BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE.
The Last Battle of the War, Between
Gen. Sherman and Gen. Johnston,
March 19, l?65.
I,. I'. Thomas in Atlanta Journal.
The last battle of the western
army wan fought at Bentonsville,
N. C., March l'J. 1865, between
General Sherman and (leneral
Joseph K. Johnston, who had
again unsullied command of our
army.
On the 18th of April, Sherman
and JohiiHton agreed to a truce,
and it was as late as May 26th
before Kirby Smith surrendered
out west. Some skirmishing and
small engagements occurred 1k?
tween detached troops belonging
to our army and the enemy,
which could hardly lie called bat
tles; therefore Bentonville, N. C.,
is named as the last battle of the
western army, and it is of this
hotly contested fight, between
giants?our two most conspicu
ous and gallant officers of the
western army; Sherman on the
federal side and Johnston on the
Confederate side, that I want to
speak, as it brought face to face
for the last time, these two old
war veterans who had so often
met each other before, on the
gory field of battle. These two,
who had marched and counter
marched over the desolate fields
of Georgia and the Carolinas;!
who had so often thrown out
their brave soldiery in battle
lines confronting each other, were
now, on the liith day of March,
1865, to confront each other in
battle array, fighting for mastery
for the hist time.
It is not within the scope of my
knowledge, nor is it my intention
to write fully of the history of
this battle, as the official records
will no doubt give each and all
the divisions, brigades and regi
ments, all the honors gained that
day, but to mention from per
sonal observation some of the
Confederate brigades most con
spicuous in this battle, who cov
ered themselves with glory on
this fiercely contested battlefield,
viz.: Stovall's and Cummings'
brigades, and part of Hoke's
division.
We were marching along the
main road leading from Smith
held station toward Bentonville,
and had just crossed a small
stream. I" iring could be heard
in the distance, and the move
ments of couriers and aides rush
ing here and there indicated a
battle on hand. We tiled to the
right of the road, and rapidly
took position in line of battle;
the Forty-second Georgia being
on the right, and constituting
one-half of Stovall's brigade,
which had i.-apn marched and
fought down to >j,n alarmingly
small number, but those who
were still in line were true and
tried. Our position was taken
only a short distance from the
main road, and now we were on
the battlefield of Bentonville,
where we were to fight our last
battle; no time to throw up
breast works, but the boys availed
themselves of time to cut down
small pine limbs, which to some;
extent hid them from the view of
the approaching enemy. The
small pine trees growing at inter
vals apart, gave our men an op
Jiortunity to seethe approaching
ine of battle several hundred j
yards from where they were hug
ging the ground closely, hid to
some extent by the pine limbs cut
from the nearby tries. It was u
grand sight to see them moving
on us, "Old Glory" floating in
the breeze so proudly. Here they (
came, our skirmish line gradu
ally giving way and falling back
into our line of battle.
1 never was more particular
and careful in giving officers and
men order to hold their fire. My
orders had gone up and down my
line repeatedly, instructing the
men and officers to keep down
hold fire, and await a sign, or
orders; even threatening those
who should first disoltey. 'Tis
not strange then, that men who
had fougnt 21 battles, carried
out my orders to the letter.
The other day an old veteran
walked into my office and asked
for me?I raised up to shake his
hand, for I saw at a glance that
1 had known him in other days,
and as we were grasping hands
and looking at each other in the
eyes, trying totracesomeremein
brace of toe bygone times, he
said, "Colonel, I remember the
last order you gave us at Ben
tonville: 'Attention, Forty
second Georgin, hold your fire
for my orders, and when you fire,
give the rebel yell!' Those who
yet survive, and were present
that day, can tell you how well
the order was obeyed."
Well, here they came. Our line
hat! absorbed our skirmishers,
and the way was clear in front
for the music of the battle to
commence?but not a gun was
fired, and bravely onward the
enemy inarched in grand style
nearer and nearer they came.
