Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-28

THE BATTLES IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Additional details OF the engagements be-
tween Sherman and Johnston have appeared
The first fight is called the battle Of Moore's
Cross Roads.
Gen. Sherman, after lea wing F Fayetteville, de-
cided to form junction near Goldssoro.
The enemy, Gen. Hardee's forces. consisted
of the Carolina and Georgia troops released
from Charleston and Savannah had retired in
the direction Of Raleigh. 1t was necessary to
deceive him as to the line Of march, and make
Accordingly, the corps Of Gen. Slocum's COM
mand, the goth, moved up the road to point
twelve miles in advance, where 1t halted and
allowed Kilpatrick's cavalry to pass ana take
As usual, he was In this case to cover the
movement OF the army In the direction of
Goldsboro BY demonstrating and feigning we'll
towards Raleigh. He had passed the goth corps,
and reached a point four miles from Averys-
boro, when the foragers, mounted and dis
mounted came dashing in from the front, re-
in line of battle.
fitzpatrick deployed the 9th Michigan cav
airy, and sent them rapidly forward to attack
and hold the enemy In check until his troops
could be brought forward and massed. Col.
Walkers 5th Michigan cavalry met and drove
in the enemy's advance; he dismounted his
infantry back across rayiae which the fol-
lowing day become our line of battle.
kilpatrick's cavalry had now been brought
time word had been sent to General Williams,
commanding the Goth corps, for reinfercements.
Before these could reach our cavalry the
enemy advanced in line Of battle. with every
intention Of charging Kilpatrick's position.
Col. Walker fell back within the barricades
when the line advanced, but received 50 heavy
q fire from the artillery and carbines Of the
enemy that he fell back again to the ravine.
A brigade Of infantry now came up and was
placed in position with the cavalry. Every
morning Fitzpatrick advanced with his whole
force, the infantry, under Holly, having the
center The enemy was steadily forced back
and at last driven within his works, near
Moore's Cross Roads.
After considerable hard fighting MAJOR aenI
Williams came upon the field with portion Of
the Twentieth Corps, and soon after Generals
Sherman and Slocum arrived in person and the
infantry upon the LETT was ordered to advance
The enemy's works were carried, and he forced
from his position with the loss of their guns
and his caissons. One division after another Of
our infantry was now pushed in upon the
right and left, and kilpatrick's cavalry charg-
night set in, when the rebels withdrew in the
direction OF Raleigh. leaving their killed and
wounded on the field.
McLaws' Division Of Cavalry and Foiliver's,
and Rhett's Artillery brigades. These are
heavy artillery. They composed the South
ern garrisons, and from Colonel Rhstt, COM
mandant at Fort Sumter, taken prisoner by
Fitzpatrick, 1t appears that these organizations
were very full, his own regiment, for instance,
at one time numbering not less than 1,5U0 men.
The road to Goldsboro being now apparent
ly open, the left wing continued its march,
without opposition. until the 10th.
Meanwhile, Johnston having become salts.
fed that GOldsbofo was the real object, hastily
called in Hardee and moved from Smithfeld
down the road to Bentonsville, where he in.
trenched himself, his line Of works extending
from Mills Greek on the upper side, and in
Guiding the village, returned to the creek again.
This position the Fourteenth Corps In advance
discovered. Gen. Slocum immediately formed
we'll chosen line, thanked upon the left by q
ravine, wnere he posted the artillery, and upon
the right by swamp and open field.
The fight at this place is called the battle of
Morris Farm. The enemy commenced the at.
tack, forcing back our troops some distance,
thrown up, and the whole Of the Fourteenth
Corps and Colonel Selvidge's brigade OF the
Twentieth Corps, and General Kilpatrick's
cavalry arrived, and took up position, Col.
Selvldge upon the left, the cavalry in the rear.
The enemy charged in three columns, one
after another, each following up the others re-
pulse, making at one time three charges in 35
minutes and with such desperation that when
night closed in upon their defeat not only was
the ground in our front strewn with their loss,
within our lines even around the headquar.
ters OF the Generals.
Tuesday was spent in entrenching, with the
skirmishing attendant upon feeling the enemy
upon the extreme right, could still be heard
long after dark. Late in the evening the pro-
gramme for the following day reached the
rear, which was for an advance, to be covered
In the rear by the cavalry and brigade Of in.
fantry.
This amounted to a flank movement, the
virtue OF which was apparent when in the
morning the enemy were found to be retiring
without a skirmish to Snithfeld, leaving Sher.
mans progress to his base unoppcsed.