<p style="text-align:center"><strong>GEORGE STONEMAN</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>No. 1304 · Class of 1846</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>Died September 6, 1894, at Buffalo, N.Y., aged 72 years.</strong></p><p>Major-General George Stoneman, United States Volunteers, retired Colonel United States Army, and ex-Governor of California, was born August 8th, 1822.</p><p>The progenitor of General George Stoneman's family in this country was Richard Stoneman, of the Anglo Saxon family of that name, established near Exeter, England. Of two brothers, George and Richard, the elder, an officer in the British service, was killed in the battle of the Nile. Richard, soon after our Revolutionary War, left his native land forever, and sought a home in the town of New Berlin, New York, where he married Miss Mary Perkins, whose family had about the same time moved in from Rhode Island. These were the days when New England people were looking westward for their future homes. George, the oldest son, and father of the future General, upon reaching his majority went to Chatauqua County, where he permanently settled in the town of Busti, near Jamestown. His marriage, soon after, to Miss Catherine Cheney, proved a fruitful and happy one. Ten children were born, George, the subject of these memorial lines, having been the senior. Of these children, eight grew up and became heads of families. Catherine, the youngest, who has kindly furnished important material for this paper, is the wife of Mr. Benjamin H. Williams, a prominent citizen of Buffalo, at whose house General Stoneman died.</p><p>Mr. Stoneman was one of the pioneers of Chatauqua County, and in subduing the wilderness suffered the privations and hardships incident to the early settler's life. George, in growing up, assisted his father in the various occupations of farming, lumbering, etc., etc., which settlers must turn their hands to in order to get ahead.</p><p>When attending school at the Jamestown Academy he was a successful competitor for the vacant cadetship then existing at West Point, and the appointment was accordingly presented to him by the Honorable Staly N. Clarke, the member of Congress from that district.</p><p>George Stoneman entered the Military Academy on July 1st, 1842, where as a cadet he passed an uneventful four years; being esteemed by his personal associates as a generous-hearted, whole-souled companion. One of his class friends was T. J. (Stonewall) ("Old Jack") Jackson. They were a good deal alike in some respects, and very different in others. Both had unobtrusive meditative dispositions, not putting themselves forward, rather thinkers than talkers, and never saying a word that would wound a comrade's feeling.</p><p>Stoneman was not ascetic, or, perhaps, puritanical, like his friend, but had social ways which endeared him to his associates, while Cadet Jackson was restrained more and did not much seek after companionship, or unbosom himself to his comrades; nevertheless, his smile of recognition was so gracious that one's heart went out to him.</p><p>Our country was at war with Mexico when the class of 1846 graduated, and Brevet Second Lieutenant Stoneman, of the First Dragoons, began his active field career, by joining a column at Fort Leavenworth, which marched across the continent to California, where he assisted in securing to the United States that splendid domain, of which afterwards its people, in recognition of his services, and distinguished character, elected him to the chief magistracy of the State.</p><p>Lieutenant Stoneman remained on frontier duty for nine years, when he was promoted to a Captaincy of the Second Cavalry in Texas, 1855; having acquired during this period of service the reputation of being a highly accomplished officer of the Cavalry service.</p><blockquote><p>"ST. PAUL, December 7th, 1894. DEAR GENERAL:--My acquaintance with Stoneman began in 1855, he as Captain and I as First Lieutenant in the Second Cavalry (now Fifth). He was a fine soldier, strict in discipline and exemplary in habits. Our Regiment was stationed in Texas, and had to carry on war with Indians. When he went out on expeditions against them he showed great activity, and was very generally successful in overtaking and punishing them. He took great interest in his Company, and strived to make it the most efficient one in the Regiment. During the late war, as General, he was ever at the front, and no officer did better or more faithful, earnest, energetic work. After the war he was married, and on his way to command his department he and his wife were guests of myself and wife. In his married relations he seemed to be perfectly happy. Stoneman was always a favorite of mine. He affected a brusque exterior, but there pulsated within his manly breast a heart as warm as ever beat in the bosom of anyone. He was noble and generous to a fault. His purse was ever open to aid the needy and suffering, and his sympathy went out to all in distress. He was not a church member, but his conduct showed him to possess many, very many of the Christian virtues. I regarded him as a model soldier and gentleman, with a great love for the good and an equal abhorrence for all that was bad and immoral. Very truly, R. W. JOHNSON, To Maj.