111-650319-Day 1-Bentonville.20 - WDS Forgotten Campaigns

(Historical 20 minute turns) This is the first day of the Battle of Bentonville It was almost distressing to deploy the serried ranks of the Confederate Army, especially the once proud and powerful Army of Tennessee. Fifty men surviving of what was once a thousand man regiment could be counted as one of the stronger units on the field. Compare them to the proud Union Army which had marched as a unit from Chattanooga, to Atlanta, Savannah, Columbia, and now face one more fight. In less than two months the Yankees would have their parade in Washington DC, while the surrendered ex-rebels made their ways individually back to their homes, or what remained of them. Sherman does not want this fight. Some will say, he pulled his punches on this one, not wanting to waste lives, especially those of his own soldiers, when the inevitable was clear for all to see. CS General Joe Johnston, however, was not as solicitous. One strong punch would knock out Slocum's Army of Georgia, and then he could turn his attention to the Army of the Tennessee. Could the gallant Confederate Army of Tennessee do it one more time? Reference: The Battle of Bentonville by Mark L Bradley