The National tribune., 1892-05-05
CAMPAIGN THROUGH
THE CAROLINAS.
Continued from first pageD


ready to attack the head of Slocums column
early in the morning of the 19th but his
maps mised him, and Hardee'S road to
Bentonville proved too long to reach there
by daylight, after his orders were received
Hampton was therefore instructed to OBJ
struet Slocums advance, and prevent his
reaching the crossroads south Of the town
before HaIdee. Wheeler'S Division was close
in front of Days's Corps when his march
began on the morning of the 10Th, and had
made formidable breastworks at several
points on the road, behind which they gave
stubborn resistance. Carlin's Division, OF
Williams's Corps, bad the lead, and as his
men went forward, found the foragers were
falling back on the right and left of the
road not being able to drive the enemy or
get around his flanks. This was an ominous
sign, for where these enterprising skirmishers
could not go, the oppositio must be stronger
than a calvary rear-guard. As Carlin pushed
forward, Hampton gave way slowly. 1t was
soon demonstrated that Slocum had run up
against Johnston's whole army. Stewards
and Lees Corps, of Hoods army, were there,
and his line formed on the road leading from
AverysborO to Goldsboro, with his fanks
resting on Mill Creek, his lines embracing the
village of Bentonville and were in the form
of V, the angle reaching the above roads.
Gen. Slocum's wing faced one of these
lines, and Gen. Howard, who came up on the
morning Of the Doth, the other. Gen. Kill
i'll 4 ~, -
Hearing the sound of cannon during the
forenoon over On the left, he concluded to turn
back and remain with SIocum. About 2
in the afternoon we arrived at Mill Creek, and
were ordered to form on the left, facing
eastward
THE BATTLE WAS RAGING FIERCELY
On our right; Carin's Brigade had been
pushed back, and Miles's Brigade driven
back also from his line, and at o'clock a
portion of the left wing had been forced
back, and the fate of war seemed to be
against them. Williams came up and made
a persistent attack, giving Carlin and Miles
a chance to reform their broken ranks. The
engagement lasted until darkness closed the
contest.
Slocum, although driven back, his lines
were intact, and during the day had taken
two batilefags aud quite number of pris-
oners.
Sherman was with Howard, but came over
during the night. He did not feel disposed
to invite a general battle, as his wagon
trains contained but little food and forage.
During the day lie bad received messages
from Gems Schofeld and Terry, then ap-
preaching Goldsboro, who expected to reach
that place by the 21st. Howard came up on
the morning of the 10th, and had taken posi-
tion On the right of Slocum's line On the
morning of the 21st heavy rain set in, and
during the forenoon both armies remained
comparatively quiet until about noon, when
Gen. Mower by dash broke through the
rebel lines on his extreme flank and made a
push for Bentonyille and the bridge across
Mill Creek. Sherman fearing this move
nent might bring on general engagement,
ordered him back and fearing the enemy
would concentrate on him, ordered the whole
rebel line to be engaged by strong skirmish-
fire.
Sherman afterwards blamed himself for
not following up Mowers movement. With
| a better knowledge of the ground he would
no doubt have done so, but with his lack of
information of the topography as well as the
force before him, his prudence was wiser
than impetuosity. The next morning
Johnston's army was gone He had re-
treated on Smithfield. The road being
| clear, Sherman then moved his army to
Godsboro.
Kilpatrick's cavalry was not actively en-
gagged during the first days fight; they
guarded the extreme left flank, but on the
21st Hampton attacked Jordan's Brigade,
but being reinforced by Atkins,
WAS DEFEATED AND DRIVEN BACK.
At daylight the next morning the cavalry
moved over the battlefield to the extreme
right and advanced toward Goldboro.
The Federal loss as reported for the two
days' fight was II officers and 1S0 men
killed, III wounded, and 296 missing. The
less of the two days engagement fell princi-
pally ON Slocum's command. The total loss
| at Bentonvile was GOA.
The Confederate loss, as given by john
ston, was killed 223, wounded 1 ,467 missing
653; total, 2,343. This number does not in
clude that of Wheeler's and Buffers COM
mands. 1t was thought Johnston was in error,
for he only reported 653 missing, while Slo-
cum accounts for 3338 prisoners and Howard
returns 1887; making 1925 captured.
On the 22d Sherman rode to Cox's Bridge.
where he met Gen. Terry with his two di-
visions of the Tenth Corps, and the next
day he went to Goldsboro where he found
Gen. Schofeld with his Twenty third Corps,
thus effecting perfect junction of all the
army at that point, as originally contem-
plated. During the 23d and oath the whole
army was assembled at and near Goldsboro
Gen. Kilpatricks three divisions, passing
through Clinton and Warsaw, encamped in
and around Mount Olive Station, and there
rested. Thus ends one of the longest and
most important marches ever made by an
organized army Of $4,000 in civilized
country.
Of this march Gen. Sherman, in his Mem
oirs, says "The distance from Savannah