-Gen. D. N. Couch, Bvt. Maj.-Gen. U.S.A. Norwalk, Conn."</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>"WASHINGTON, November 21st, 1894. From General R. Williams, U.S.A., to General Henry Heth. "GENERAL:-Your letter of the 12th, asking if I can aid General Couch in giving him some items of Stoneman's life in the Cavalry-my ill health prevents from fully answering-I do know that when he belonged to the Regiment, (First Dragoons,) he was universally respected by all its Officers, and indeed I may say with truth, was the most popular officer in it."</p></blockquote><p>Mr. J. C. L. Wadsworth, of Los Angeles, 1847-48. "Lieutenant Stoneman was an universal favorite with all of the officers, and likewise beloved by the private soldiers at Los Angeles; as instance when a detachment was ordered out for scouting or other purposes, the men all wanted to go if Lieutenant Stoneman was in command."</p><p>At the breaking out of the Rebellion Captain Stoneman escaped from Southern Texas with a portion of his Company on a steamer for New York. Having become a Major of the First Cavalry, he was called to Washington to aid in defending that city from the Southern people; from which time every thought and action of his, was given to the preservation of the Union during the bloody four years of war which followed.</p><p>General McClellan in the West Virginia Campaign, had Major Stoneman on his staff, and during that service became so impressed with his active intelligence, that he made him the organizer and commander of the Cavalry of the Army at Washington, in which duty he became Brigadier-General of Volunteers August 13, 1861.</p><p>"General Stoneman encountered and overcame, as far as it was possible continued and vexatious obstacles arising from the great deficiency of Cavalry arms and equipments, and the entire inefficiency of many of the first regimental officers appointed. General McClellan's Report, etc., etc.</p><p>On the Peninsula in 1862, Brigadier-General Stoneman opened the Battle of Williamsburg with his Cavalry, and during the advance upon Richmond continued on the front and right flanks of the army, having under every circumstance the full confidence of the Commanding General.</p><p>After the second Battle of Bull Run, Stoneman was appointed to the command of Kearney's old division, and succeeded Heintselman to the head of the Third Army Corps in November following; when on the 29th of the same month he was promoted to the ranks of Major-General of Volunteers and took part in the Battle of Fredricksburg, December 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th, 1862.</p><p>In the Spring of 1863, General Hooker who commanded the Army of the Potomac planned his memorable campaign, now known as the Battle of Chancellorsville. He first ordered Stoneman who commanded his cavalry, ten thousand strong, to commence active operations by throwing that force between Lee and Richmond.</p><p>"Destroying along your route, railroads, bridges, trains, cars, depots of provisions." * * * * * * * * "As the line of the Railroad from Aquia to Richmond presents the shortest one for the enemy to retire on, it is more than probable that the enemy may avail himself of it, and the usually traveled highway, on each side of it, for this purpose, in which event you will select the strongest portions such as the banks of streams, commanding heights, etc., in order to check or prevent it, and if successful you will fall upon his flanks, attack his artillery and trains, and harass and delay him until he is exhausted and out of supplies. Moments of delay will be hours and days to the Army in pursuit." * * * * * * * * * "You may rely upon the General being in connection with you before your supplies, (six days,) are exhausted." General Hooker's Orders, April 12th, 1863.</p><p>The purport of these instructions was, that Lee would retreat towards Richmond and that Stoneman must do all in his power to aid in his destruction.</p><p>About the same time that Stoneman started on the raid, General Hooker by a brilliant movement turned the left flank of the enemy and occupied Chancellorsville. Stoneman being cognizant of this manoeuvre had no time to lose and acted with vigor.