The National tribune., 1900-05-31

DuJ was soon mace easy DS one VI Ills Stdit
officers OVeTtaklng me. explaining that
his leading division (CarliD'sl had enc9un-
tered a division of rebel cavalry (Dibrell'Sl,
which he was driving easily. But soon
other staff officers came up, reporting that
he had developed near BentonvIlle the
whole of the rebel army under Gen. John
ston himself. l sent him orders to call up
the two divisions guarding his wagon
trians. and HaZanS Division of the Elf
teenth Corps, still back near Lees Store,
to fight defensively until | could draw up
Blair'S Corps, then near Mount Olive
Station, and with the remaining three
divisions of the Fifteenth Corps come up on
JohnSton'S left rear from the direction OF
Cox's Bridge. In the meantime, while on
the road. | received courlerS from both
Gems. Schofield and Terry. The former
reported himself in possession of klnston,
delayed somewhat by want of provisions,
but able to march so as TO make Colds
borough on the Dist: and Terry was at or
near FaiSon's Depot. Orders We're at once
dispatched TO SChofield to push for Colds
borough and 10 make dispositions TO cross
Little River in the direction OF Smithheld,
as far as Millard; to Gen. Terry TO move 10
CoX's Bridge. lay a pontoon bridge, and
establish a crossing: and to Blair to make
a night march to Falling Creek Church,
and at daylight the Right Wing. Gen.
Howard, less the necessary wagon guards,
was put in rapid motion on BentonvIlle.
BY subsequent reports | learned that Gen;
Siocum's head of column had advanced
from its camp Of March IS, and first en-
countered Dibrell's Cavalry, but soon found
his progress impeded by infantry and
artillery. The enemy attacked his head
ST column. gaining a temporary advantage,
esad took three guns and caisSons OF Gen.
Carlins Division, driving the two leading
sgigades back on the main body. AS soon
81 Gen. Slocum realized that he had III hlS
axont the whole Confederate army he
IpT,lpI-aI thn divisions of the
Fourteenth Corps, Gen. Davis, and rapidly
brought mp on their left the two divisions
Sf the Twentieth Corps, Gen. Williams:
These he arranged on The defensive, and
hastily prepared line Of barrlcades. Gen.
Eilpatriok also came up at the sound ol
artillery and massed on the left. In this
position the Left Wing received six distinct
assaults by the combined forces OF Hoke,
Hardee. and Cheatham, under the lmmedI-
ate command of Gen. Johnston himself;
without giving an inch of ground, and
doing good execution on the enemy
ranks. especially with our artillery, the
enemy having little or none.
FIGHTING AROUND BENToNvILLE.
Johnston had moved by night from
Smithfield with great rapidity, and without
unnecessary wheels, intending to over
whelm my left flank before 1t could be
relieved by its cooperating columns. But
he 'reckoned without his host" had
expected JuSt such a movement all the
way from Fayetteville, and was prepared
for it. During the night of the 18th Gen.
Slocum got up his wagon train with It's
guard of two divisions, and Hazen's Divls-
ion of the Fifteenth Corps, which rein
forcement enabled him to make his position
impregnable. The Right Wing found
rebel cavalry watching its approach, but
Enable TO offer any serious opposition until
our head Of column encountered a consider
able body behind baricade at the forks OF
the road near Bentonv!ile, about three miles
east of the battlefield of the day before
This body of cavalry was, however, quickly
dislodged. and the intersection of the roads
secured. On moving forward the Fifteenth
Corps, Gen. Logan, found that the enemy
had thrown back his left flank, and had
constructed line of parapet connectng
with that toward Gen. Sl0cum, III the
form of bastion, its salient on the main
GoldShorough road interpoSlng between
Gen. SlocIm on the west and Gen. Howard
on the east. while the fianks rested on
Mill Creek. covering the road back TO Smith
field. Gen. Howard was Instructed to pro-
ceed with due caution until he had made
strong connection on his left with. Gen.
Slocum. This he soon accomplished,
and by p. m. of the 10th a complete and
strong line of battle confronted the enemy
in his iutrenched position, and Gen. john
ston, instead OF catching US III detail, was
on the defensive, with Mill Creek and a
SiIlSle DEluBS 70 Ills IGdI never llltltSo,
We had no object TO accomplish by a battle,
unless at an advantage, and therefore
nv general instructions were to press
steadily with skirmiShers alone, TO use
artillery pretty freely on the wooded space
held by the enemy, and to feel pretty strong
ly the flanks of his position, which were,
as usual, covered by the endless swamps
of this region of country. L also ordered
all empty wagons to be sent at once to
Kinston for supplies, and other impedl-
ments to be grouped near the Neuse, south
Of Goldsborough, holding the real army
in close contact with the enemy, ready TO
fight him if he ventured outside his para
pets and swampy distractions.
Thus matters stood about Bentonville
on the 21st Of March. On the same day
Gen. Schofield entered GOldsborough with
little or no opposition, and Gen. Terry had
got possession Of the Neuse River at Cox's
Bridge, 10 miles above, with pontoon
bridge laid and brigade across, so tnat the
three armies were in actual connection, and
the great object Of the campaign was ac
complished.
On the 21st a steady rain prevailed.
during which Gen. Mowers Division, of
the Seventeenth Corps, on the extreme
right, had worked well TO the right around
the eneIny's flank. and had nearly reached
the bridge across Mill Creek, the only line
Of retreat open to the enemy. OF course,
there was extreme danger that the enemy
would turn on him all his reserves, and, it
might be, lei go his parapets TO Overwhelm
Mower. Accordingly, l ordered at once a
general attack by our S5irmiSh line from
left to right Quite a noisy battle ensued,
during which Gen. Mower was enabled -
regain his connection with his own corps
by moving TO his left rear. Still, he had
developed a weakness in the enemy's
position of which advantage might be
taken: hut that night the enemy rctreated
on Smthlicld, leaving his pickets to fall
into our hands, with many dead unburied,
and wounded in his field hospitals. At
daybreali Of the 22d pursuit was made two
miles beyond Mill Creek. but checked by
my order Gen. Johnston had utterly
failed in his attempt, and we remained in
full possession of the field of hattie.
Gen. Slccum reports the losses OF the
Left Wing about BcntOnville at nine Off
GERS and l4:j men killed, 81 officers and S16
men wounded, and three officers and 223
men missing. taken prisoners by the enemy;
total, 1.196. He buried on the field 1877
rebel dead, and took 33S prisoners.
Gen. Howard reports the losses of the
Right Wing at two officers and 35 men
and one officer and 60 men missing; total,
1,2S7 prisoners.
The cavalry Of Fitzpatrick was held In
reserve, and lost but few, If any, OF which
loss at BcntOnville was ,595.
/ am well satisfied that the enemy lost
heavily, especially during his assaults on
the Left Wing during the afternoon OF the
18th; but as have no data save his dead
aVnd Il laEF In Y