When not over forty or fifty
puces from us, the order so anx
iously awaited was given, and a
sheet of fire blazed out from the
hidden battle line of the Forty
second Georgia, that was demor
alizing and fatal to the enemy, j
They halted, reeled and stag
gered, while we poured volley
after volley into them, and great
gaps were made in their line, as
brave federals fell everywhere?,
their colors would rise and fall
just a few feet from us, and many
a gallant boy in blue is buried
there in those pines, who held
"Old Glorv" up for a brief mo
ment. Their battle line was
driven back in grand style that
day, and the arms secured from
the fallen toe immediately in our
front, equipped an entire regi
ment of our North Carolina sol
diers who had inferior guns. The
enemy, repulsed and forced to re
treat, re-formed their battle line
again, not far away.
While the battlefield was being
cleared of the wounded just in
front, and our boys were picking
up the guns thrown down by the
enemy, Major General i>. 11. Hill
and staff rodedown the line from j
the center, and seeing what we
had done, complimented us for
our work, and orders soon fob j
lowed to hold ourselves in reudi-1
ness to move forward. We knew 1
what that meant, and then came
the "tug of war." We were to i
"lead the charge." The order
came, and the movement all along
the line of the brigade, conform
ing to the right, was in splendid
order, and the first line of the
federals was soon in view; over
which we passed without a battle,
sweeping all before us?it was
grand to behold?onward we
moved tor peihaps half a mile or j
so, carrying everything before us.
At this point, where there were [
converging roads, we came to a
halt, and were ordered to re-ar
range our lines, which were some
what scattered by the charge
just made, and here at this point,
while laying on our arms resting,
for we were then informed that
we had done enough that day, I
saw the grandest sight I ever
witnessed on the battlefield.
lioke's division was put into
the charge and bringing up the
the center. Resting there on the
pine-covered ground as we were,
the firing of small arms having
ceased for a time, with only now
and then the boom of cannon to
remind us that the tight was still
on, and yet to be decided, it was
a picture that would be worthy
??f niirtrftvflI nil pjiiivnss lie snmp
great artist; the sun was slowly
sinking in the west, am1 the slant
ing rays were penetrating the
green forest of small pines. All
at once the enemv were confront
ed by Hoke's gallant and dash
ing division as it came sweeping
over us like a whirlwind, and
thus they struck the enemy, and
though they battled tlercely till
night came on, they were only
partially successful, having pene
t rated the federal line and break
ing it at only one point. On the
next day we were looking after
the dead and wounded. On the
21st Colonel K. J. Henderson,
the first colonel of the Forty
second Georgia Regiment, made
drigadier general for gallantry
on the field, was ordered to leati
Cummings' brigade on the left of
our line. In this charge, so high
ly spoken of by the general com
manding, the day was won. No
truer man, or more gallant offi
cer t han General Henderson ever
buckled on sword in defense of
the lost cause, and 'tis a pleasure
for me to speak of his gallant
conduct on the field of battle.
Just before his death in this
city, at the residence of his son
in-law, Mr. L. J. Hill, I called on
him accompanied by Colonel VV.
L. Calhoun. In talking over the
events of the war, he said to us,
"Calhoun, you and Thomas must
keen my army record correct,"
ana we promised to do so, and
shook his hand for the last time. |
With others we accompanied his
remains toCovington,Ga., short
ly afterward, where they now
rest.
This is what the war records
show of this last charge of the
war in the west, made by Colonel,
Henderson, Series 1, Volume 47, j
page l(?r?7. In the report of
General 1. E. Johnston to General
R. E. Lee, speaking of our com-1
bined attack on the seventeeth
corps, liesaid Lieutenant Hardee,
dispatched to that point with
the reserves, met it in front with
Cummings' (Georgia) brigade -
the only infantry up; whilecaval-!
ry directed by Lieutenant Gen
eral Hampton and Major General
Wheeler, was thrown upon its
hanks, and by combined attacks
this corns was promptly driven
back, in this engagement Cum-,
t '
milieu' brigade, under Colonel
Henderson, and the Fight h Texas
Cavalry ,distingushed themselves.
