Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas

by George W Pepper

  THE BATTLES OF NORTH CAB0LINA.

  The campaign of Sherman has been brilliant and triumphant. If the renown of splendid courage, stern devotion to the cause, and marches almost without a parallel, are evidences of soldier ship, then Sherman's army is the finest in the world. From all parts of the country, from Europe, from the rebels themselves will come the grateful tribute of admiration. When the record of this war is written the admiration will beam deeper and stronger, for the veil which has covered the movements of Sherman will be drawn away, and disclose a picture of patriotism, of self-sacrifice, of wise mid firm administration, which can be seen now only indistinctly. The details of that grand expedition into the heart of the South, which led to the evacuation of Savannah, Columbia, Charleston and Goldsboro, will then become clearly known to the world, and whatever may be the subsequent claims of Sherman's army to the respect of mankind, it will assuredly sustain its, present reputation for genuine endurement and valor, which the most famous veterans might envy.

  The army left Fayetteville for Goldsboro on the 14th of March— Howard commanding the right wing and Slocum the left— the two columns taking different roads, but crossing at a certain point. The citizens who turned out to witness the Yankee army, were quiet and respectful. In some places much enthusiasm was manifested, and the warm grasp of the hand told how cordially the Union soldiers were welcome in North Carolina. Were it not for the despotism of Davis, these sons of the old North State would rally to the Union cause with the promptness and alacrity of the clans of Scotland, when they heard the bugles of their Highland chiefs. Scores of her people greeted us with shouts of rapture. Plunder and pillage were strictly prohibited. The occasional acts of madness, committed by our troops in South Carolina, was not tolerated here. Many of the people seemed anxious to furnish forage and rations to our wearied and gallant boys.

  The battle for the possession of the rebel capital was fought, not at Petersburg, but at Bentonville N. C. To Johnson and Lee there was one single chance of success remaining— to prevent the junction of General Sherman and Schofield. This chance is gone. It might have been possible for the rebels, by attacking one of the separate columns which subsequently united at Goldsboro, to have crushed it before the arrival of the other. If Johnson had an army worthy of the name, he ought to have been able to defeat Schofield at Kenton; but he tried with half his force and failed then he tried the rear of one of Sherman's columns at Averysboro, March 16th, and failed thee. He tried again at Bentonville, March 19th, and failed there. He tried again at Mount Olive, and failed there. Then he retreated to Smithfield, While Sherman, victorious in every engagement, marched on to join Schofield and Terry near Goldsboro, and the three armies of the Union merged into one at the very point which Sherman had fixed upon before he started from Savannah. General Sherman's whole loss since leaving Savannah, is less than three thousand, and against that he has to show two thousand rebel prisoners, plus an estimated loss of three or four thousand, while they have failed in the object for which they fought, whilst he has succeeded in every plan and battle.

  A French paper, the Opnione Nationale, Prince Napoleon's organ, thus speaks of the campaign in Carolina:

  "The wild despair which induced the Carolinians to set fire to their metropolis, will not win for them the sympathies of the civilized world, for they have never men more than rebels against a great government. Their cause has never been that of liberty, their watchword is, slaves and slavery. The line of conduct "adopted by Sherman, is well calculated to force the South to return to the path of duty. The General has baffled the plans of his enemy by the skill of his tactics and the energy of his movements, while, by his moderation and justice, he has aroused in the insurgent populations love of the Federal flag The progress of the liberating army toward the north, will decide the fate of the rebel capital. Richmond will be the last retreat of Mr. Jefferson Davis, and the last rampart beneath which rebel slavery will find shelter."

  General Sherman after leaving Fayetteville, decided to form a junction with Schofield and Terry near Goldsboro. Hardee's force, twelve thousand men, in retreating from Fayetteville, moved in the direction of Raleigh, halting between Cape Fear and South rivers, hoping to check Sherman so that Johnston might be able to unite his entire army at Raleigh or Smithfield. General Johnston's plan was to strike one of Slocum's corps, and crush it while Wade Hampton held the others .off. General Slocum was to be decoyed into Bentonville and met by a small force of cavalry, when the infantry was to spring on him. The indefatigable Kilpatrick moved to Averysboro, demonstrating and feigning well toward Raleigh, when the "Bummers," who had been four miles beyond, announced that the rebels were advancing in force. The Ninth and Fifth Michigan Cavalry were immediately deployed, and after severe fighting succeeded in drawing the enemy across a ravine, which the next day became the line of battle.

