Mower's Reconnaissance:

Bentonville, March 21, 1865

by George Anderson

"Troops of the Tennessee army have fully disproved slanders that have been published against them...The moral effect of these operations has been very beneficial. The spirit of the army is greatly improved and is now excellent."

--General Joseph E. Johnston, March 23, 1865

Background

In March, 1865, the short-lived Confederate States of America was in its death throes; the early hopes and hard-fought victories were long gone, and the stalwart defense in the east had come to naught as the Federal armies split the Confederacy in two and slowly invaded the South's heartland. The blockade had all but stopped the import of vital war materials, and most of the Confederate state capitals, along with their factories and warehouse, were in Union hands or had been destroyed in devastating raids.

The staunchest bulwark of the Confederate state, the Army of Northern Virginia, was bleeding to death in the trenches around Petersburg; however, it still grimly held on. The Federal plan was for Sherman's western armies to advance through the Carolinas, causing as much destruction as possible, on their way to the final battle outside Petersburg which would end the war. The battle which Sherman fought, however, did not end the war and it did not take place in Virginia.

Despite the desperate straits which the Confederate military found itself in, forces were gathered to oppose Sherman's march. These consisted of a large element of the Confederacy's second main field army, the Army of Tennessee: a hard-luck force plagued with command and personality difficulties which sapped the strength of its excellent soldiery. Remnants of the once vaunted Rebel cavalry rubbed shoulders with the old men and boys of the North Carolina Junior Reserves.

Even here the Army of Northern Virginia made its presence felt and was repre-sented by General Hoke's fine division. Although a seemingly grand force, the army's returns showed a different picture: corps were at little more than brigade strength, and divisions were reduced to small regiments. This was especially so with the units of the Army of Tennessee, which had corps and divisions in name only.

To lead this disparate force, the Confederate government assigned General Joseph E. Johnston, a man not noted for his aggression and who surprisingly gave the much-vaunted Sherman pause for thought.

On March 19, Sherman's left wing, led by the Fourteenth Army Corps, was pounced on by Johnston's army just south of the town of Bentonville. One Federal division was routed from the field and another narrowly missed the same fate. Only the arrival of the Twentieth Army Corps stabilized the situation and both sides settled done in hastily-built entrenchments. The next day, an embarrassed Sherman brought another two corps to the field and invested the Confederate position. Unsure of how to proceed, both sides skirmished heavily during the day.

The struggle on the 21st again looked like it was developing into a stalemate. However, feisty Union Major General Joseph Mower decided to force the issue and as his troops moved into the line, Mower asked permission to make a 'reconnaissance' to his front. Mower pushed his orders to the limit and formed line of battle aimed at the town of Bentonville and the vitally important bridge over Mill Creek, the Rebels' only route of retreat. Mower advanced swiftly, and elements of the 64th Illinois actually fought through the town. However, the move was seen by jittery Confederate commanders and countermeasures were put in force. Mower then found himself assaulted on all sides with no prospect of support, and soon returned to his starting position.

At 10:00 p.m. on the 21st, the Confederate army began its withdrawal from the battlefield. With Lee's surrender on April 9 at Appomattox Courthouse, Johnston realized that the end had come and surrendered his army to Sherman over a bottle of whiskey in Bennett's farmhouse near Durham, South Carolina on April 26.

The Wargame

The scenario is based on Mower's attack.

The game begins at 12:30 p.m. and lasts until 7:00 p.m., at which time it becomes dark. I would suspect that the action petered out before 7:00 p.m.; however, the scenario contains all the units which actually had an effect on the combat. Therefore, the longer time scale should not make a difference, but should allow the action to be played to a conclusion. No units are allowed to charge as soon as they arrive on the table. Several units are armed with two types of weapons; for simplicity's sake, divide these as half and half in the units affected. Confederate generals Hardee, Cheatham and Hampton were all in the area. However, too many higher commanders giving benefits would upset the game; therefore, they have been left out of the battle.

Deployment

The 64th Illinois can either be in extended line or skirmish formation at the beginning of the game. Four companies of the 25th Wisconsin were on Mower's left rear and took no real part in the fight. However, should the Union player wish to use them, he must first roll a 6 at the beginning of a turn. Starting from 5:00 p.m., the regiment will enter at point A.

Confederate reinforcements enter as follows: Hagen's brigade comes in at point B at 2:45 p.m.; Cumming's brigade at point C at 2:00 p.m.; Harrison's brigade at point D at 2:00 p.m.; and General Ripley and the remainder of Brown's division at point E at 2:30 p.m. Young's and Butler's cavalry brigades start the game dis-mounted. Rebel units entering south of Mill Creek may do so in line of battle along the lines shown; alternatively, Cumming may arrive in march column on the Devil's Racepath. General Johnston starts the game at the Benton Farm, which is Confederate headquarters.

Terrain

Almost the whole area is covered in light woods which are broken. The swamp is rough for movement and broken for visibility. Mill Creek can only be crossed by the bridge, with the unit crossing in column or disorder. Mill Creek can only be crossed by the bridge with the unit crossing in column or disorder. The works in front of the Rebel position are treated as 'hasty works.'

Victory Conditions

Union forces must capture the line of works and the Benton Farm; a major victory would be to gain and retain a hold on Bentonville, while still allowing for an escape to the east. The Confederates must hold the town and push the Federals back beyond the works.

Order of Battle: Union

Seventeenth Army Corps

First Division

Major General Joseph A. Mower, average, +2

First Brigade Brig. General John W. Fuller, superior, +2

Second Brigade

25th Wisconsin, 200 men, RM, average

Third Brigade Colonel John Tillson, average, +1

Order of Battle: Confederate

Army of the South

General Joseph E. Johnston, average, +2

Army of Tennessee

Stephenson's Division, Lee's Corps

Cumming's Brigade Colonel Robert J. Henderson

34th, 36th, 39th, 56th Georgia, 260 men, RM, average

Brown's Division, Cheatham's Corps Brig. General Rosell S. Ripley, average, +1

Wheeler's Cavalry Corps

Butler's Division Brig. General Evander M. Law, average, +2

Young's Brigade Colonel Gilbert J. Wright, average, +1

Hagen's Brigade, Allen's Division Colonel D. G. Wright, average, +1

1st, 3rd, 9th, 12th, 51st, 53rd Alabama; 24th Alabama Btn.; 500 men, RM, average

T. Harrison's Brigade, Hume's Division Colonel Baxter Smith, average, +1

Horse Artillery

1 x 12 lb. Napoleon, 2 x 12 lb. howitzer, 1 x 10 lb. Parrott, elite

Key:

Map

Large Map (slow: 164K)

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