Last Battles of the War

Confederate Veteran
Vol. 3, Number 1, Page 20
January, 1895

B. L. Ridley, Esq. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
I commenced keeping a journal a short time before the surrender. Was quite young, an aid of Lieut. Gen'l A. P. Stewart. Headquarters Army of Tennessee, Smithfield, N. C., March 16th, 1865. I have just reached camp from Oxford, N. C., where I went on two days' leave of absence to Visit my father's mother. Found Lieut. Gen'l A. P. Stewart Commanding the Army of Tennessee by order of Gen'l J. E. Johnston, who took command yesterday of the army of the South—Hardee's, Bragg's and Stewart's (formerly Hood's army) consolidated, make the Army of the South.

March 17th, conducted Gen'l Johnston to our headquarters, near Swift Creek, found him surprisingly social, and endeavors to conceal his greatness, rather than to impress you with it. I expressed to him the joy the Army of Tennessee manifested, on hearing of his restoration to command. He said that he was equally as much gratified to be with them as they were his coming, but he feared it "too late to make it the same army." He said that never in his life had he seen such generous, freehearted people as the Middle Tennesseans. "Take out that little spot which you know is infested with Union men, and it is the most loyal part of the Confederacy." Received orders this evening to march toward Bentonville, 15 miles distant, to meet Sherman, who has taken an easterly course from Aversboro to effect a junction with Schofield, at Goldsboro.

March 18th, struck tents this morning and arrived here at 5 o'clock P. M. One mile beyond Bentonville where we bivouac. Enemy camps eight miles on same road. Our army in high spirits and ready to brave the coming storm.

March 19th both armies commence the march. Three miles beyond Bentonville, at Coles' Farm, we meet, skirmishing heavily for a short time. Armies going into position. Bragg commands left wing, Stewart the center, and Hardee the right. At 1 o'clock enemy charges Clayton's division and is repulsed handsomely, leaving fifty dead on the field. Brig.-Gen. Reynolds, of Arkansas, upon entering the field had his leg so mutilated by a solid shot as to necessitate amputation. His loss is much lamented. He is the idol of his brigade. Gen. Johnston now orders that Stewart and Hardee confer with each other and advance. The hour for attack was agreed upon, fifteen minutes to 3 o'clock. Gen, Stewart directed me to acquaint the corps commander of this, Loring commanding, Stewart's corps, Bate's, Hardee's old corps, and D. H. Hill, Lee's corps, in connection with Hardee's army, all advanced, and with a rebel shout, drove the enemy nearly a mile and routed them from two lines ot breastworks, capturing eight pieces of artillery and four hundred and seventeen prisoners. The excitement of the occasion and the many ravines we had to cross broke our line to such an extent that we halted and reformed. While doing this, the enemy rallied, reinforced, and charged repeatedly upon our lines until nightfall, but with no effect. The brunt of this battle was on the Army of Tennessee, and the more praise should be accorded them for their quick recuperation from the disaster at Nashville. Old Joe drove back Sherman's disciplined veterans with a demoralized army of not exceeding twelve thousand men. In consequence of a flank movement to our left, we were ordered to retire to the position from which we advanced to entrench.

March 20th Gen. Loring goes to the rear from sickness, and Walthall succeeds to command. Enemy seem remarkably quiet in our front, but demonstrating heavily on Gen. Bragg, evidently trying to find a weak point. One division of Hardee's, sent to support the left. Skirmishers on our side have advanced to still find a force confronting us.

March 21st, enemy has made several charges on Bragg this morning. Evening, serious demonstrations being made on our rear, Gen. Johnston sends three brigades of our reserves at double-quick to report to Hardee, near Bentonsville. Before their arrival Cumming's Brigade, commanded by Col. Henderson, of Forty-second Georgia, charged the enemy in front. Eighth Texas Cavalry strike the two divisions of Seventeenth Army Corps in flank and route them as a precautionary step, Walthall's Corps was sent there, and remained until 2 o'clock P.M., when the army retired six miles this side of Bentonsville, near Hannak Creek.

March 22nd, retired to Turner's Bridge, near Smithfield, and Sherman, it is supposed, has gone to Goldeboro.

March 23d, it is a treat that we are permitted today to wash up and put on clean clothes. Reports of casualties of the last five or six days: killed, 102; wounded, 820; missing, 305; total, l,217. This loss is from the Army of Tennessee only. Have not heard from Bragg nor Hardee.

March 24th, ordered to go to-day two miles beyond Smithfield depot, on Lewisburg road. Soldiering in these piny woods is more disagreeable than any I have yet experienced. The smoke tans your skin, soils your clothes, and one presents a spectacle like that of an engineer who has worked sometime on his engine without change.

March 25th has been one of unusual quiet. Gen. Johnston busying himself with the doings of detailed men. General S. depressed. Gen. Bate made the soldiers a little speech to-night, preparing their minds for the consolidation of companies, battalions, etc. An episode connected with Bentonsville: The Eighteenth and Forty-fifth Tennessee Regiments, Col. Searcy commanding, about nightfall charged through the Yankee lines and we gave them up as captured. Several days afterward we were surprised to find them report back, having wandered for miles in getting back. In Bate's speech to his troops I remember, as a boy, this little piece of humor. Says he: "Fellow soldiers, when I was at Nashville, Govan's Brigade chanced to pass my brigade. Govan's men hallooed out: 'Lie down, Mr. Bate, Mr. Govan is "gwine to pop a cap.' The other day at Bentonville my brigade chanced to pass Govan. I made my men halloo out: 'Lie down, Mr. Govan, Mr. Bate is now gwine to pop a cap!’”

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