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20 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-65.

readily and promptly rallied and immediately went forward
again. They were much chagrined at misunderstanding the
orders which alone had caused them to fall back. No part of
the brigade at any time lay down and refused to go forward.
Those who commanded the Juniors or saw them in action
know that there were no troops who had more enthusiasm or
were more easily led than they.

About dark General Hoke placing himself at the head of
our brigade, some other troops being added, marched us
down the road towards Neuse river with the intention of turn-
ing the enemy’s flank, but about midnight the scouts brought
in news which induced General Hoke to retrace our steps and
at daylight we had recrossed the creek and were back in our
breastworks.

The enemy in front were repulsed, but Sherman’s army
was coming up from South Carolina and we were in danger
of being “in a strait betwixt two.” On the 10th we retreated
through Kinston, thence through Goldsboro to Smithfield,
where we saw General Joseph E. Johnston, who was in chief
command. There one morning the Junior Reserves Brigade
was drawn up on three sides of a square to witness the execu-
tion of three men from Zachary’sGeorgia Regiment, who were
to be shot for mutiny. There were threats of rescue, hence
this precaution. The men were tied to stakes and shot by a
detail, half only of whose guns were loaded with ball, the
other half with powder (the loading being done by others) so
no man would know that he fired the fatal shot. It was a

painful scene.

BENTONVILLE.

On 16 March the battle of Averasboro was fought and the
next morning we moved forward to meet Sherman. The
night of the 18th we camped in the woods beyond the stream
which runs through Bentonville. The next day, 19 March,
was a bright Sunday morning. Hoke’s Division lined the
road and at right angles to us was the Army of the West.
The enemy were in the angle. In the afternoon we saw the
Western army at right angles to us as it charged and took two
successive lines of breastworks, capturing the enemy’s artil-

SEVENTIETH REGIMENT. 21

lery. Several officers led the charge on horseback across an
open field in full view, with colors flying and line of battle
in such perfect order as to be able to distinguish the several
field officers in proper place and followed by a battery which
dashed at full gallop, wheeled, unlimbered and opened fire.
It looked like a picture and at our distance was truly beauti-
ful. It was gallantly done, but it was a painful sight to see
how close their battle flags were together, regiments being
scarcely larger than companies and a division not much larger
than a regiment should be. In the meantime Hoke’s Division
was sharply engaged with a corps which was trying to turn
our flank. The enemy’s large force enabled him to do this and
next morning Hoke’s Division was thrown back and formed a
new line of battle facing nearly due east, whereas the day be-
fore we had been facing southwest.

This new line the division promptly fortified with breast-
avorks hastily thrown up of logs, filled in with earth dug up
with bayonets and tin pans and a few spades and shovels. In
front of this line, two hundred yards, was the skirmish line
of each brigade. That of our brigade was commanded by
Major Walter Clark, of the First Regiment. During the
two days we held that position the enemy repeatedly charged
and sometimes drove in the skirmishers to our right and left,
but being favored by the ground or for some other cause, the
skirmishers of our brigade held their ground the entire time.
On Tuesday afternoon, the enemy having broken through to
our extreme left, threatened our communications. That
night General Johnston withdrew across the stream, having
held 70,000 of Sherman’s troops at bay with forces in the
beginning not exceeding 14,000, and at no time reaching
20,000. In many respects this was one of the most remarka-
ble battles of the war.. Sherman’s troops were evidently de-
moralized by a long course of pillaging and plunder.

Sherman did not follow our retreat, but sheered off to
Goldsboro. General Johnston’s army was encamped around
Mitchener’s depot and was reorganized 31 March, 100 Offi-
cial Records Union and Confederate Armies 732-736. On
6 April we had the last great review held of any of the Con-
federate armies and Governor Vance made one of his most