The Washington herald., 1915-03-21


TO move from Goldsboro TO Smithfieid.
twenty miles up the Neuse River This
was half way to Raleigh. n position
covering either that pace or Colds
boro.
On the night of March l.. Gen. Hsr-
dees Confederate corps. that which
had been defeated at Averasboro the
day before, was within ten miles of
Smithfield. This force numbered about
10000. and gave Gen. Johnston about
1000 infantry. Gen. Wade Hampton's
cavalry numbered an additional 5000.
Shrrmnn's Army Scattered.
on that night Gen. Johnston re-
ceived word that Shermans army was
much scattered. Its left wing. under
Gen. II. W. Siocum. comprising the
Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps. was
on the Averasboro-B entonvilie road.
en- route to C;oldsboro. Two divisions
of the Fourteenth Corps. under Gen.
Jeff G. Davis, were in tho lead. with
Two divisions of the Twentieth under
Gen. A. :. Williams. fully eight miles
in it's rear. The remaining division Of
each corps was on southerry
roads. guarding the wagon trains.
Gen. Snermans right wing under
Gen. -. -. Howard. comprising the
| Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps. I'M
der Gems. John \. Logan and Frank
\
heading for Goldsboro. but on road
that ran from eight to twelve miles
south OF that upon ~,.fch the left wing
was moving.
; with Shermans army thus widely
separated. Gen Johnston saw his op-
portunity to strike. lie ordered both
Gen BraCC and Gen. Hardee to now
directly south to Bentonville. about
twelve or fifteen miles, on the 18th, TO
strike At the Federal left wing when
II should attempt to pass toward
Goldsboro.
tnavoida BILE delays occurred on III.
Confederate side and. on the morning
of March 10. when the two Federal
divisions under Gen. Davis took the
road to Bcntonville from their biv-
ouack. six seven miles west, the
advance of JOhnstons Infantry had
not come up to intercept them. 40
part of the Confederate cavalry under
Gen. Hampton was ordered to check
the Federal march Until Gems. Hardee
Ind Bragg arrived on the scene.
FrdcraIs Driven Back.
| II did not take Gen. Davis long to
see that the Confedrrares encountered
near Bentonville were in considerable
force. lie sent word to Gen. Sherman
Who. believing. all danger to the left
wing past. had gone south to join the
right wing the day befors-that his
march was being contested. but that
IL appeared that only the Confederate
cavalry was in his front
But my noon. when most of John
ston's army had come up. tho advance
division of Davis corps, that under
Gen. William =. Carlin. ran full into
the intrenChed positions of the Con-
federates. In short time the battle
developed. Davis two divisions. num-
herinG about 5000 men each. were at
tackled with great fury. Gen. Carlin.
on the left, was rolled back fully a
mile and for a while it appeared that
Davis was doomed. But here Gen. Da-
Wis proved his worth a general BY
n careful handling OF troops he ward
/ ed off the blows of the enemy until
the van of the Twentieth Corps, which
he had summoned early in the after
noon. arrived.
When night ended the fighting Of
March 10. Gen. Johnston knew that
his great chance for success had gone
He realized that by morning Gen.
Sherman would be on hand with the
whole right wing. So Johnston with
drew his advanced TANKS. and took up
a strong defensive position along the
banks of a creek in front of Benton
VILE. facing generally south.
| II was = o'clock in the morning of
March 20 when sherman learned Of
! the threatening situation on his left
wing. He at once placed Towards
wing in motion to join Gen. Slocum
and carly the next morning arrived
on the field of Bentonville There was
only light fighting during that DAY
Sherman spending the greater part
of the time in carefully placing his
troops. He knew Gen. Johnston TO he
a very dangerous antagonist. and fur
thGrmorc. greatly overrated his nu-
mcriCaI strength.
sherman Reaches GoIdsboro.
Al this late day. when the march
across tn" Carolinas was almost DONE
and when Goldsboro. on the Nous"
River. which he intended to make his
permanent base for subsequent moves
against Johnston. was only twenty
miles away. Gen. sherman did not care
To take any chances of losing a battle.
\ strong Federal force from Newbern
ffty-five miles down the Neuse. under
Gen. john NJ. Schoield was within IL
few miles of Goldsboro on the east
and Sherman was anxious to form
junction with it before risking battle
with Johnston.
SO. during much of March 81 ,when
SChoficld reached Goldsboro), Sherman
faced Gen. Johnston's weak force. but
made no attempt to heavily engage IL.
Tn" COnfcdeTatrs had thrown up dc
lenses Of great strength. similar to
good effect in the Atlanta campaign.
and Sherman was loath to attack them.
Averasboro had given him all the
wounded he cared to handle.
But shortly after noon Gen. Joseph
A. Mower. commanding the First Divi-
sion of the Seventeenth Corps. which
was posted the extreme Federal
right. acting on his own initiative
forced his way through swamps DO
tween him and the enemy and broke
through Johnston's line. Mower &C
tually came within Gunfire of the
bridges over Mill Creek. by which
Johnstons army must fall back upon
Bentonville. should II become neces-
sary to retreat.
Yet Mower, alone in front Of BragG's
Corps. was in tiCklish position. He
was heavily attacked. first by Wheel
crs cavalry and sfterward by part of
BraGGs infantry. Aid was sent him:
but Gen. Sherman. being averss to en-
!, gaging the whole OF the Confederate
! army. ordered Mowers withdrawal
There was heavy demonstration
along the Federal lines TO cover Gen.
Mowers retroGrade.
Great March Ends.
Here the battle ended. Gen. john
ston finding himself In danger of be-
ing crushed. retreated to Smithfeld
during the night. The next day the
Federals resumed their march upon