James D. Porter, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.1, Tennessee
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[174] Mower's division of the Seventeenth corps penetrated the cavalry line on our extreme left and moved upon Bentonville. General Sherman, reporting the incident to General Grant, said: ‘Yesterday we pushed him (Johnston) hard and came very near crushing him.’ But General Hardee met the movement with Cumming's Georgia brigade under Colonel Henderson, while the cavalry, directed by Generals Hampton and Wheeler, charged his left flank, with Hogan's Alabama brigade under General Allen; while the Eighth Texas and the Fourth Tennessee, the gallant Col. Baxter Smith commanding the brigade, bore down upon the enemy's left and front. The enemy was routed and driven back in disorder upon his reserves, and our only line of retreat over Mill creek was made secure.

This action of the 21st was one of the most gallant of the war, the last one in which the troops of the army of Tennessee participated. It was an exhibition of the dash and courage and the best qualities of the Southern soldier, and will forever be an example of what brave men can accomplish. The future was very dark to them, hope of success and independence had faded, the distant home had been abandoned to the spoiler, they had endured four years of hardship, privation and all the perils of battle, but at the last moment every sense was subordinated to that of duty. Sherman had on the field, when Mower attempted to seize Johnston's line of retreat, just three times the force of the Confederates, with Schofield's army in supporting distance, the combined force exceeding 75,000 men. In the early morning of the 22d, General Johnston retired across Mill creek and formed line again, but the enemy made no effort to advance. In the three days fighting, Johnston's army lost 223 killed, 1,467 wounded, 653 missing; and captured 903 prisoners, with their arms, and 3 pieces of artillery. Sherman must have lost 400 in killed and wounded, as the Confederates fought behind intrenchments. In a dispatch to General Grant, General Sherman states his