General Stoneman’s expedition started from East Tennessee on the 20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North Carolina, and struck the railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg, and Big Lick. The force striking it at Big Lick pushed on to within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important bridges, while with the main force he effectually destroyed the road between New river and Big Lick, and then turned for Greensboro’, on the North Carolina railroad; struck that road and destroyed the bridges between Danville and Greensboro’, and between Greensboro’ and the Yadkin, together with the depots and supplies along it, and captured four hundred prisoners.
General Stoneman, in his dispatch to General Thomas, gives the following account of his operations after leaving Boone:—
“Slaterville, N. C., April 13, 1865.
“From Boone it became necessary to cross the Blue Ridge into the Yadkin river bottom, in order to obtain supplies for men and horses. There we were detained three days by freshets. From thence we struck for Christiansburg. On the route I detached Colonel Miller, with a portion of his brigade, to Wytheville, and Major Wagner, with a portion of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania, Palmer’s brigade, to Big Lick. These three points were struck almost simultaneously. Colonel Palmer attacked, and, after some fighting, captured Wytheville, destroyed the depot of supplies at that point, and also at Mair’s Meadow. Major Wagner, after striking the railroad at Big Lick, pushed on towards Lynchburg, destroying, on his way, the important bridges over the Big and Little Otter, and got to within four miles of Lynchburg with the main body, and effectually destroyed the road between New river and Big Lick, and then struck for Greensboro’, on the North Carolina railroad.
“Arrived near Salem, N. C., I detailed Palmer’s brigade to destroy the bridges between Danville and Greensboro’, and between Greensboro’ and Yadkin river, and the large depots of supplies along the road. This duty was performed with considerable fighting, the capture of four hundred prisoners, and to my entire satisfaction. With the other two brigades, Brown’s and Miller’s, and the artillery under the command of Lieutenant Reagon, we pushed for Salisbury, where we found about three thousand troops, under the command of Major-General W. M. Gardiner, formed behind Grant’s creek, about two miles and a half from Salisbury. As soon as a proper disposition could be made, I ordered a general charge along the entire line, and the result was the capture of fourteen pieces of artillery, and one thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners, including fifty-three officers.
“We remained at Salisbury two days, during which time we destroyed fifteen miles of railroad track and the bridges towards Charlotte, and then moved to this point. From here we shall move to the south side of the Catawba river, and be in a position to operate towards Charlotte and Columbia, or upon the flank of an army moving south.
“The following is a partial list of the public property captured north of Salisbury, and destroyed by us: Four large cotton factories and seven thousand bales of cotton; four large magazines, containing ten thousand stand of small arms and accoutrements, one million rounds of small arm ammunition, one thousand rounds of fixed artillery ammunition, and seven thousand pounds of powder, thirty-five thousand bushels of corn, fifty thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred and sixty thousand pounds of cured bacon, one hundred thousand suits of gray uniforms and clothing, two hundred and fifty thousand army blankets, twenty thousand pounds of harness leather, ten thousand pounds of saltpetre; also a very large amount of sugar, salt, rice, and other stores and medical supplies. In addition to the arsenals at Salisbury, the military workshop was being fitted up, and was filled with machinery sent from Raleigh and Richmond, all of which was destroyed.”
GENERAL WILSON’S EXPEDITION IN ALABAMA.
March 22-April 20, 1865.
When General Canby received orders in January to advance from the forts in Mobile Bay, and attack Mobile, he was also instructed to dispatch an expedition under General Wilson into the interior of Alabama, where the rebels maintained several important towns, which were garrisoned by forces of some magnitude.
The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson consisted of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men. It was delayed by rains until March 22, when it moved from Chickasaw, Alabama. On the 1st of April General Wilson encountered the enemy in force under Forrest near Ebenezer Church, drove him in confusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three guns, and destroyed the central bridge over the Catawba river. On the 2d he attacked and captured the fortified city of Selma, defended by Forrest with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns, destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine shops, vast quantities of stores, and captured three thousand prisoners. On the 4th he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa. On the 10th he crossed the Alabama river, and after sending information of his operations to General Canby, marched on Montgomery, which place he occupied on the 14th, the enemy having abandoned it. At this place many stores and five steamboats fell into Federal hands. Thence a force marched direct on Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places were assaulted and captured on the 16th. At the former place General Wilson captured fifteen hundred prisoners and fifty-two field guns, destroyed two gunboats, the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many factories, and much other public property. At the latter place General Wilson took three hundred prisoners, four guns, and destroyed nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars. On the 20th he took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field guns, twelve hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by General Howell Cobb. General Wilson, hearing that Jeff Davis was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit, and succeeded in capturing him on the morning of May 11.