</p><p>The following extracts are taken from the Report of Major-General George Stoneman to the Commanding General: "After crossing the River I assembled the Division and Brigade Commanders, spread our maps, and had a thorough understanding of what we were to do, and where each was to go." * * * * * "It was a source of the greatest satisfaction and encouragement to me to see with what eagerness and zeal every one entered into the accomplishment of his appointed task." * * * * * * On May 2nd, Stoneman had concentrated his force of 3,500 men on the South Anna, 12 miles from the James, the balance of his original force having been recalled by the Commanding General. * * * "I gave the Regimental Commanders to understand that we had dropped into that region of country like a shell, and that I intended to burst it in every direction, expecting that each piece or fragment would do as much harm and create as much terror, as would result from senting the whole shell, and thus magnify our small force into overwhelming numbers; and the results of this plan satisfied my most sanguine expectations." * * * "The six days had now expired." * * * * * "To take the enemy by surprise and penetrate his country was easy enough, to withdraw from it was a more difficult matter." "To sum up the results of our operations, we moved in the direction of Racoon Ford and Louisa Court House, and instead of finding a small provost guard at Gordonsville, we found there a strong force of all arms. We destroyed along the Railroad (Virginia Central,) from Gordonsville eastward, all the railroad bridges, trains, cars, depots of provisions, lines of telegraphic communications, etc., for 18 miles, and from there we moved by forced marches to strike and destroy the line of the Aquia and Richmond Railroad, which, as the accompanying reports will show, was effectually done, and which destruction, according to the Richmond papers, was not repaired and communications opened six days afterward." "The desire of the Commanding General, that I should 'understand that he considers the primary object of your (my) movement the cutting of the enemy's communication with Richmond by the Fredericksburg route, checking his retreat over those lines, and he wishes to make everything subservient to that object,' was fully complied with and carried out, as not only the railroad bridges on the two railroads leading out from Richmond northward were destroyed, but all the road bridges across the South Anna and several across the North Anna were completely destroyed, placing a ditch, fordable only in a very few places, between the enemy and Richmond. Had not my force been divided, and had I been permitted to take with me the whole command with which I started, or had not General Averill been recalled, and had he formed a junction with me, as was to be expected, I could have detached a force to Charlottesville, which is almost unguarded, and destroyed the depot of supplies said to be there." * * * CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., May 6th, 1863. "The Major-General commanding tenders to his Army congratulations in its achievements of the last seven days." * * * * * "We have destroyed (his,) the enemy's depots-(Stoneman's Raid,) filled with vast amounts of stores, deranged his communications, captured prisoners within the fortifications of his Capital, and filled his country with fear and consternation." By command of S. WILLIAMS, MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. A. A. G. "Not one of the least valuable, among other results of this expedition, is the influence it had upon the Cavalry arm of the service, both in showing us what we are able to accomplish, if we but have the opportunity, and in convincing the country that it has not spent its men and money in vain in our organization." GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR, December 11th, 1894. "* * * I rode with Stoneman as a member of his Staff in his Raid towards Richmond during the Chancellorsville campaign, in which he displayed those qualities of energy, ability and fortitude, (for he was at that time a great sufferer from hemorrhoids,) which in my judgment were marked characteristics of the man." * * * CHARLES G. SAWTELLE, Dep. Q. M. General.</p><p>Major-General Stoneman was assigned to the command of the Twenty-Third Army Corps in January 1864, and to the Cavalry Corps of the Department of the Ohio, in April of the same year; being engaged in many reconnoisances and contests during the Atlanta Campaign until July 31st, 1864.</p><p>STONEMAN'S MACON AND ANDERSONVILLE RAID.</p><p>In General Sherman's operations at this time, he laid plans for an effective raid upon Macon, and at the suggestion of Stoneman, its leader, to afterwards move upon Andersonville and to release the Union prisoners held there.</p><p>General Garrard with the largest part of the command was, by General Sherman ordered to remain behind; when near Macon, General Stoneman found himself enveloped in a network of cavalry, infantry and militia in such numbers as to compel him to fight his way back to the Army; partially failing in this, he was taken prisoner sword in hand, with a few determined followers, after making heroic and successful efforts to cover the retreat of the largest portion of his command.</p><p>The withdrawal of Garrard's Division, which Stoneman had counted upon as a part of his force to clean out all opposition between himself and Andersonville, was but a repetition of the diversion of Averill by Hooker at Chancellorsville.</p><p>General Sherman at best was not given to complimenting his Cavalry, but rather the praises of this grand General went to his Infantry Brigades, those almost matchless warriors, who began a march at Chattanooga, which encircled Savannah and only terminated at Washington.