y and defeat it before the
other came up. This was not so difficult in contemplation as in
the performance, under the present condition of the troops and the
topography of the country. General Johnston was misled by the maps at
hand, finding afterwards that the Federal General, Howard, was much
nearer Bentonville than was General Hardee. But General Hampton put
General Butler's Division of Cavalry in front of this whole force,
behind some hastily constructed breastworks, and was to keep Slocum at
bay until the troops had all gotten in position.

General Hardee began moving early on the morning of the eighth, and on
reaching Bentonville we now, for the first time, came up with all the
other troops of the army. Hoke's Division lead off to take position
and stood on both sides of a dull road leading through the thickets.
Batteries were placed on his right. Next to the artillery was posted
the Army of Tennessee, its right thrown forward. Before Hardee could
get in position the enemy attacked with the utmost vigor, so much so
that General Bragg, who was commanding in person at this point,
asked for reinforcements. General Hardee, moving by at this juncture,
ordered McLaws' Old-Division to the aid of Hoke. But the almost
impenetrable thicket prevented hasty movement, and the smoke in front,
overhead and the rear, with bullets passing over the heads of Hoke's
men, made it impossible for these unacquainted with the disposition
of the troops to know whether it was friend or foe in our front. The
troops became greatly entangled and some of the officers demoralized.
Some troops on our right, by mistaking the head of direction, began
to face one way, while Kershaw's Brigade was facing another. But after
much maneuvering, McLaw's got the troops disentangled and moved
upon the line, and after several rounds at close range, the enemy
retreated. Hardee was then ordered to charge with his wing of the
army, composed of troops under Stuart and a division under Taliaferro,
while Bragg was to follow by brigades from right to left. The firing
was now confusing, our troops advancing in different direction, and
the sound of our guns and cannon echoing and reverberating through
the dense forest, made it appear as if we were surrounded by a
simultaneous fire. But finding our way the best we could by the
whizzing of the bullets, we rushed up to the enemy's first line of
entrenchments, which they had abandoned without an effort, and took
position