The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-26
y HERMAN TN WARS LAST
} DAYS IN NORTH CAROLINA
By MARION T. PLYLER.

at the day of judgment" Thus, with
| officers whose mission was not TO
| fight. but to consume and Destroy,
| with an army demoralized by relaxed
| discipline and habits of plumber, the
march through the Old North State
began. -,
Fayetteville and the Cape Fear on
March the 18th, 1866, for Goldsboro,
| feigning en- Raleigh. By following
the shortest route, he expected, in
keeping with previously expressed
plans, to reach GoldSboro about the
| goth. Fitzpatrick was sent up the
| river or plank road beyond Averys-
boro, followed by four divisions of the
| left wing (Slocum) with as few wagons
as possible. The rest of the train was
to take a more direct road to Colds
boro. The right wing (Howard) was
ordered to send the trains, under good
| escort, towards Faisons Depot. How
ard was to hold four divisions light to
aid the left, if attacked.
(15) On the 18th the Confederate
cavalry was driven back by Slocum's
advancing column, the Twentieth
Corps being in the lead. (16) This
attacked Hardee the next morning at
Z o'clock, four miles south of Averys-
boro. Wards Division encountered
Brett's Brigade and drove it back, by
the aid of q flank movement, to a sec
ond and stronger position. Here re-
peated attacks were made and as often
repealed. Later two divisions of the
Twentieth Corps were reinforced by
two divisions from the Fourteenth
Corps. Then, with the aid of Kill
patrick, late in the evening they drove
Hardee well within his intrenched
lines. Being informed by 90 Hamp-
ton that the FederalS had crossed
Black River below, and were en-
dangering his left, Hardee retreated
during the night towards Smithfield,
to Elevation. Wards Division kept UP
q show of pursuit, and Slocum's col
umn turned to the right across South
River along the Goldsboro road. Kill
patrick moved on north towards Ele
walton. Slocum's loss in killed, wound
ed and missing were 682. Hardee's
total loss was about 500. They left
10S dead on the field.
In the meantime the wagon train
was moving on (1S), HoWard's col
umn, being on the new Goldsboro road
via Falling Creek Church. Sherman
had left Slocum to join Howard, and
also to meet with Terry who was NOV
ing from Wilmington or Goldsboro.
So now both wings of Sherman'S army
were headed directly for Goldsboro.
The front of the right wing was ahead
of the left, as (19) Johnson thought,
more than a days march. They be-
ing well reported on different roads,
his purpose was to surprise the left by
q rapid march on their front. So he
ordered Bragg and Stewart from
Smithfield and Hardee from Elevation
to BentOnviile, where they were to
bivOuac and attack the next morning,
the 18th of March. But, owing to a
false estimate of distance, and to the
actual position of the forces, Hardee
did not arrive on the field, selected by
Hampton, until the next day; and,
thereby, lost the opportunity of sur
prising SIocum's advance column. So
lin OF battle was formed. The
centre of Hoke's Division of North
Carolinians rested on the road, the
line forming at right angles to the
road. Stewart was placed to the right
of Hoke's Division. Later, Hardee ar
rived and was placed at the extreme
right, except McLaw's division which
was held to reinforce Hoke. GOO
Slocum attacked, and two brigades of
Carlin'S Division were driven back on
the main body with loss. He then de-
plOyed two divisions of the Fourteenth
Corps, and on their left two divisions
OF the Twentieth. Thus he assumed
the defensive and arranged a line OF
barracades. In this position Slocum
received six distinct assaults by the
forces of Hoke, Hardee, and Cheat
ham. These he repulsed without any
great reverses, but the day ended
with CID Johnson pleased over the
success of his arms. On the TWEEN
tieth, (22) Howard arrived in the al
terncon with achievements; SO that
now the ConfederateS We're confronted
by a complete and strong line of bat
tie, with Mill Creek to their rear and
only one bridge across that as a way
of retreat. Johnson'S left was SO
overlapped that McLaws Division was
placed to Hoke's left and the cavalry
was deployed as skirmishers on Nc
hams left. During the second day
Hoke sustained the severest attacks
along Johnson's line.
But Sherman had no specific object
to gain by a battle, SO his general in
StructionS were to press with skirmish-
ers alone, using artillery pretty freely
and TO feel right strongly the enemys
TANKS. This plan was followed the
2lst. The most crucial event of the
dAv, however. was when Mower work
ed well around JOhnsons left, and had
nearly reached the bridge across Mill
Creek The massing of troops against
Mower made his condition critical. He
was in danger of being cut off. To
save him from this fate. Sherman or
dered a general attack of his sk1rmish
until Mower was able to gain con-
nection with his own corps, the Sew
enteenth. After this, some desultory
sxirmishing ended the day. During
the night, Johnson retreated on
Smithfield and bivouaced the night oil
the 22nd south of the Neuse.
In the three days, (23) Johnson lost
in dead, wounded and missing 2,34S
7 (24) Sherman's aggregate loss was L.
595. Thus ended on North Carolina
soil the last battle of the great civil
war.
Howard was left at Bentonville the
22nd, to bury the dead and Sherman
joined SchOfield in Goldsboro the 23rd
Slocum came in that evening and the
next morning. Howard arrived the
oath. This union OF Sherman, Scho-
| field and Terry gave the Federal arms
entire control of the coast down to Sa-
vannah, and railroad connections
from Sherman's army to the govern
ment base of supplies Nothing more
could be desired for the campaign of
,65. With johnson in retreat, with
. Lee being closed in on from two sides,
with the South's resources exhausted,
! and with an open way to Washington