</p><p>General Sherman did not conceal his vexation at the untoward results of the expedition, nor did he take upon himself any blame for having underestimated Hood's capabilities of assembling what we now know was a force under that active Confederate Chief of Cavalry, Major-General Joseph Wheeler, which came very near annihilating Stoneman's 2,000 men. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Washington, 1891.</p><p>General Sherman states in his Memoirs that General Stoneman had not obeyed his orders to attack the Railroad first before going to Macon and Andersonville. Latitude must be left with the Commander of a Raiding Expedition, possibly there being no bridges over the Ocmulgee may explain the apparent disregard of instructions.</p><p>"At Monticello, July 28th, in the evening, the General (Stoneman) received the first intimation that there were no Bridges over the Ocmulgee river. His information, and on which his movements were based, was that there were three Bridges North of Macon over this river. His plan was now changed." "Desperate efforts were made from sunrise of 31st until 12 M. to break through their lines. The men were nearly out of ammunition, and fatigued almost beyond endurance. The General (Stoneman) was much broken down at the thought of a surrender; he seemed to have but little regard for his own personal safety, if he could only save his command; he was not in the whole day scarcely from under the severest fire of the enemy." Report MAJOR H. TOMPKINS, Provost Marshal, Stoneman Corps Staff. Marietta, Ga., August 12th, 1864.</p><p>HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., November 19th, 1891. "Stoneman and his Cavalry were part of my command, Army of the Ohio, although acting directly under Sherman at the time of the raid in which Stoneman was captured. As the capture included a considerable part of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Ohio, there was not in the field remaining any appropriate command for Stoneman, and it was mainly to show my appreciation of his merits, notwithstanding his misfortune, that I sent him to represent me at Headquarters of the Department. This was done with General Sherman's concurrence. Yours very truly, J. M. SCHOFIELD, (Lieut.-Gen'l.)</p><p>From Major-General O. O. Howard. PORTLAND, OREGON, December 14th, 1894. "Yes, I often have much to say favorable to Stoneman. He did his duty well, and was most helpful in taking care of our flanks or clearing the way before us during Sherman's entire Spring Campaign of 1864. Stoneman at that time and all during the war was suffering from serious attacks (of hemorrhoids) that should have kept him from the field, certainly from an independent Cavalry command. But he was noble and patriotic in heart." O. O. HOWARD, Major-General, U.S.A. Retired.</p><p>SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., October 26th, 1894. To General Couch: "My recollection is that the general impression was as to the surrender by General Stoneman, that there was little chance that he could extricate his command, or any considerable portion of it." T. H. RUGER, Maj.-Gen'l, U.S.A. Army of Ohio.</p><p>MACON, GEORGIA, August 6th, 1864. (Through the medium of a flag of truce to General Sherman.) "GENERAL:-In regard to operations of my command from the time I left the Army up to the time I turned back near this place, I will only say, that I feel assured, when you know what was done and why it was done, you will be satisfied with reasons and results. All I wish to say now through the medium of a flag of truce, is solely in regard to how I and a small portion of my command became Prisoners of War. Before I had completed what I desired to accomplish, I learned that a force of the enemy's Cavalry was close upon my rear, and the only course for me to pursue and get out was to turn upon and if possible, whip this force. This I think we might have done had my command fought as it ought to and as I hoped it would have done. Without entering now into particulars we were whipped, so that near the end of the day I found myself with about 200 of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry and the Section of Artillery. I insisted on continuing the contest, and if taken prisoners at all, upon being taken fighting, but the Officers with me protested that being without ammunition and surrounded, our escape was next to impossible; that there was no use of fighting longer; that we had accomplished our object in covering the retreat of the rest of the command until it was well under way, and that in justice to all concerned we should surrender. My own horse had been shot under me and I was scarcely able to mount the worn down one, and the only one I could find to replace the one I had lost. I feel better satisfied with myself to be a prisoner of war, much as I hate it, than to be among those who owe their escape to considerations of self-preservation." GEORGE STONEMAN, Major-General U.S.A., Prisoner of War.