Last Battles of the War—Comment

Confederate Veteran
Volume 3, Number 3, Page 71
March 1895.

Judge G. K. Miller, who was captain of Company A, Eighth Confederate Cavalry: Talladega, Ala., March 7, 1895. Having read the account of the repulse of the Federals on our left at Bentonville on the afternoon of March 21st, 1865, as given by Capt. Ridley in the January number of the Veteran, and that of Capt. Guild in the February number, as an observer of the whole movement that probably saved our army from disastrous defeat, permit me to say that both are partly correct in the accounts given. Each tells a portion of the story, but not all. Johnston's lines at Bentonville described a semicircle, with each wing resting on a small but deep and nonfordable stream, spanned by but one bridge located some three or four hundred yards from our extreme left. Temporary entrenchments had been thrown up by our infantry, covering all of the left wing with the exception of about one quarter mile nearest the river. This space was open woods, and on the afternoon in question was occupied by a mere skirmish line of dismounted Cavalry. About 2 p. m., Anderson's Brigade of Allen's Cavalry division, composed of the 3rd, 8th, and 10th Confederate, and 5th Georgia regiments, came on the field and were dismounted and placed in position behind the entrenchments from which infantry had been withdrawn and moved to the right. That part of the line thus occupied by Anderson's Brigade was immediately to the right of the skirmish line mentioned, and, being on more elevated ground, afforded the writer a good opportunity to observe the movement to turn our left and capture the bridge.

About 3 p. m., in the midst of a pelting rain, a heavy column from the 17th Federal corps was hurried against our left, covering the front occupied by Anderson's Brigade and that of the unprotected skirmish line. The enemy in Anderson's front was repulsed after a hot contest, but a glance to our left disclosed the fact that the serried ranks of blue had swept away the skirmish line and were approaching the bridge with rapid steps. It was at this critical juncture that Gen. Hardee dashed down the road in the direction of the bridge, followed by the 8th Texas and 4th Tennessee cavalry. These two regiments continued at a gallop in columns of four to very near the bridge, then faced to the right in line and with a yell bore down upon the advancing Federals in as brilliant a charge as the war furnished. They were too few in number to cover the entire front of the advancing Federals, but just as they gave an initial to the repulse, Cummings' Infantry Brigade, numbering about 800 muskets, coming on the field at a dead run, struck that part of the Federal column not covered by Baxter Smith's troopers, and with a timely enfilade from the 10th Confederate, occupying Anderson's extreme left, sent the attacking column back in beautiful confusion. A good number of prisoners were brought in by the different commands engaged. The writer had a.6. interesting conversation with several of the prisoners, but being short on Dutch, while they were utter strangers to English, history will lose the result of the interview.

After the repulse our infantry occupied the exposed position and our army was withdrawn across the bridge about nightfall. At Bentonville, the last battle of the army of Tennessee, its halfclad, ragged, footsore, hungry veterans displayed all of the high soldierly qualities that had distinguished them from Belmont to Averysboro, and no part of it with more signal gallantry than the 8th Texas and 4th Tennessee Cavalry and the heroic remnant of Cummings' Brigade.