In March 1865, Union Major General William T. Sherman once more faced his old adversary from the Atlanta Campaign, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston.  Sherman’s army was on the final—and by far the bloodiest—leg of its 450-mile march from Savannah, Georgia, to Goldsboro , North Carolina. On March 16, Johnston’s second-in-command, Lt. General William J. Hardee - or “Old Reliable” - fought a masterful delaying action at Averasboro.  Three days later, Johnston concentrated his army at Bentonville and attacked one wing of Sherman’s army in what proved to be the last grand charge of the Confederacy.  Three weeks later, Johnston learned of Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House and opened negotiations with Sherman.  In April 1865, the two generals met three times at James Bennett’s farmhouse near Durham Station. The result was the largest troop surrender of the Civil War.

 

Our program will begin on Thursday evening with an overview of Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign. On Friday morning we’ll tour the often-overlooked Averasboro battlefield, the site of “Old Reliable’s” finest hour. We’ll see how the battle unfolded as, on the afternoon of March 15, 1865, Judson Kilpatrick’s cavalry came up against Hardee’s corps. We’ll follow the advance of the Federal forces and see where they were stopped by the main Confederate line and counterattacked, only to advance again and be repulsed again. After fending off and delaying the Federal onslaught for nearly two days, Hardee would retreat during the night of March 16. 

 

Then we’ll travel to Raleigh and tour sites relating to the final days of the war in North Carolina. We’ll start at the State Capitol and then retrace the running battle between Wade Hampton’s Confederate cavalry and Kilpatrick’s Union cavalry. We’ll end the day at the Bennett Place State Historic Site. 

 

On Saturday, we’ll dedicate the day to an in-depth tour of the bloody battle of Bentonville, the largest battle in North Carolina history. We’ll see how, on March 19, Johnston organized his forces into a hook-shaped line at Cole’s Plantation and how Sherman’s Left Wing stumbled into the Confederate trap. We’ll follow the massive Confederate assault against Gen. William P. Carlin’s XIV Corps which drove them from the field, and will assess the Federal defense at the Morris Farm in the afternoon that squelched the Confederate advance and ended the day in a tactical draw. Then, we’ll play out the actions of March 20 as the numerically superior Federal army pushed back the Confederates while Johnston clung to a tenuous position guarding his army’s sole escape route over rain-swollen Mill Creek. We’ll conclude the battle following the dramatic actions of March 21 as Gen Joseph A. Mower’s men of the XVII Corps charged and overran Johnston’s headquarters, forcing Johnston and his men to beat a hasty retreat. And we’ll assess the well-orchestrated counterattack led by Hardee, whose bold actions allowed Johnston and his weary troops to escape across Mill Creek Bridge and survive as a fighting force for five more weeks.

 

Join us for this study of the Confederacy’s last stand in the North Carolina countryside, led by the leading authority on the subject. Attendance is limited, so please enroll today. We hope to see you in Raleigh!

About Our Tour Leader

 

Mark L. Bradley is the author of Last Stand in the Carolinas: The Battle of Bentonville; This Astounding Close: The Road to Bennett Place; and Bluecoats and Tar Heels: Soldiers and Civilians in Reconstruction North Carolina. He is widely regarded as the leading authority on the Civil War in North Carolina.

 

Thursday, October 7

7:30 PM-8:30 PM                   Overview – at Ramada Blue Ridge, Raleigh, NC

Friday, October 8

8;00 AM                   Depart for Tour

4:30 PM                         Arrive Back at Ramada Blue Ridge

Saturday, October 9

8:00 AM                   Depart for Tour

4:30 PM                         Arrive Back at Ramada Blue Ridge

 

REGISTRATION FEE (lodging not included):  $325  

 

If You Must Cancel: Your registration fee will be 100% refunded.

 

What is Included in your Registration

·        the services of an expert historian chosen for his knowledge and experience 

·        transportation to sites described

·        Friday and Saturday lunches  

·        refreshments and snacks during the tour

·        map package       

Location and Lodging: We will be based at the Ramada Blue Ridge, 1520 Blue Ridge Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607 where we have reserved a block of sleeping rooms at the discounted nightly rate of $92.00 – Single or Double. After May 20, call 919-832-4100 and identify yourself as a registrant for the CWEA tour.

Directions: From Charlotte, NC - I-85 N to I-40 E to Exit 289, Wade Ave., to Blue Ridge Rd exit, turn right on Blue Ridge, hotel on left

 

From Richmond, VA - I-95 S to Rocky Mount, NC, then US 64 W to 440 N to Exit 4B.  Keep right to Blue Ridge Rd., then turn left on Blue Ridge Rd to hotel.

 

From Wilmington, NC - I-40 W to exit 289, Wade Ave. to Blue Ridge Rd. exit onto Blue Ridge to hotel.