</p><p>The unexpected reverses of General Stoneman's Macon Raid, apparently did not at all lessen his appreciation by Lieutenant-General Grant, who had a wonderful level head in estimating the military qualifications of his Lieutenants. General Grant wrote: (Report, July 22nd, 1865.) "General Stoneman concentrated the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near Bean's Station to operate against Breckenridge, capturing and destroying the enemy's forces wherever he met them, the Salt Works at Saltville, Artillery, etc."</p><p>Following are extracts from General Grant's personal letter of Instructions to General Thomas: "CITY POINT, VA., January 31st, 1865. To Major-General George H. Thomas, Commanding Army of the Cumberland * * * * I think, however, an expedition from East Tennessee, under General Stoneman might penetrate South Carolina, well down towards Columbia, destroying the Railroad and Military resources of the country, thus visiting a portion of the State which will not be reached by Sherman's forces. He might also be able to return to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, thus releasing some of our Prisoners of War in rebel hands." "Of the practicability of doing this, General Stoneman will have to be the judge." * * * * * * * * * "You may order such an expedition. To save time I will send a copy of this to General Stoneman, so that he can begin his preparations without loss of time, and can commence his correspondence with you as to these preparations." "As this expedition goes to destroy and not to fight battles, but to avoid them when practicable, particularly against anything like equal forces, or where a great object is to be gained, it should go as light as possible. Stoneman's experience in raiding will teach him in this matter better than he can be directed." "Let there be no delay in the preparations for this Expedition, and keep me advised of its progress." Very respectfully your obedient servant, U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.</p><p>The success of this Expedition, which had been projected by the Lieutenant-General with so much confidence in the capacity of its leader, was one of the finishing strokes of a War wherein General Stoneman had filled with capability more positions of trust perhaps than any other general officer engaged.</p><p>During the excitement and bitterness of the re-construction period at Washington, President Johnson had a warm friend in General Stoneman, who sympathized with the Chief Executive in the leniency and forbearance which he extended to the Southern people. After the war, General Stoneman commanded different Departments and Districts until 1871, when he was retired as Colonel of the Twenty-First Infantry and Major-General of Volunteers, and settled on a fine Ranch, near Los Angeles, California, where among his vines and groves he lived a quiet life until 1882, he was elected by his party Rail Road Commissioner, and in 1883 Democratic Governor of the State by a large majority.</p><p>"While on duty at Los Angeles, 1847-48, Lieutenant Stoneman became a great admirer of a beautiful situation, some 8 or 9 miles distant from the Post, called El Monte, saying, that if he was ever in a position to purchase it he should do so and make it his home, which he did in after years." J. C. L. WADSWORTH.</p><p>IN MEMORIAM -GENERAL GEORGE STONEMAN. (Extract.) * * * * * * * * * "He was of a most genial and sociable disposition and his memory will always be honored in California. General Stoneman was one of the earliest Companions of the Loyal Legion, and he proudly wore Insignia No. 30, having been elected a Companion of the First Class in the Commandery of Pennsylvania, October 4th, 1865. He was No. 166 in this Commandery, having been transferred to California, January 4th, 1883. Another of our old Commanders of 1861-65 has gone to his well-earned rest, ripe in years and of unsullied reputation; for many years past he has been a great sufferer from disease contracted during the War and to him death was a welcome release. We drop a tear upon his grave as we mourn the passing away of a gallant soldier and good man. We sympathize deeply with his bereaved family and relatives; the consciousness of his great services to his country must be their consolation." THE COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. W. R. SMEDBERG, Bvt-Lieut-Col., U.S.A. Recorder.</p><p>Upon the death of General Stoneman in Buffalo, the people of that city mourned the loss of one so noble and patriotic, while columns of State Troops drooped their colors in unison with those of the United States forces, in respect for the body which had contained the immortal spirit of Major-General George Stoneman.</p><p style="text-align:right">� Darius N. Couch, Major-General</p><p style="text-align:center"><a href="https://usmalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/aogreunion/id/11678">Annual Report, June 10, 1895, pp. 25�36 · U.S. Military Academy Library</a></p>