Difference between revisions 162421623 and 162421624 on dewiki

{{For|the campaign of the American Revolutionary War|Carolina campaign}}
{{infobox military conflict
|conflict    =Carolinas Campaign
|partof      =the [[American Civil War]]
|image       =[[File:William Waud - Burning of McPhersonville 1865 - final Harper's Weekly version.jpg|300px]]
|caption     =Sherman in South Carolina: The burning of McPhersonville, 1865.<br>(A sketch by [[William Waud]] from ''Harper's Weekly'' in 1865)
|date        =
(contracted; show full)n of Maj. Gen. [[Lafayette McLaws]] attempted to prevent the crossing of the [[Salkehatchie River]] by the right wing of Sherman's army. The Union division under Maj. Gen. [[Francis Preston Blair, Jr.|Francis P. Blair]] (Howard's army) crossed the river and assaulted McLaws' flank. McLaws withdrew to [[Branchville, South Carolina|Branchville]], causing only one day's delay in the Union advance.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/sc011.htm NPS Rivers' Bridge] {{w
ayback|url=ebarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317163132/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/sc011.htm |date=20100317163132March 17, 2010 }}</ref>

On February 17, Columbia surrendered to Sherman, and Hampton's cavalry retreated from the city. Union forces were overwhelmed by throngs of liberated Federal prisoners and emancipated [[slave]]s. Many soldiers took advantage of ample supplies of liquor in the city and began to drink. Fires began in the city, and high winds spread the flames across a wide area. Most of the central city was destroyed, and the city's fire companies found it difficult to operate in conjunction with th(contracted; show full)of [[Kinston, North Carolina]]. On March 8, the Confederates attempted to seize the initiative by attacking the Union flanks. After initial success, their attacks stalled because of faulty communications. On March 9, the Union forces were reinforced and beat back Bragg's renewed attacks on March 10 after heavy fighting. Bragg withdrew across the [[Neuse River]] and was unable to prevent the fall of Kinston on March 14.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc017.htm NPS Wyse Fork] {{w
ayback|url=ebarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413212024/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc017.htm |date=20100413212024April 13, 2010 }}</ref>

===Monroe's Cross Roads (March 10)===
{{further|Battle of Monroe's Cross Roads}}
As Sherman's army advanced into North Carolina, Maj. Gen. [[Judson Kilpatrick]]'s Cavalry Division screened its left flank. On the evening of March 9, two of Kilpatrick's brigades encamped near the Charles Monroe House in Cumberland (now [[Hoke County, North Carolina|Hoke]]) County. Early on March 10, Hampton's Confederate cavalry surprised the Federals in their camps, driving them back in confusion and capturing wagons and artillery. The Federals regrouped and counterattacked, regaining their artillery and camps after a desperate fight. With Union reinforcements on the way, the Confederates withdrew.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc018.htm NPS Monroe's Cross Roads] {{wayback|url=ebarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527193832/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc018.htm |date=20100527193832May 27, 2010 }}</ref>

===Averasborough (March 16)===
{{further|Battle of Averasborough}}
On the afternoon of March 15, Kilpatrick's cavalry came up against Hardee's corps deployed across the Raleigh Road near Smithville. After feeling out the Confederate defenses, Kilpatrick withdrew and called for infantry support. During the night, four divisions of the XX Corps arrived to confront the Confederates. At dawn, March 16, the Federals advanced on a division front, driving back skirmishers, but they were stopped by the main Confederate line and a counterattack. Mid-morning, the Federals renewed their advance with strong reinforcements and drove the Confederates from two lines of works, but they were repulsed at a third line. Late afternoon, the Union XIV Corps began to arrive on the field but was unable to deploy before dark because of the swampy ground. Hardee retreated during the night after holding up the Union advance for nearly two days.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc019.htm NPS Averasborough] {{wayback|url=ebarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115212254/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc019.htm |date=20100115212254January 15, 2010 }}</ref>

===Bentonville (March 19&ndash;21)===
{{further|Battle of Bentonville}}
While Slocum's advance was stalled at Averasborough by Hardee's troops, the right wing of Sherman's army under Howard marched toward Goldsboro. On March 19, Slocum encountered the entrenched Confederates of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston who had concentrated to meet his advance at Bentonville. Johnston had increased his forces to about 21,000 men by absorbing the troops under Bragg, who had abandoned Wilming(contracted; show full) line of communication and retreat. Mower withdrew, ending fighting for the day. During the night, Johnston retreated across the bridge at Bentonville. Union forces pursued at first light, driving back Wheeler's rearguard and saving the bridge. Federal pursuit was halted at Hannah's Creek after a severe skirmish. Sherman, after regrouping at Goldsboro, pursued Johnston toward [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]].<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc020.htm NPS Bentonville] {{w
ayback|url=ebarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312222354/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/nc020.htm |date=20100312222354March 12, 2010 }}</ref>

==Aftermath==
Sherman's Carolina Campaign, in which his troops marched {{convert|425|mi|km}} in 50 days, had been similar to his march to the sea through Georgia, although physically more demanding. However, the Confederate forces opposing him were much smaller and more dispirited. When Joseph E. Johnston met with [[Jefferson Davis]] in [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] in mid-April, he told the Confederate president:

(contracted; show full)
==External links==
*[http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/bennett/bennett.htm Bennett Place]

{{American Civil War}}

[[Category:Carolinas Campaign| ]]
[[Category:Campaigns of the Western Theater of the American Civil War]]