Four Oaks in Johnston County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Confederate North Carolina Junior Reserve Line
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006
1. Confederate North Carolina Junior Reserve Line Marker
North Carolina Junior Reserves Marker
The Junior Reserves, assigned to Hoke’s Division, numbered nearly 1,000 muskets in the field. Called the “seed corn of the Confederacy,” eight battalions of North Carolina Junior Reserves (boys 17 to 18 years old) were created in the summer of 1864. The Junior Reserves saw action at Weldon, Fort Fisher, and Wise Fork. Despite that service, they were still underestimated for their fighting skills and Gen. Braxton Bragg did not use them in the main Confederate assault on March 19. However, when the Confederate line was realigned on March 20, the Junior Reserves – with only makeshift breastworks – fought against the Union skirmishers and held their position for the rest of the battle.
Erected 2005 by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 19, 1865.
Location. 35° 18.971′ N, 78°
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bentonville (here, next to this marker); Merging of the Armies (here, next to this marker); Main Confederate Line (within shouting distance of this marker); N.C. Junior Reserves (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confederate Line Crossing the Goldsboro Road (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Union Attack (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fighting at the Cole Plantation: The “Battle of Acorn Run” (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fighting South of the Goldsboro Road: The “Bull Pen” (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Four Oaks.
More about this marker. The upper portion of the marker contains a photo of Juno Crawford, 1st N.C. Junior Reserves taken by Drew H. Benson, and two quotes.
Upper left: Quotation “It was in a good wood for skirmishing, with little or no undergrowth. We had a regular Indian fight of it behind the trees. They charged my line twice, but were both times driven back. That night, the whole skirmish line kept up an almost continuous firing as they expected
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 3, 2010
2. Marker at the N.C. Junior Reserve Tour Stop
Upper right: Quote “It looked like a picture and our distance was truly beautiful. Several officers led the charge on horseback across an open field in full view, with colors flying, and line of battle in such perfect order….But it was painful to see how close their battle flags were together, regiments being scarcely larger than companies, and [the] division not much larger than a regiment should be.” - Lt. Col. Charles Broadfoot, commander, 1st N.C. Junior Reserves.
Lower portion of the marker contains a photo of “Col. John H. Nethercutt, Commander, N.C. Junior Reserves. N.C. Offices of Archives and History.” on the left, and a battle map on the right.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the Roadside Exhibits erected on the Battle of Bentonville for the 140th anniversary of the battle, on March 14, 2005.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 3, 2010
3. Confederate North Carolina Junior Reserve Line Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006
4. N.C. Junior Reserves Tour Stop
This marker is one in a series that was erected on the Battle of Bentonville for the 140th anniversary of the battle, on March 14, 2005.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 18, 2006
5. Battle Map Detail
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,640 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on May 9, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos: 1. submitted on March 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on March 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