  The position chosen by Johnston was a splendid one. His left rested upon the Neuse, his right on Hannah's creek. This creek empties into the river at some distance below the point that constitutes Johnston's rear, the intervening ground forming a cul de sac. The Neuse is deep and rapid here, and Hannah's creek is also an unfordable stream. Above the scene of battle, it is fed by Mill creek and Stone creek, and the three united streams guarded Johnston's right. The ground is undulating, but there are no hills of any height. The woods are open, and clear fields stretch away in the immediate front of what were Johnston's defensive works. Mr. Moore, whose farm was over-run by Union troops, lives three miles from Bentonville, and twelve from Cox's bridge over the Neuse. A short distance from Moore lives his neighbor Willis Cole. Near his house, running through the cleared fields, facing west and covering the forks of the road at Averysboro, the rebel line was formed. Their line was something like a segment of a circle, though irregular, fashioned on the scoop net principle.

  The left wing of our Army, Slocum’s column, had proceeded only five miles on their Sunday walk, when they neared Johnston's force, and were suddenly attacked. Williams' and Ward's divisions of the Twentieth corps, composed of Coggeswell's and Jack son's brigades and Morgan's and Carlin's divisions, Fourteenth corps, had the lead. The rebel General massed his entire army, and hurled them at once upon these divisions, but all sudden and fierce as it was, the left stood firm. Seven times during the day the rebels dashed up in great waves of fire and steel, and seven times they dashed themselves to pieces against Slocum's adamantine lines. The first one of these attempts was directed against Coggeswell's and Mitchell's brigades Hardee and Hoke led the charge in person. They became desperately ambitus, these rebels dashing into death, succeeding at one time in getting in the rear of Mitchell. The fighting here was terrific, old soldiers say it was never surpassed. A regiment or two yielded to the pressure of overwhelming numbers. The rebels swept like an avalanche upon the loyal troops and the shock had its effect. The enemy succeeded in capturing three guns belonging to Battery C 1st Illinois. After taking these guns, they could not get them to their lines. These guns remained between the two armies, neither being willing to pay the price of blood that their possession would have cost. Coggeswell’s brigade lay in the water and fired at the rebels. The enemy passed around Mitchell and struck Vancleave's and Fearing’s brigades in the rear, pressing them so hard that our boys were forced to jump over their breastworks to repel the assaults in their rear. In one of these assaults Colonel Drummond of the Fourteenth Michigan captured an officer who gave his name as General Hoke. He subsequently made his escape.

  The gallant Morgan had a narrow escape. While the fighting was going on, he had been consulting with Jeff. C. Davis, and had started for his post with Colonel McCleary, Chief of Staff, when he was fired at a dozen of times, and he actually went through a whole division of rebels. General Morgan is one of the fighting Generals. There are some amusing anecdotes told of him, one of which we will give:

  Morgan in his dress looks more like a wagon-master than a General. On a certain occasion a new recruit who had just arrived in camp, lost a few
articles and was inquiring for them among the veterans in hopes of finding them. An old soldier, fond of his sport, told the new recruit that the only thief in the brigade was in Jim Morgan's tent. The recruit immediately started for Jim's quarters, and poking his head in, asked:

  “Does Jim Morgan live here?

  “Yes," was the reply? “My name is James Morgan."

  “Then I want you to hand over those books you stole from me!"

  “I have none of your books, my man."

  "It is an infernal lie." exclaimed the recruit. "The boys say you are the only thief in camp! Turn out them books, or I'll grind your cards into apple sass."

  The General relished the joke very much, but seeing the sinewy recruit peeling off his coat, he informed him of his relations to the brigade, and the recruit walked off, merely remarking : u Wall, blast me, if I'd take you for a Brigadier. Excuse me, General, I don't know the ropes yet."

