aie ae EE Le 30 Nortu Carouina Troops, 1861-’65. marched in the rain without tents at night, with almost no camp equipage, to find that the enemy had withdrawn. On our return, we were ordered to Goldsboro, thence to Kin- ston where the three regiments of Junior Reserves (Seventi- eth, Seventy-first and Seventy-second North Carolina) and Millard’s Battalion—being all the Juniors—were placed in a brigade commanded by Colonel F. S. Armistead and en- camped on the north of the railroad, about one mile west of the residence of John C, Washington. SOUTH WEST CREEK. The enemy advancing from New Bern on 6 March, we erossed the river with Hoke’s Division (to which we were thenceforward attached) and other troops and marched down to South West Creek four or five miles below Kinston, where we were on the left of our army, the right of our brigade rest- ing on the county road which runs north of the railroad. For some reason, Millard’s Battalion was not with us in this bat- tle, but was placed farther to the right. On the afternoon of the 8th we crossed the creek in our front on an improvised bridge and as soon as the brigade was formed in line, we moved forward in handsome style and drove back the enemy in front of us. After dark General Hoke put himself at our head, some other troops being added, and we moved by the left flank down the road towards Neuse river, the object being to turn the enemy’s right flank. About midnight, scouts came in with information which caused General Hoke to or- der us to retrace our steps and by daylight we were again in our intrenchments west of the creek, which we had marched out of the afternoon before. As news came that Sherman was coming up by way of Fayetteville on the 11th, we were withdrawn, passing through Kinston. We marched through Goldsboro on to Smithfield, where we united with the Western army and saw General Joseph E. Johnston. Hn route, on 15 March the brigade which at the battle of South West Creek was commanded by General L. S. Baker, was placed under Colonel John H. Nethereutt, of the Sixty-sixth North Carolina, and that gal- lant officer and good fighter remained with us to the close. SEVENTY-F irst REGIMENT, 81. BENTONVILLE. On 17 March the army took up the movement to meet Sherman. On the night of the 18th we encamped just be- yond Bentonville. The next day was a bright Sunday morn- ing, and we were in the fight on the left of Hoke’s Division. In the afternoon we witnessed the gallant charge of our de- pleted army of the West when it charged and took two succes- sive lines from the enemy. His overwhelming numbers, however, enabled Sherman to out-flank us on our left during the night and next morning our line of battle which had faced southwest on Sunday was thrown back and faced nearly due east. This line was strengthened by a hasty breastwork of logs and dirt which we held, against all assaults, on the 20th and 21st. On the night of the latter day the enemy having outflanked us again on our left we quietly withdrew, and leisurely fell back to Mitchener’s depot. Sherman did not pursue, but moved on to Goldsboro to join the column from New Bern which we had met at South West Creek. The conduct of the Junior Brigade at Bentonville was admirable and elicited high praise not only from Colonel Netherecutt, commanding the brigade, but from Generals Hoke and Har- dee, commanding the division and the Corps. General Jos. E. Johnston in his published writings since the war has added his encomiums. Our loss in killed and wounded was report- ed as 41. For three days with 14,000 men, at no time, with all reinforcements, reaching 20,000, Johnston had held at bay Sherman’s 70,000, and had fought one of the most re- markable battles of the war. At Mitchener’s depot, the army was reorganized and took a much needed rest. On 6 April we had a grand review, the last held in the Confederate armies. The Junior Brigade was the largest on the parade. Governor Vance was present and made one of his most stirring speeches. THE RETREAT. On 9 April General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. On the next day, we began our retreat simultaneously with Sher- man’s advance from Goldsboro. On 12 April we passed through Raleigh, Hoke’s Division being the rear guard.