EXECUTION
1 March 1865 (Click
for Table 5 showing weather conditions for
March 1 through March 11)
Lieutenant General Hardee’s Corps reached Cheraw, South Carolina,
10 miles south of the North Carolina state line.
2 March 1865
The vanguard of
General Sherman’s XX Corps entered Chesterfield, South Carolina, skirmishing
with Major General Butler’s Cavalry.
Federal Cavalry Commander
Brevet Major General Kilpatrick was ordered to keep well on the left flank
of the XIV Army Corps. Much to his satisfaction, he was also given permission
to occupy Fayetteville first.
3 March 1865
Evening
Brevet Major General
Kilpatrick’s 1st Cavalry Brigade entered North Carolina on the Wadesborough
Road, encamping four miles from the state line. Having crossed into Anson
County, North Carolina, Brevet Major General Kilpatrick’s 3rd Brigade
went into camp.
The Confederate Cavalry wasted
little time in making their presence and displeasure known.
Colonel George E. Spencer,
U.S.A., 1st Alabama (U.S.) Cavalry, Commanding, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Cavalry
Division (OR 1885):
|
On the
morning of the 3rd of March we resumed our line of march, on the
left, through a clay country with horrible roads and traveled a
distance of 10 miles, when we went into camp in Anson County, N.C.,
about three miles from the state line.
We had hardly
placed our pickets out when they were driven in by General Hampton’s
Cavalry. The command was quickly thrown into position and we awaited
attack. A small force of the enemy attempted to charge the extreme
right of our line, when a few shells from Lieutenant Stetson’s section
quickly scattered them. We remained in position, expecting an attack,
till next morning, when we again resumed our line of march.
|
The 4th Cavalry Brigade, consisting
of dismounted men, had accompanied the 3rd Brigade on the march. The 4th
Brigade (dismounted) took up position on the Hornsborough Road in the
center of the 3rd Brigade and was immediately attacked.
Lieutenant Colonel William
B. Way, U.S.A., Commanding, 4th Cavalry Brigade (dismounted), 3rd Cavalry
Division (OR 1885):
| We
had but just got into position, with a strong picket, well barricaded,
when the enemy charged my picket, but was handsomely repulsed, with
loss upon our side of one man wounded. |
2300
The 4th Brigade
(dismounted) took charge of the Division trains and artillery, moving
them some five miles to Brevet Major General Kilpatrick’s headquarters.
Heavy rains were falling, and the roads were made almost impassable.
Lieutenant Colonel Way (OR
1885):
| We were
seven hours marching the five miles, and several times had to draw
the artillery out of the mud by hand. |
4 March 1865
0700
The troopers of
the 1st Brigade, having encamped on the Wadesborough Road the previous
evening, were awakened
by gunfire. A small force of Confederate cavalrymen had crept in between
the 1st Brigade and its picket line. The pickets were surprised from behind,
and a sharp firefight ensued. The Confederate infiltrators apparently
were probing for the 1st Brigade’s main line. On the sounds of contact,
as if to dissuade the Federal troops from continuing their northeastward
course, appeared a formidable Confederate skirmish line.
Lieutenant Colonel D.H.Kimmel,
U.S.A., 9th Penn- sylvania Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Brigade (OR
1885):
| On the
morning of the 4th instant my pickets were attacked at 7 a.m. in rear;
they offered strong resistance and repulsed the charge of the enemy,
who immediately deployed a line of skirmishers which, from its extent,
indicated a heavy force. |
Having identified the Federal
position, Lieutenant General Wheeler decided to press the Federal
Cavalrymen.
Lieutenant General Wheeler
(OR 1885):
| Struck
the enemy’s flank at Hornsborough; had a warm fight and captured 50
prisoners. |
1200
 With
an aggressive force of unknown size in his front and his lead Brigade’s
unfortified position being pressured, Brevet Major General Kilpatrick
decided to develop a more tenable situation. By his order the 1st Brigade
withdrew, passing through the 2nd Brigade and occupying a position two
miles to the rear, which they quickly barricaded. The 2nd Brigade was
then withdrawn, passing through the 1st Brigade, leaving the 1st Brigade’s
hastily prepared defensive position as the front. Brevet Major General
Kilpatrick, anticipating a general engagement, brought up the rest of
his command and placed his artillery. The Confederates quickly closed
on the new position, charging it several times without success. Unable
to carry the Federals’ new position, and in order to fix Brevet Major
General Kilpatrick in position until sufficient force could be brought
up, the Confederates demonstrated in front.