  The rebels fought with splendid gallantry. Notwithstanding the terrible havoc in their ranks, they pressed splendidly on, pushing some of our troops back, but not breaking our line of battle. They massed for a final effort, emerging from the woods in front of Carlin and Jackson, just as the sun went down. Their came into Mower's open field silently, marching steadily on towards Robinson and the five batteries. They were received with a terrible volley of musketry, Robinson, Jordan and Slocum giving them no time to recover their good order. Slocum ordered a charge and the brave fellows dashed rapidly forward. The rebels fought bravely and desperately. It was a critical moment. Slocum stood motionless and speechless near the batteries, intently watching Robinson's thin lines. Williams looked on, confident as ever in the tenacity of the red star division. Jeff. C. Davis pugnacious as at Chickamauga, watched the woods and listened for sounds from Carlin and Morgan; Kilpatrick, who was a visitor, showed all his splendid teeth in smiles of admiration at the way those men fought, and slapped his thighs excitedly when the rebels were checked. The five batteries then opened at a distance less than seven hundred yards, throwing canister and spherical case into the wavering mass of rebels, the discharges being as rapid as the ticks of a lever watch. Smoke settled down over the guns as it grew dark, and the flashes seemed like a steady burning fire, and powder and peach blossoms perfumed the air. The fighting on all parts of the line was now at that range, and we were holding on by the skin of our teeth only. It was known that Howard's column was sent for and anxious and watchful were the glances sent to the rear. Our loss in the battle of Averysboro was eight hundred.

  The battle of Bentonville was the great battle that the Richmond papers said was to astonish the world. The rebels fought well and desperately and with great heroism. They had brought their whole army here, and were splendidly fortified. They selected their own ground, but with all their privileges, they were unable to withstand Sherman's hosts. Bentonville is a wretched village of five or six mud hovels, in Johnston county, North Carolina. It is five miles south of the Neuse River, and twenty miles West of Goldsboro. Mill creek is a small, shallow, stream of water, hardly reaching the dignity of a creek. It is skirted generally by lowlands and considerable swamps. The enemy's line of battle extended between Mill creek and Hannah's, resting here and there on a very crooked swamp.

  Our line of battle was nearly opposite that of the enemy, and stretched irregularly along the border of a swamp; Blair commanding on the right, Logan on the left.

  The first indications of the battle was the driving in of the enemy's out-posts and skirmishers. For three hours on Monday afternoon, twentieth instant, the skirmishing was carried on, without any effect, save the wounding of a few citizens. Towards evening we sent forward a large body of skirmishers, and shortly after McLaw's division was hurled against our pickets. The fire became rapid and incessant; what were at first distinct notes, clear and consecutive, merged into a tumultuous chorus. The discharge of musketry sounds upon the ear like the rolling of a thousand distant drums.

  Logan's veterans entered into a glorious revelry. Their fierce battle cry rang out above the roar of battle, the trumpet note of victory to our arms and the knell of defeat to the enemy. With several advantages, gained, the fight closed for the first day. Hick ox's splendid Wisconsin battery, announced the next morning that the battle was begun. Logan had intended the attack; Blair had arrived the preceding night and was in position on the extreme right. Logan's Fifteenth corps, splendidly handled, swept on like a wave, its columns falling fast and heavy upon the audacious rebels.

  Johnston had massed a heavy force on the right, and maintained his position with so much stubbornness that Blair ordered a division forward. It moved forward in superb style, and fell upon the enemy like a thunderbolt. The shock was terrible. The enemy halted, hesitated, then staggered backward from their first line of works.

  Late $t night a simultaneous attack was ordered on the whole right. The effect of the combined attack was to force the rebels to abandon their principal works and to seek a position in the more open space. The lines being formed, the men were ordered to assault the rebel works. Here a terrible struggle ensued. The conduct of our soldiers was grand. They faced the whirlwind of iron and lead with the steadiness and composure of a summer's rain. Then came charge after charge, the gaps in our lines being immediately closed up, and with the triumphant shout, "The Battle Cry of Freedom' ' ran far above the roar of artillery and musketry, while the stricken foe fell back aghast as our braves mounted and carried their works. In half an hour the enemy were in full retreat; our gallant soldiers slept the balance of the night on the enemy's ground, with the wreath of victory crowning their brows.

