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 216 Southern Historical Society Papers.

ment your most popular paper has given to the matter has been noticed all over the country. I learn with much pleasure that many are preserving these articles for future reference. This, in part, to- gether with solicitations from other sources, has prompted me to furnish still another, on the Bentonville battle.

THE FIGHT AT BENTONVILLE.

The last battle of the western army was fought at Bentonville, N. C., March 19, 1865, between General Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston, who had again assumed command of our army.

On the 1 8th of April, Sherman and Johnston agreed to a truce, and it was as late as May 26th before Kirby Smith surrendered out West. Some skirmishing and small engagements occurred between detached troops belonging to our army and the enemy, which could hardly be called battles; therefore Bentonville, N. C., is named as the last battle of the western army, and it is of this hotly contested fight between giants our two most conspicuous and gallant officers of the western army Sherman on the Federal side and Johnston on the Confederate side, that I want to speak, as it brought face to face for the last time these two old war veterans who had so often met each other before on the gory field of battle. These two, who had marched and countermarched over the desolate fields of Georgia and the Carolinas, who had so often thrown out their brave soldiers in battle lines confronting each other, were now, on the igth day of March, 1865, to confront each other in battle array, fighting for mas- tery, for the last time.

It is not within the scope of my knowledge, nor is it my intention, to write fully of the history of this battle, as the official records will, no doubt, give each and all the divisions, brigades, and regiments all the honors gained that day, but to mention from personal obser- vation some of the Confederate brigades most conspicuous in this battle, who covered themselves with glory on this fiercely contested battle-field viz: Stovall's and Cummings's brigades, and part of Hoke's division.

We were marching along the main road leading from Smithfield Station toward Bentonville, and had just crossed a small stream. Firing could be heard in the distance, and the movements of couriers and aides rushing here and there indicated a battle on hand. We filed to the right of the road, and rapidly took position in line of battle; the Forty-second Georgia being on the right, and constitu-