Lieutenant Colonel Way, Commanding,
4th Cavalry Brigade (dismounted) (OR 1885):
| The enemy
formed all along our front and seemed to be preparing for an attack,
when the artillery of the 1st Brigade opened, which with a brisk fire
from the line, caused him to withdraw his main force, though he kept
a skirmish line in our front. |
1430
Lieutenant General
Wheeler, observing the strengthening Federal position, sent a message
to Lieutenant General Hardee requesting reinforcement.
Lieutenant General Wheeler
(OR 1885):
| We find
artillery here, and have but two small Regiments. Can you not send
more forces up? The enemy have retired from four lines of works. Each
line of works was for about 100 men. |
1530
With the Federal
Cavalry becoming more aggressive, Lieutenant General Wheeler sent
a situation report to Lieutenant General Hardee.
Lieutenant General Wheeler
(OR 1885):
| Having
run against some artillery, and not having sufficient force to drive
the enemy from his position, I have taken up a position and will await
your order. The enemy were driven from four lines of works by flanking
him, but when we came upon artillery he showed himself rather bold.
He advanced upon us, but only a short distance. |
1900 — Dusk
As daylight and
the chance to rout Brevet Major General Kilpatrick’s men slipped away,
Lieutenant General Wheeler made one last attempt.
Lieutenant Charles Blanford,
U.S.A., Howitzer Battery, 1st Brigade (OR 1885):
| About
dark the enemy came charging upon our front, mounted, when I was ordered
by Colonel Jordan to open fire on them; after firing a few rounds
the enemy drew off, and did not molest us again during the night. |
2100
Darkness and fatigue
compelled the Confederates to retire to their camp a few hundred yards
in front of the Federal position.
During the day, Brevet Major
General Kilpatrick had received orders from General Sherman instructing
him to proceed to Fayetteville via New Gilead, then to Solemn Grove; his
mission was to protect the left flank of the Army and not embroil himself
in battle with the Confederate Cavalry. Men and horses were to be saved
for expected battles along the Virginia border.
5 March 1865
0600
Fully expecting
an early morning attack, the Federal cavalrymen were pleased to see the
Confederates had decamped and moved on during the night.
Brevet
Brigadier General Thomas J. Jordan’s, U.S.A., 1st Brigade marched
by Morven’s Post Office to the Pee Dee River, crossing one mile south
of the North Carolina line. Lieutenant General Wheeler, anxious
to identify the route Lieutenant General Hardee was taking to Fayetteville,
swam the Pee Dee River accompanied by Privates McKnight and
Nance. The river was then in extraordinary flood. "The oldest river
men had never seen higher water nor a more angry current" (Du
Bose 1912b).
Reports of Federal troop movements
indicated that General Sherman’s objective was Fayetteville. It was necessary
for Lieutenant General Wheeler to communicate this to Lieutenant
General Hardee, lest Hardee continue moving toward Charlotte.
6 March 1865
Confederate General
Johnston is given command of the Department of North Carolina.
7 March 1865
0700
Brevet Brigadier
General Jordan’s 1st Brigade, halted to feed, were joined by Brevet Major
General Kilpatrick and his staff. Brevet Major General Kilpatrick accompanied
the 1st Brigade on the march to Rockingham.
1000
The 1st Brigade
reached Rockingham. As they entered the town, the Brigade’s advance guard,
the 9th Pennsylvania and the 3rd Kentucky (U.S.), were attacked by Lieutenant
General Wheeler’s and Major General Butler’s
Cavalry. After heavy skirmishing, the 1st Brigade succeeded in driving
the Confederates off.
Lieutenant General Wheeler
(OR 1885):
| With 20
men of Shannon’s Scouts I attacked and killed or captured 35 of the
enemy near Rockingham, NC. |
Execution (continued)
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