105-650315-[H]Averasboro.30 - WDS Forgotten Campaigns

(Historical 30 minute turns) It has been a long hike. After burning Atlanta, Sherman began his March to the Sea on 15 November 1865. Exactly four months later, after making a Christmas present of the City of Savanna to Abe Lincoln, Sherman has thrust deep into North Carolina. Opposing him is a rag-tag assemblage of remnants of armies, all under Joe Johnston. There are the survivors of the Army of Tennessee--defeated at Franklin and Nashville, they made an epic movement from Alabama around the left flank of Sherman's columns to get in front of it in North Clarolina, where it met up with Hardfee's army from Savannah and Bragg's North Carolina forces. As they concentrated under Johnston's control, Hardee set up a blocking position south of Averasboro., near what is now Fort Bagg. The Union 20th Corps, preceded by Kilpatrick's cavalry, encountered Confederate skirmishers in the mid afternoon of March 15, and the fight was on. Reference: The Battle of Bentonville by Mark L Bradley