194 Norto Carotina TROOPS, 1861-65.

Joss. After about four hours’ fighting, at 11 o'clock, they
made a vigorous attack upon the left of the line, at the same
time massing on and overlapping the right, forcing retire-
ment on the second line occupied by Colonel Elliott. Re-
peated attacks were made on this line, but in each case they
were gallantly repulsed.
About 1 o’elock they moved a heavy force in the direc-

tion of the Black river, completely flanking and exposing to a
severe cross-fire the left wing. This necessitated retirement
on the main line held by General McLaws. General Talia-
ferro, with his force, which had been engaged up to this time,
occupied position on both sides of the main road, General Me-
Laws the left, and General Wheeler with his dismounted cav-
alry, the right of the main line. Rhett’s Brigade, which had
suffered so severely, was sent to the rear and held in reserve.
Every attempt to carry this line was a complete failure and
after night the enemy withdrew and commenced to fortify
his position. We left our lines in possession of a picket of
Wheeler’s men and moved in direction of Smithfield. The
Federal loss, as officially reported in this fight, was 682. The
Confederate loss is not stated, but it was very heavy in
Rhett’s Brigade.

Tt was now learned that Sherman’s army was crossing the
Black river at several points. His persistent attempt to
open the Averasboro road seemed to indicate that his ob-
jective point was Raleigh, but this movement across the
Black river made it uncertain as to whether he would move
on Raleigh or Goldsboro, and General Hardee, in order to be
in position to turn in either direction, moved to the inter-
section of the roads near Elevation Church, in Johnston
county, reaching that point on the night of the 17th. At 12
o’clock on the night of the 17th General Hampton, who was
at the front near Bentonville, received a request from Gen-
eral Johnston, who was then at Smithfield, about sixteen
miles away, for full information as to the location of the varl-
ous commands of Sherman’s army, and his views as to the ad-
visability of attacking the enemy. General Hampton Te
ported at once that the Fourteenth Corps was in his immedi-
ate front; the Twentieth Corps was on the same road, five or

FirtietH REGIMEN’. 195

six miles in the rear; while the two other Corps, Logan’s and
Blair’s, were on a parallel road some miles to the south, and
at the place where he was camped was an admirable one for
the contemplated attack. He also reported that he would
delay the enemy as much as possible to gain time for the con-
centration of his forces at this point. In a few hours he re
ceived a reply from General Johnston stating that he would
move at once, and directing him to hold the position if possi-
ble. Early on the morning of the 18th General Hampton
moved his cavalry forward until he met the enemy, and kept
up a lively skirmish, slowly falling back, until in the after-
noon he had reached the position previously selected for the
battle. As it was of vital importance that this position should
be held until the infantry could reach them, he dismounted
his men and took the risk of sending his batteries to a com-
manding position far to the right of his line; and entirely un-
supported, and made a bold and successful stand.

BENTONVILLE.

After personally superintending the placing of the guns
and as he was mounting his horse to ride back to his line on
the road, he overheard the following remark from one of the
men at the guns, as he laughingly addressed his companions:
“Old Hampton is playing a game of bluff, and if he don’t
mind Sherman will call him.” General Johnston reached
Bentonville during the night of the 18th with a portion of the
troops from Smithfield. General Hardee, who had been in-
formed of the plan of attack, left the camp at Elevation early
in the morning of the 18th, but after a hard day’s march we
camped that night at Snead’s house, five miles from Benton-
ville, and about eight miles from the extreme part of the line
of battle. We made an early start on the morning of the
19th, but had not reached the position assigned us before the
enemy had made a bold assault on General Hoke’s position on
the road. After a desperate struggle they were repulsed and
driven from the field in confusion. At this critical moment
a mistake occurred which perhaps entirely changed the results
of the battle. General Hampton refers to it in his report of
the battle, and General Johnston confirms his statements of