General Johnston now ordered the troops of General Bragg who had come up from Kiniston and the Western troops, under Stuart, Cheatham, and Lee, as well as a part of Hardee’s, to concentrate at Smithfield.  The bulk of Hardee’s Corps, of which Kershaw’s Brigade was a part, withdrew from Cheraw in the direction of Goldsboro, and at Averysboro the enemy came up with Hardee, and by the overpowering weight of numbers forced the Confederates from their position.  The density of the pine forest was such, that after a few fires, the smoke settled among the undergrowth and under the treetops in such quantity that a foe could not be seen even a short distance away.  The level condition of the country prevented our artillery from getting in any of its work, and a flank movement by the Federals could be so easily made, unnoticed, that Hardee was forced to retire in the direction of Smithfield and to an elevation.

General Johnston having learned that the enemy was marching in the direction of Goldsboro, instead of Raleigh, and that the right wing was a day’s advance of the left, ordered a concentration of his troops near the little hamlet of Bentonville, situated near the junction of the roads, one leading to Raleigh and the other to Goldsboro, and there fall upon the one wing of the army 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