Stoneman's troops left Boone, after burning down the local jailhouse, killing several people, and capturing many, and entered Wilkesboro on March 29, 1865.

Divided into two groups, Gillem's troops angled northeastward, parallel to the Yadkin River, toward Wilkesboro (roughly on the line of today's Hwy. 268). Traveling without incident, they reached Holman's Ford on the Yadkin River late in the afternoon of March 29. They experienced their only real problem when they arrived at Holman's Ford. Recent rains had caused the Yadkin to overflow its banks. Thus, even as the Federals crossed the ford, the rising waters swept away an artillery piece and some valuable ammunition.

When the wing of the army under Stoneman's command reached Cub Creek it was too high to ford so he pitched his tent on the hill on the side of the creek. For several days about twenty-five thousand men camped on this site, during which time his soldiers were plundering and burning.