ion of our troops. In the night General
Hampton, after thoroughly reconnoitering the position, surrounded
the camp of Kilpatrick, and at daybreak, on the 10th, fell like a
hurricane upon the sleeping enemy. The wildest confusion prevailed;
friend could not be distinguished from foe. Shooting and saber
slashing were heard in every direction, while such of the enemy who
could mounted their horses and rode at break-neck speed, leaving their
camp and camp equippage, their artillery and wagon trains. The enemy
was so laden with stolen booty, captured in the Carolinas and Georgia,
that this great treasure was too great a temptation to the already
demoralized cavalry. So, instead of following up their victory, they
went to gathering the spoils. Hundreds of horses were captured, but
these ran off by our troops forcing all the artillery captured to be
abandoned, after cutting the wheels to pieces. But the long train
of wagons, laden with supplies, was a good addition to our depleted
resources. A great number of the enemy were killed and wounded, with
five hundred prisoners, besides recapturing one hundred and fifty of
our own troops taken in former battles.

General Johnston now ordered the troops of General Bragg who had come
up from Kiniston and the Western troops, under Stuart, Cheatham, and
Lee, as well as a part of Hardee's, to concentrate at Smithfield.
The bulk of Hardee's Corps, of which Kershaw's Brigade was a part,
withdrew from Cheraw in the direction of Goldsboro, and at Averysboro
the enemy came up with Hardee, and by the overpowering weight of
numbers forced the Confederates from their position. The density of
the pine forest was such, that after a few fires, the smoke settled
among the undergrowth and under the treetops in such quantity that a
foe could not be seen even a short distance away. The level condition
of the country prevented our artillery from getting in any of its
work, and a flank movement by the Federals could be so easily made,
unnoticed, that Hardee was forced to retire in the direction of
Smithfield and to an elevation.

General Johnston having learned that the enemy was marching in the
direction of Goldsboro, instead of Raleigh, and that the right wing
was a day's advance of the left, ordered a concentration of his troops
near the little hamlet of Bentonville, situated near the junction
of the roads, one leading to Raleigh and the other to Goldsboro, and
there fall upon the one wing of the arm