The Civil War had not been kind to Major General George Stoneman as spring approached in 1865. A promising career serving in administrative roles in the U.S. Cavalry and a short stint as commander of the Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac gave way to failures in cavalry field commands. Given command of the Union Cavalry by Joe Hooker in early 1863 Stoneman had been ordered to take his command behind Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and wreak havoc. Conflicting orders, ill health, poor weather and roads and the Confederates' ability to make repairs quickly minimized the impact of the raid. Hooker, looking to divert the blame for his failure at Chancellorsville, pointed the finger right at Stoneman....…
“Till Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again”