near Macon on the 30th he was turned back by militia, and on the 31st at Sunshine Church he surrendered about 600 men to Iverson's 1,300 cavalry. McCook's column was meant to meet him on the Macon road near Lovejoy's.