This ended the battle of Bentonville, and we might say the war.  The sun of the Confederacy, notwithstanding the hopes of our Generals, the determination of the troops, and the prayers of the people, was fast sinking in the west.  The glorious rising on the plains of Manassas had gone down among the pine barriers of North Carolina.  The last stroke had been given, and destiny seemed to be against us.  For hundreds of miles had the defeated troops of Hood marched barefooted and footsore to the relief of their comrades of the East, and had now gained a shallow victory.  They had crossed three States to mingle their blood with those of their friends who had fought with dogged resistence every step that Sherman had made.  But their spirits were not broken.  They were still ready to try conclusions with the enemy whenever our leaders gave the signal for battle.  The South could not be conquered by defeat—­to conquer it, it must be crashed.  The tattered battle flags waved as triumphantly over the heads of the shattered ranks of the battle-scared veterans here in the pine barriers as it ever did on the banks of the Rapidan.

It is sad to chronicle that on this last day, in a battle of the cavalry, in which the infantry had to take a part, the gallant son of the brave General Hardee fell at the head of his column as the Eighth Texas Cavalry was making a desperate charge.

In the battle of Bentonville the Confederates had fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry.  The cavalry being mostly on the flanks, and General Wheeler on the north side of Mill Creek, could not participate in the battle in consequence of the swollen stream.  The Federal Army had thirty-five thousand engaged on the 19th and seventy thousand in line on the 20th.  The loss on the Confederate side was one hundred and eighty killed, one thousand two hundred and twenty wounded, and five hundred and fifteen missing.  The enemy’s losses in killed and wounded far exceeded the Confederates, besides the Confederates captured nine hundred prisoners.

On the night of the 21st the army began its retreat, crossing Mill Creek on the morning of the 22nd, just in time to see the enemy approach the bridge as our last troops had crossed.

On the 23rd General Sherman marched his army to Goldsboro, there uniting with General Schofield.  It was the intention of General Lee that as soon as General Sherman had approached near enough, to abandon the trenches at Petersburg, and, with the combined armies, turn and fall upon his front, flank, and rear.

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CHAPTER XLIII

From Smithfield to Greensboro—­The Surrender.