196 Norro Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

facts and conclusion. I quote from “Johnston’s narrative” !
“The enemy attacked Hoke’s Division vigorously, especially
it’s left, so vigorously that General Bragg apprehended that
Hoke, although slightly entrenched, would be driven from
his position. He therefore applied urgently for strong rein-
forcements. General Hardee, the head of whose column was
then near, was directed, most injudiciously, to send his lead-
ing division, McLaws’, to the assistance of the troops as-
sailed.” :

General Hampton in his account of the battle, says: Hoke
repulsed the attack made on him fully and handsomely. Had
Hardee been in the position originally assigned him at the
time Hoke struck the enemy, and could his command and
Stuart’s have been thrown on the flanks of the Federal forces,
I think that the Fourteenth Corps would have been driven
back in disorder on the Twentieth, which was moving up to
it’s support.” General Hampton, in his account of the part
taken by General Hardee’s command, quotes from General
Johnston as follows:

“The Confederates passed over the hundred yards of space
between the two lines in quick time and in excellent order,
and the remaining distance in double-quick, without pausing
so fire until their near approach had driven the enemy from
the shelter of their entrenchments, in full retreat, to their
gecond line. After firing a few rounds the Confederates
again pressed forward, and when they were near the second
intrenchment, now manned by both lines of Federal troops,
Lieutenant-General Hardee, after commanding the double-
quick, led the charge, and with knightly gallantry, dashed
over the enemy’s breastworks on horseback in front of his
men. Some distance in the rear there was a very thick wood
of young pines, into which the Federal troops were pursued,
and in which they rallied and renewed the fight. But the
Confederates continued to advance, driving the enemy back
slowly. Night coming on prevented the further advance of
ihe Confederates who, elated with victory, were now anxious
to continue the pursuit of the fleeing enemy.”

The close of the first day of this hotly, contested battle
found the Confederates victorious at every point, not only

FirtietH REGIMENT. 197

holding their own lines, but at many points they rested for the
night in full possession of the fortified position of the enemy.
About midday of the 20th the other two corps of the enemy
which had been moving on the Fayetteville and Goldsboro
soad, crossed to the Averasboro road and appeared in full
force on our left, which was entirely unprotected from Hoke’s
position on the road to Mill creek below. This necessitated
ehanging Hoke’s front to left and parallel to the road. Me-
Laws’ Division was now shifted to Hoke’s left, -with the
Fiftieth North Carolina Regiment and Tenth North Caro-
lina Battalion forming the extreme left of our line. This
left considerable space between our left and Mill creek, thus
exposing the left wing, which was overlapped. This was oc-
cupied only by a very thin skirmish line of our cavalry.
These newly arrived forces assaulted our line from Hoke’s
right to McLaws’ left repeatedly during the afternoon of the
20th, but were handsomely repulsed in every instance. On
the morning of the 21st the fighting was resumed along
Hoke’s and McLaws’ front. As there was no demonstration
on our right, General Taliaferro threw forward a skirmish
line in his front and ascertained that the Federal left had
been withdrawn, and the combined attacks were directed
against the center occupied by Hoke and the left by McLaws
and our cavalry. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon our left
being hard pressed and overlapped, General Taliaferro was
ordered from the extreme right to our support. About the
same time it was learned that the Federal Seventeenth Corps
had succeeded in breaking through the thin skirmish line on
our left and was in rear of our line and near the only bridge
which spanned Mill creek at Bentonville. General Hardee
was moving Cumming’s Georgia Brigade to the left to pro-
tect this gap at the time, and discovering the enemy, ordered
Colonel Henderson, commanding the brigade, to attack the
head of the column, at the same time discovering the Eighth
Texas Cavalry approaching, he ordered them to charge the
left flank, he leading the charge in person.

General Hampton at the same time struck the right flank
with Young’s Brigade, commanded by Colonel Wright, while
General Wheeler attacked the rear of the Federal column