BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE, MARCH 19, 20, AND 21, 1865

(Large rectangular marker; full text follows) At Bentonville, General William T. Sherman’s Union army, advancing from Fayetteville toward Goldsboro, met and battled the Confederate army of General Joseph E. Johnston. General Robert E. Lee had directed the Confederates to make a stand in North Carolina to prevent Sherman from joining General U. S. Grant in front of Lee’s army at Petersburg, Virginia. Johnston had been able to raise nearly 30,000 men from South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and eastern North Carolina. His army included a galaxy of generals: two full generals; fourteen major generals; and many brigadier generals. Ahead of Sherman with his force, he looked for an opportunity to strike. Sherman’s army of 60,000 men was divided into two wings: 30,000 men in the Left Wing marching via Averasboro and Bentonville, and 30,000 men in the Right Wing marching on a parallel route to the southeast. Sherman’s North Carolina objective was Goldsboro, where 40,000 additional troops and fresh supplies would reinforce and nourish his weary army. The three-day battle ended in a stalemate. After an initial success on the first day, the Confederates were unable to destroy the united Federal Left and Right Wings (60,000 men) and on the night of March 21-22 they withdrew. The Union Army, anxious to reach Goldsboro, did not pursue. Troops involved: 85,000 to 90,000 Casualties: Killed Wounded Missing Confederate 239 1,694 673 Union 304 1,112 221 Total 543 2,806 894 Total killed, wounded, and missing: 4,243 The Battle of Bentonville was important because it was: 1) the only major Confederate attempt to stop Sherman after the Battle of Atlanta, August 1864; 2) the last major Confederate offensive in which the Confederates chose the ground and made the initial attack; and 3) the largest battle ever fought on North Carolina soil. The Harper House, residence in which John and Amy Harper raised their eight children, has been restored on the battleground. This home was used during the battle as a Union hospital and after the battle as a Confederate hospital. In the Confederate Cemetery are buried 360 soldiers. The museum and 6,000- acre battleground are open for tours on a regular schedule. I-95 (southbound) at rest area near Selma. 1962 HHH-1 SHERMAN Gen. Wm. T. Sherman camped in this area with his Left Wing on the night of March 18, 1865. The following morning, the Left Wing continued along this road meeting Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Confederates in the Battle of Bentonville, 2 miles east. Meanwhile, Sherman joined his Right Wing, marching toward Goldsboro on another road, and thus missed the first day of the battle. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-2 UNION HOSPITAL The Harper House was used as a hospital by the XIV Corps, March 19-21, 1865. About 500 Union wounded were treated here. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-3 CONFEDERATE HOSPITAL Following the battle, 45 Confederate wounded were hospitalized in the Harper House. Nineteen of these men died here. Surgeons moved the others to regular Confederate hospitals. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-4 UNION HEADQUARTERS Maj. Gen. A. S. Williams, commanding the XX Corps, established his headquarters here on March 19. In the woods to the north, the XX Corps erected breastworks which remain. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-5 FEDERAL EARTHWORKS Constructed by First Michigan Engineers and others, March 19, 1865. Occupied by Federals throughout the battle. Works begin 75 yards behind this marker. SR 1188 (Mill Creek Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-6 UNION HOSPITAL Field Hospital of the XX Corps during the Battle of Bentonville was located here. Four hundred Union soldiers, wounded in the Battle of Averasboro (16 miles west) on March 16, were brought here for treatment. South of SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-7 CONFEDERATE CEMETERY The remains of 360 Confederates who fell in the Battle of Bentonville lie here. They were moved to this plot from other parts of the battlefield in 1893. The monument was erected at that time. Junction of SR 1008 (Harper House Road) and SR 1188 (Mill Creek Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-8 UNION HEADQUARTERS Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, commanding Sherman's Left Wing, had headquarters in this field, March 19-21, 1865. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-9 FEDERAL ARTILLERY Union batteries (26 guns) formed a line here, March 19. These guns covered retreating Federals during the Confederate charges and finally halted the advance of the Confederate Right Wing. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959. HHH-10 CONFEDERATE ATTACKS Across the fields behind this marker the Confederate Right Wing made five attacks on Union positions to the left, March 19, 1865. They were thrown back by the XX Federal Corps. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-11 CONFEDERATE MAIN CHARGE After overrunning two Union lines above this road, the Confederates crossed here in the main assault of March 19, 1865. Union reinforcements halted their advance in the woods below the road. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-12 COLE FARMHOUSE Stood in this field. Scene of heavy fighting, March 19. Destroyed on March 20 by Confederate artillery to prevent sniping. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-13 FIGHTING BELOW THE ROAD One-half mile south of this point, across the road, Brig. Gen. J.D. Morgan's Union Division halted the main Confederate charge, March 19, 1865, in one of the fiercest engagements of the battle. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-14 FIRST UNION ATTACK Brig. Gen. W. P. Carlin's Division attacked the Confederate line above the road here on March 19. Repulsed, they threw up works but were driven out by the Confederate charge. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-15 MAIN CONFEDERATE LINE The Left Confederate Wing, part of a long hook-shaped line designed to trap the Union forces, extended across the road here on March 19. This sector, occupied by Maj. Gen. R.F. Hoke's Division, was evacuated on March 20. A new line parallel to the road was established 500 yards north. Junction of SR 1008 (Harper House Road) and SR 1194 (Bass Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-16 N.C. JUNIOR RESERVES Held the line along this road and repulsed the assault of Hobart's Union Brigade, March 19, 1865. This line was evacuated, March 20. SR 1194 (Bass Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-17 MAIN CONFEDERATE LINE On March 19 the line extended 3/4 mile to the rear of this marker and one mile to the left, forming a strong hook- shaped position with a right angle turn here. On March 20 the Left Wing was pulled back to this point and the new Confederate line crossed the road here. Earthworks remain. SR 1194 (Bass Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-18 FEDERAL JUNCTION Sherman's Left and Right Wings joined forces here during the afternoon of March 20, 1865. They constructed works across the road and skirmished with the Confederates. SR 1008 (Harper House Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-19 MAIN UNION LINE Advanced to this point during the afternoon of March 21. The XV Corps established a line of works across the road here. Earthworks remain. SR 1009 (Devil's Race Track) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-20 MAIN CONFEDERATE LINE Crossed the road at this point, March 20-21. Gen. R.F. Hoke's Division occupied this sector. Scene of much skirmishing but no heavy fighting. Earthworks remain. SR 1009 (Devil's Race Track) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-21 BENTONVILLE In 1865, a local market center for naval stores (tar, pitch, & turpentine). Bentonville gives its name to the battle fought nearby, March 19-21, 1865. Confederates concentrated here the day before the battle. As they retreated on March 22, they burned all stockes of naval stores. Union forces occupied the village, March 22- 24. SR 1009 (Devil's Race Track) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-22 CONFEDERATE WORKS Remains of breastworks on this hill mark a line of works built by the Confederates to protect Mill Creek Bridge. SR 1009 (Devil's Race Track) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-23 MILL CREEK The flooded state of this creek upstream prevented an attack by Wheeler's Confederate cavalry on the rear of Sherman's Army, March 19, 1865. A bridge here was the Confederates' sole line of retreat after the battle. SR 1009 (Devil's Race Track) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-24 JOHNSTON'S HEADQUARTERS Established here on the night of March 18, 1865 and remained during the battle. Mower's Division came within 200 yards of this point in the Union assault of March 21. SR 1197 (Bentonville Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-25 HARDEE'S CHARGE Near this point Gen. William J. Hardee led the charge of the 8th Texas Cavalry and other Confederates, repulsing the advance of Mower's Division, March 21, 1865. Junction of SR 1197 (Bentonville Road) and SR 1199 (Scout Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-26 MOWER'S ATTACK Advancing toward Mill Creek Bridge, Johnston's only line of retreat, Maj. Gen. J. A. Mower's Union Division broke the Confederate line near this point, March 21. Mower's Division reached a point 200 yards from Johnston's headquarters before it was driven back by Confederate infantry and cavalry. SR 1199 (Scout Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-27 UNION LINE-- MARCH 21 After withdrawing from the advance against Mill Creek Bridge, Mower's Federals reformed here and threw up works. This was the extreme right of the Union line on March 21. Earthworks remain. SR 1199 (Scout Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-28 UNION HEADQUARTERS Sherman's headquarters were located in the field 400 yards to the rear of this marker, March 20-21, 1865. Headquarters of the XVII Corps, which included Mower's Division, were 250 yards to the left rear. SR 1197 (Bentonville Road) at Bentonville Battleground. 1959 HHH-29 UNION LINE-- MARCH 20 Trenches in the woods behind this marker formed the extreme right of the Union line on March 20. This sector was occupied by the XVII Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair.