Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-19

and Bentonville with all his force. Wade
Hampton, commanding his cavalry. rel
y, Johnston, Iuickened by the news from
Hamptotis that our wings were 70 ssepm-
fated ana aivetsent 40 to FENDER 4 !une e,
fore fore partcnlary in ls ss az he battle Of
Fair Oaks. He rushed forward. struck
"a portion of the Union army. SlOcum' $
wing, temporarily isolated, and sought to
crush it before possible help could arrive.
This is how l. came about The ground
chosen by Hampton. which Johnston
came forward to occupy the morning OF
high grouhd ami good artillery positions
, near at hand on the west 1t WIS q p9sl-
ton substantially at right angles 10 SO
Gums approach 4 better position Tor z
! have been selected. Bragg's command
Folks division, held the left, near Slo-
Gums road. Hardee the center and Stuart
the right, while Hampton's cavalry GOV
cred the front and TANKS. Hardee, hay
! ing farther TO march than Johnston esti-
mated. WAS Replaced hy part OF Hamp-
| tors cavalry pending his arrival. Such
was the arrangement.
Now. let us pass to Slocum's froiit.
Gen. Carlin's division Of the 18th corps,
during the morning of the 18th OF March,
was moving steadily toward Bentonville.
probably in the usual column of Tours
covered on front and flank by active
skirmishers. The confederate cavalry be-
came more stubborn than usual; so much
SO Far to the left did he aeploy that the
watehful corps comiiiandef, Gen. Jeff q
Davis. sen, Morgan's division 10 the
right of Carlin. All this development was
intended to force back the confederate
cavalry. or uncover confederate infantry
and artillery, if they We're there. II was
this Onion force which pressed Hamp--
toms cavalry so hard that il FASTENED
back. according to orders. Is give space
to Iohnston's battle lines Hampton very
soon being out of the way fearful con-
f"derate fire opened At once 1T short
range against the whole 1ith corps adj
vance. AT first. Carln's men Were con
sideraby shaken. Perceiving IA growing
disorder. the eonfederates. those to the
the offensive. They advanced In line
against Carlin's left. We can imagine
some trcpidation and some breaking here
and there even in the old iith corps; but
men rally quickly after a sudden on
slausht or surprise While the sharp
lighting was going on In the outer front
the Goth corps and those of the 18th not
line about half mile 10 the rear OF the
point of attack. Johnston puts It In this
way: Some distance in the Gcderap
rear, there was a thick wood of young
pine into which the federal troops were
pursued ana In which they rallied and
renewed the fight" Johnston's language
would imply Il partial defeat Siocum
owns up TO an enforced retreat 10 the
position already prepared. but says with
praise that the retiring troops were
handled with skill and fen back without
the line established In "A short time In
front of this second position the hot en-
gagement was renewed. But this time.
the opposition was too strong for John
stons men to overcome. They charged
again and again but finally retired be
yondy range, doubtless hoping TO renew
the assault al daylight in the morning of
he. 20th. but during the night Johnston
learned that we had re-enforced Slocum
by one division. and that my entire COM
.nand was approaching Bentonville from
the east by Cox's road. so that a new
position became necessary for the ener-
getic confederate. for he had to face
both Slocum's column ana ours. John
ston chose will the new position. and pat
his forces there 1t was KIND OF bridge
head with Blended line. having Bentonvilie
behind it, covering the crossing of Mil
Creek, and thus holding the Smithiield
road.
sherman compares this position OF
Johnston to the letter Y. with the point
towards our center and the sides AT right
angles to our convergng roads. our Of
ucers on close examination had named II
a convex curve, with the conVexity to-
ward US The curves. however. were
made UP of irregular and broken lines 50
located as to secure q thorough defence
Of the village and the road Of retreat.
During the Goth of March. our army closed
up to Bentonville. driving the Southern
confederate cavalry before us. Logan
went mic posllloh next 10 Sloepin anu
t,iair HepioNed ms uNlsivH- 10 tile EfSI''
mus we einnfacFi the WORKS o. tHt cor
fcderateS. Inc whoIr Inc lah from ii9ut !
10 lett as folloWs; me lith l9th, itlh
ana zoIh corps, win proper reserves coy
rrlng each tlank. sherman sem MI
patrick cavalry TAR 70 Inc lett, faliN "a
ne morning or March u; the Ith eptps
made reconnaissance 'feh- mower va
sent win iMo uriEa'es 70 penetrate nv
hickeis and search our ING enemy iett.
he worked ms way through s"9npy
area where there WIS abunddnt W0oa anu
thick uhuefhrush- WIN ms uSuaI taStl
ness, Mower pressed OUT peNou1 Supi'cIt
a nttle too far TO the. north. becoming
win ms Two rflEtutS separdieu from ms
corps. lie struch eNdeht'y soine pu-.,9
beyond the enemy leit iahk; toinlils
upon 4 reserve rear guaru "fhcn re AZ
iIrst drove before MN. me coileuerate
commander seeing what was upon, nun.
made counter attack. with q laI Esi
! orce. upon Mower from anu Thhh' re
nus forced MN TO wNhdrhW; ana zen
Hampton says that that W1thdrdWdl Wa
N greal haste. ~ lact comPiete ttPu1S,,.
hampton IS douetleSS right nut as So, So,
as an appeal came from Mower. bltI
was ordered to support MN wan ms
'Tnoie corps, ana Logan WAS uHec,eu "
make diversion by advancing ana stlz-
nE me sklrmish rilie pltS ,tlous ~ - ~ s,
Nj this was done ana Wen zone hu, JUS
- Mower was again confldently ieauins y
connected column agalnSl we S'llip c9"-
federate flank with better prospects OF a
complete success, then II Was that zen.
Is.