Stoneman's Raid

                                Stoneman's Raid History

                                                             by: Leesa T Wright

  On March 25,1865 Union General George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalryman from Tennessee into western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia to disrupt the Confederate supply lines, destroy mines and ironworks and to free prisoners at Salisbury, NC.

   Stoneman struck first at Boone on March 29 1865, then they went into Virginia. On the morning of April 12, 1865 the people of Salisbury, NC awoke at first light to the distant sounds of exploding artillery shells that announced Stoneman's dreaded raiders had at last reached their doorsteps. This is just days after Robert E Lee's surrender at Appomattox, but due to lack of communication this went unknown.

   Stoneman entered Salisbury, NC, burning public buildings and the deserted prison camp. As artillery and rifle fire filled the air, in the distance could be heard trains heading west and south. Stoman was not going to be denied another escaping train. Stoneman ordered troops to stop the fleeing train.

  Right now you are wondering what this has to do with horses?? Well... everything!! Think about it. Stoneman's troops could have never run that train down with out a horse. The Civil War as a whole would have been a whole lot different if it was not for the horse.

  In the time of the Civil War the Calvary and the Artillery were dependent upon their horses in battle. The Calvary rode their horses and the field artillery used them to pull the cannons. Horses were as much a target as the soldiers. Both soldiers and horses were subject to disease. There was also a lack of food and very poor living conditions. There was also very little if  any medical care.

  Horses today have a very different life. People have horses for recreation, show, racing, traditional work, rodeos and some even do  Civil War reenactments.

  What's a Civil War reenactment?

  A Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the Civil War by reenactors or living historians.

  There is a way to see this history first hand and to feel like you are reliving history. On the weekend of August 26-27 2016 I went to the NC Transportation Museum's Civil War weekend in Spencer, NC. That weekend they did a reenactment of Stoneman's Raid through Salisbury. This featured a train you could ride, Civil War music, dresses from that time, soldiers from both sides in uniform, camps you could walk through and of course HORSES!!

  I was able to ride the train with many other people  and a few reenactors. I was able to look out the window and watch the cavalry troops gallop along side the train and exchange gunfire with troops and folks riding the train. People jumped on the train, seen a cannon fire and rifle fire.

  Some people do not get into the but if you do or just want to see something different check out a reenactment. You will be amazed at the training these horses have. Running down a train , full of people and having a gun fired off their back and having a cannon go off, yeah I would say a lot of training goes into these horses and actors.