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35th Regiment, North Carolina Troops Company F, Redwine Beauregards |
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…performing and preserving history |
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145th Anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville |
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We arrived with the several members of the 63rd Dismounted
Calvary to find the forces of Johnston ready to battle Sherman. Sherman
and his horde have scarred this great land we intend to turn his lines.
 We camped in front of the Harper House. The man of the house and the women were treating the wounded soldiers but they needed the services of a skilled physician. I only hope after this War they shall be justly rewarded (they were not, in fact they struggled greatly after the War despite tending to as many as 45 soldiers at one time). The night was cool and like so many of my soldiers, we had few blankets to keep out the chill. Fortunately, mail call brought knit hats from Mrs. King which were pressed into service immediately and serve us all well. On the morning after we arrived, we found our old friends from the 49th and 25th. Some Virginia boys were also on hand and formed the 4th Company of our battalion. We drilled all morning to make sure this group could function as an army under the watchful eye of Senior Captain Morrow. Battle came in the afternoon and we took our places in ranks behind the 26th NCT. When our turn came up we headed to the front and gave the enemy a warm reception. Those Federals were great in number and well positioned despite our greater numbers. We fell back briefly to let the 26th have another shot at those Yankees. This went on most of the day, as we came up to the line and poured hot lead into the belly of the enemy only to retire at the end of the day without having moved the enemy. The 1st Sergeant reported after the battle that several men were unaccounted for and presumably causalities. I have heard this report all to often during this conflict but surely we would prevail. On Sunday, we endeavored to met the enemy with renewed spirits. On the way to battle we halted in front of a man on a horse having great difficulty. Man and horse fell with the horse landing on top of Mike Wenger. A surgeon was summoned immediately and our hopes and prayers go with this brother in arms and his family (to the reader this is an account of a real accident and at the time of this dispatch updates on his condition can be found at http://www.carolinalegion.com/Page_2.php) Our men fought bravely but in vain, as the enemy could not be dislodged. The 1st Sergeant and I took up muskets from the fallen soldiers and continued the fight as our pistols were empty and the enemy out of the range of my sword. We were obliged to withdraw as the cost in men was too great. |
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Your humble and obedient servant
Captain R.M. "Jack" Flagg 35th Regiment, Company F, |
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