  General John E. Smith, commanding third division Fifteenth corps, gave orders to Colonel Clark R. Weaver, to take his brigade of seven hundred muskets and prevent the enemy from crossing Cox's bridge, compelling them if possible to burn it. This was a perilous job. The safety of the army demanded it. It was a matter of such importance, that Logan issued a special order, to burn the bridge at all hazards. Weaver moved forward with his three skeleton regiments. A strong column of the enemy with two sections of artillery advanced upon them. They were received with a destructive fire; were charged and driven back in confusion. The Fifty-sixth Illinois, Tenth Iowa and the Eightieth Ohio, charged so rapidly, loading and firing as they went that the rebels surprised and routed, burned the bridge and fled in confusion. Cheer after cheer announced the victory from our gallant men. Colonel Metham's regiment behaved with unquestioned bravery, so did the other two regiments.

  Hoke's North Carolinians, Cheatham's and L D. Lee's Tennesseans, and Hardee's Charlestonians all fought us, and were estimated at forty thousand men. In the charges, thousands of our men were bare-footed, and some were even without pantaloons, fighting in their drawers, others again were clad in rebel gray, picked up and darned to replace their worn out blue uniforms, thus reversing the general rule of the way— it is the rebels who generally appear in our clothes.

  Shoeless and "sans culottes" though many of them were, they fought with all their wonted elan. Throughout these two battles, there occurred many instances of personal bravery on the part of both officers and men. Colonel Pearce, commanding the Ninety-eighth Ohio, fought like a Saladin. All reports concur in stating the same of Mitchell, Fearing, and Jackson.

  An overwhelming force of the enemy gained a trifling advantage over General Corse's division, he who defended Alatoona so gallantly. This roused Corse's blood, and five times he charged the strong lines in his front making valiant endeavors to recapture his men.

  Worthy of most glowing numbers were the deeds of the Forty-sixth Ohio; armed with the seven-shooter, Spencer rifle, they engaged an entire brigade of rebels, stormed their entrenchments and put them to utter rout. Mower's division of Blair's corps, attacked and carried a couple of lines on the right — a storm of iron and lead was hurled on the foe that literally mowed them down. The rebels halted in amazement, but still they fought bravely.

  General Sherman has issued the following congratulatory or
der to his army:

  Head-Quarters Military Division of the MISS

  In the Field, near Bentonville, N.C.

  March 22,1865

  "The general commanding announces to the army that yesterday it beat, on its own ground, the concentrated armies of our enemy, who has fled in disorder, leaving his dead, wounded, and prisoners in our hands, and burning his bridges on his retreat

  "On the same day, Major-General Schofield, from Newberne, entered and occupied Goldsboro, and Major General Terry, from Wilmington, secured Cox's Bridge Crossing, and laid a pontoon bridge across the Neuse River so that our campaign has resulted in glorious successes. After a march of most extraordinary character of nearly five hundred miles, over swamps and rivers, deemed impassable by others, it the most inclement season of the year, and drawing our chief supplies from a poor and wasted country, we reached our destination in good health and condition."

  On the 22nd, Schofield went to Cox's Bridge on the Neuse river, six miles beyond Goldsboro, where Terry's forces were discovered laying a pontoon to cross the river, having marched all the way from Wilmington. In a few moments Sherman's trains were seen moving from Bentonville to Cox's bridge, and the junction of the left wing of Sherman's army with Terry's and Schofield's forces, was effected. Sherman's staff had entered Goldsboro on the 22nd, and the left wing of the army followed the next day, where it passed in review before Sherman, Terry and others. Thousands of the men were bare-footed, and but few complete pairs of trousers were exhibited. No army however was ever in more magnificent spirits. Every man seemed to be endowed with intuitive power to understand the full significance of the mighty events that had been enacting. . It was a complete triumph. As the army passed in review, it cheered Sherman and Terry, greeting them with shouts of triumph. The scene brought vividly to mind those early days of Napoleon's Italian campaign, since when, we have had no such manifestations of military Generals, as today has furnished us.