In the latter General Hardee's
son, a very promising youth of
sixteen, fell mortally wounded
when gallantry charging in the
front rank.
Finding during the night that
Kchofield had readied Goldsboro
and that Sherman was moving
towards Cox's bridge and that
all our wounded who could bear
transportation had been moved,
we moved to the neighborhood
of Sinithfield Station, (ienerul
Johnston says further in same
report: "We took about 15,000
men into action on the 19th-?the
enemy's force numbering above
20,000, and afterwards increased
by 10,000 more." Then he says
further on that on the 20th and
21st the whole army was before |
us, amounting to nearly 44.000
?our losses in the three days'
engagements amounted to 224
killed and 1,470 wounded, and
several hundred missing. The
enemy's loss was far greater than
ours. General Johnston also
states in conclusion that the mor
al effect on our army was greatly
improved by our success.
General C. L. Stephenson in his
report, same volume, page 1095,
in speaking of our gallant Hen
derson, said: "1 forward here
with the report of Colonel R. J.
Henderson, commanding Cum
mings' brigade. Of the action of
the brigade in repulsing, in con
junction with a small body of
cavalry, a vastly superior force
of the enemy in a serious flank
movement, the brigade had not
been reported tc me, having l>een
detached for some time. No en
comium that I can pass upon the
conduct of the brigadeatthis im
portant juncture will be so ex
pressive a recognition of its gal
lant behaviour as the simple
statement that it received upon
the field the thanks and compli
ments of General Johnston."
1 wish I could in this article
speak of other brigades and their
commanders, but these who are
interested in these war stories,
should refer to volume 47, and
they will find many interesting
reports of this battle.
1 now wish to mention the clos
ing scenes and events around
lientonsville on March 21st, two
days after the battle. We had
heavy tiring again all along the
line. 1 was selected as corps offi
cer of the day and refer to same
volume, page 1091 and 1092,
Major General 1). 11. Hill's report.
He said: "There was agreat deal
of heavy firing on our left line,
but no attack upon my command
this day. My skirmish line, un
,i..? tu? ...
uci luaiui i iiuuia^, ?n cuq?B
officer of the day, was advanced
that afternoon in connection with
the skirmish lineof Generals Wal
thall and Hate, and with small
loss drove the yankeesfrom their
position about Cole's house. All
the buildings there were burned
to prevent their further use by
the yunkee sharpshooters," and
thus we were bringing matters to
the close. That night General
Hill sent out an aide for me to
report to his headquarters, which
I did. lfeand hisstaff weregath
ered arou id a small fire partak
ing of their scant supper, of which
1 was invited to partake. Wheth
er I refused from the apparent
scarcity of the rations, or over
awed by being in the presence of
an officer so superior in rank, I
do not now remember, but I en
tered into conversation with the
general and his staff officers, and
was informed that an order was:
expected from General Johnston
to move out that night and that
by remaining for a snort time the
order would arrive, and that was
true. My skirmish line covering
the entire corps was gradually
retired and by 2 o'clock that
morning we had crossed Han-1
nah's creek on our march to
Smithfleld station. This per
haps was the last skirmish line
formed on thisbuttlefield, or any
other, between the forces of Sher
man and Johnston, and soon
thereafter, when we found our
selves encamped around Smith
field station, the reorganization
and consolidation of regiments
and divisions of the army took
place
Soon after the consolidation of
all the commands took place
General Johnston had a review of
the army and once more we be
gan to look like soldiers. I re
member how he looked as-ke sac |
on his war horse. He seemed
from that piercing look to give
each soldier as he missed a most
scrutinizing look. A few days
thereafter we were moving toward
Greensboro, and on that march
some interesting everts took
place. lee had surrendered be
fore we reached this point, but I
we did not know it. A few Mays
before reaching Greensboro, > we;
met an old Confederate veteran;
where ho ceme from we did not
I
know, but he had somehow got
teu the information that our
army in Virginia had surrender
ed. Hin statement wan disbe
lieved, and our general com-,
manding ordered him under
arrest. He was turned back and
accompanied us on our march to
Greensboro for nearly a day, but
other reports coming in from dif
ferent sources seemed to confirm
it. lie was released early in the
morning with apologies.
We had many desertions, and j
among the officers and n.en there
had been an alarming demorali-,
zation in all thecoinmands. Gen
eral Johnston was a strict dis
ciplinarian, and knew that some
thing had to be done to put his
army once again in fighting trim.
A courtmartial had been estab
lished, and some cases of deser
tion were before it. A youngsol
dier, 1 forget now his command,
was tried for desertion and found
guilty, and ordered to be exe
cuted. General Johnston was
up|>ealed to, but he only said the
sentence must stand. Next morn
ing at 7 o'clock he was to be
marched out, and thedetail from
his own regiment drawn up before
him would execute the order, and
at the command, one, two, three,
fire! he would pay the penalty.
A second effort had been made to
induce General Johnston to par
don, but he stood firm for dis
cipline and the execution must
proceed. Justus the young sol
dier was being escorted to the
ground, one of the general's aid
was seen ) uniting with lightning
speed towards them?the execu
tion was stayed; the command
ing general had just received con
firmation of the report that
General Lee had surrendered, and
the poor fellow was sayell. Our
army encamped around and
about Greensboro?our brigade
at High Point, N. U., where we
stacked our arms for the last
time. Sly??man and Johnston
agreed on a truce on April 18,
1865, and all was over, our pay
roils were furnished us, and our
army paid from the specie saved.
It was run out from Richmond
under guard, and was through
the quartermaster of our regi
ments paid out to us, each re
ceiving a Mexican silver dollar?
officers and men sharing alike.
I still have my silver dollar and
prize it as one of the most valued j
relics of the war.
After having our arms stacked
out in the old field in front of us,
which we turned over to the
soldiers of Uncle Sam. I began
to look around for transporta
tion, so as to aid my men to get
home once more, if homes they
were fortunate ennneh to have
With one wagon and the old reg
imental ambulance, we moved
out and in a short time we com
menced scattering in different
directions; some towards Augus
ta, and others crossing the river
above, and some towards Wash
ington, Ga. Before my separa
tion with the noble men of the
Forty-second Georgia, and after
calling on the sick and disabled,
some of whom had been located
near Greensboro, I made the best
arrangements for their comfort
possible; in some instances leav
ing nurses with them, and pass
ing amongst them shaking hands, j
and saying something encour
aging to all. My last visit was
to my old friend, Moses Martin,
who had followed me through the
war. "Mose" had fallen in the I
charge at Bentonville, and now ;
he was minus one leg, which was |
buried somewhere in North Caro
lina soil. He was the same
Moses Martin thatour citizens of
Gwinnett honored so long, and
he filled the positioned doorkeep
er for the liegislature many times.
Well, there was "Mose" stretched
out on his cot; he knew I was to
leave him, and when telling him
goodbye he looked me in the face,:
and with a faint smile, and yet
with tears in his eyes he said: j
"Colonel, if I ever get home, and j
should have a 'boy baby,' I will
name him for you,'' and strange;
as it may seem, there is a nice {
young man now living in old
Gwinnett, Martin's old home,
named "Lovick Thomas Martin." |
I had two horses, and compli- i
mented my Major, .l.J.McClen
don, by giving him one of them, :
and my bay, a fine, splendid ani
mal, 1 mounted and departed,
sad alone forj my home, and?
my tale is told.
"1 have been troubled with in
digestion for ten years, have tried
many things nnd spent much
morey to no purpose until I tried
Kodol Ilyspejmia Cure. I have!
taken two bottles and gotten
mote relief from them than all
other medicines taken. I feel
more like a boy than I have felt
in twenty years. "?Anderson j
Biggs of Sunny Lane,'Tex. Thous
ands hav'e testified as did Mr.
Higgs.?Hood Bros., Hare & Son. '
J. It. L?dbetter.
. iH
INFORMATION.
Several people have been in our store recently, and, upoe
seeing our goods, would say that they did not know that we
kept so and so, that they had gone elsewhere and paid much
higher prices for articles not as nice as ours. Below we give a
partial list of what we carry.
BED ROOM SUITS.
FROM $7.50 TO $35.
Our $35 suits are as nice as you can buy in many places for
forty-five or fifty dollars.
Bureaus from $3.50 to $15.00
Bed Steads from 1.50 to 15.00
Rockers from 75c. to $4.50
Straight Chairs(Solid Oak)
from 48c. to $2.50 each
Window Shades, 15c. to $130
We Garry a Nice Line of
EXTENSION TABLES,
Center Tables, Dining Tables, Wardrobes, Trunks, Tin Safes,
Glass Door Cupboards, Single and Folding Lounge*,
Carpet, Matting, Rugs, Floor Oil Cloth, Etc.
We also carry in stock . ..
theNew Roy?successor SCWllK) MflCltillCS.
to the Royal St. John ??-??.
Fully guaranteed at from 820 to $35.
We also curry the New No. 9 Wheeler & Wilson Sewing.
Machine?ball-bearing and rotary motion. One-third faster,
one-third lighter, one-third less noise, than any long-shuttle ma
chine made. The Wheeler & Wilson is positively the highest
grade sewing machine made. Call and see us.
Yours truly,
The Smithfield Furniture Co
SENSIBLE TALK FOR SENSIBLE FARMERS
In buying a machine the buyer should be posted. The good points
of the Osborne are too numerous to mention. They are evident to
ever}' 1 an tnat compares
with other makes. This is
no bare assertion, but has
been proven time and time
again.
LETMESHOVA/ YOU
The Osborne Columbia Mower,
The Neatest, strongest and most modern on the market.
AN OSBORNE CATALOGUE FOR ALL WHO WANT IT.
?FOR SALE BY?
H. D. ELLIINGTOIN,
SMITH FIELD, N. C.
SHOP ENLARGED.
I have recently repaired and enlarged inv shop nnd added many
things to my stock. 1 d? al in
Dressed Lumber and /Wouldings
FOR HOUSE BUILDING.
Turning and Scroll Work done to order. Building Material, such as*
Sash,l>oors, Blinds, Locks, Hinges, Screws, Cut and Wire Nails,
Glass, Putty, &c. Cart. Wagon and Bugg.v Material. Car
penters' Tools. Agent for the
Celebrated Longman & Martinez Paints
AND PARIAN READY MIXED PAINTS.
White-Leads and Oil Colors, Linseed Oil, Turpentine, roofing
paints, &c. Machinists' Supplies, including
Belts, Bolts, Pipe and Pipe Fittings, &c.
Also a good line of Undertakers' Goods always on hand such as
CASKETS, COFFINS, BURIAL ROBES,
SLIPPERS, GLOVES, &c, A A; A;
I have also rebuilt and enlarged my free lqt and stables and all
visiting Clayton are cordially invited to stop with me. Thanking
my fiiends for past favors I hope to merit a continuance of th?
same.
J. E. F*/\GE, Glayton, N. G.
M20?tf
The Herald and Home and Farm,
The Greatest Southern Farm Paper for S1.25.
THE HERALD AND
THE COMMONER,
W. J. Bryan's paper, $1.75.
The Herald and the National Magazine for $1.50.
These are excellent offers and our subscribers who wish to s< cur?
plenty of good reading should take advantage of them at once.
?Wtake To advantage of these offers The IlERALnmust be j aid
for one year in advance. THE 11ERALB,
Smithfleld, N. C.