Closing scenes and events.
I now wish to mention the closing scenes and events around
Bentonville on March 21st, two days after the battle.
We had heavy firing again all along the line.
I was selected as corps officer of the day and refer to same volume, pages 1091 and 1092,
Major-General D. H. Hill's report.
He said: ‘There was a great deal of heavy firing on our left line, but no attack upon my command this day. My skirmish line, under
Major Thomas, as corps officer of the day, was advanced that afternoon in connection with the skirmish line of
Generals Walthall and
Bate, and with small loss drove the
Yankees from their position about Cole's house.
All the buildings there were burned to prevent their further use by the
Yankee sharpshooters,’ and thus we were bringing matters to the close.
That night
General Hill sent out an aide for me to report to his headquarters, which I did. He and his staff were gathered around a small fire partaking of their scant supper, of which I was invited to partake.
Whether I refused from the apparent scarcity of their rations, or overawed by being in the presence of an officer so superior in rank, I do not now remember, but I entered into conversation with the general and his staff officers, and was soon informed that an order was expected from
General Johnston to move out that night, and that by remaining for a short time the order would arrive; and that was true.
My skirmish line covering the entire corps was gradually retired, and by 2 o'clock that morning we had crossed
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Hannah's creek on our march to
Smithfield Station.
This, perhaps, was the last skirmish line formed on this battle-field, or any other, between the forces of
Sherman and
Johnston, and soon thereafter, when we found ourselves encamped around
Smithfield Station, the reorganization and consolidation of regiments and divisions of the army took place.
