Mebane in Alamance County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Johnston Moves West
Hardee's Column
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Carolinas Campaign
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Photographed by Dave Twamley, July 4, 2011
1. Johnston Moves West Marker
Inscription.
Johnston Moves West. Hardee's Column. (Preface): The Carolinas Campaign began on February 1, 1865, when Union Gen. William T. Sherman led his army north from Savannah, Georgia, after the March to the Sea. Sherman’s objective was to join Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia to crush Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Scattered Confederate forces consolidated in North Carolina, the Confederacy’s logistical lifeline, where Sherman defeated Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s last-ditch attack at Bentonville. After Sherman was reinforced at Goldsboro late in March, Johnston saw the futility of further resistance and surrendered at Bennett Place near Durham on April 26, ending the Civil War in the East., Here, on the rainy morning of April 15, 1865, the southern column of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee approached the crossroads on your right along the road to your left as it marched west away from Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s army. The column, under Gen. William J. Hardee, had bivouacked in Chapel Hill on the campus of the University of North Carolina. Supposed to move out at 4:30 A.M. toward Greensboro, it did not depart until after 6:00. Its destination also was changed to Swepsonville and the Haw River ford there, along present-day N.C. Route 119., Hardee’s column included the 3rd North Carolina Junior Reserves (72nd North Carolina State Troops) under Col. John W. Hinsdale. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-old Alamance and Forsyth County boys comprised Co. C. Hinsdale later wrote that “our line of march was on the Salisbury and Hillsboro road, over which 200 years before the Catawba Indians passed in their visits to the Tuscaroras in the East. Governor [William] Tryon and later Lord Cornwallis had led their troops over this historic way in the vain endeavor to subdue the men whose sons now trod footsore and weary over the same red hills, engaged in a like struggle for local self government.” The column departed from that path here and headed to Ruffin Mills., The winter of 1864-65 had been very wet, and early in April a flood destroyed all of the bridges across the Haw River except the railroad bridge at Granite Mills. The choice of crossing had potentially fatal consequences because of high water.
(Preface): The Carolinas Campaign began on February 1, 1865, when Union Gen. William T. Sherman led his army north from Savannah, Georgia, after the March to the Sea. Sherman’s objective was to join Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia to crush Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Scattered Confederate forces consolidated in North Carolina, the Confederacy’s logistical lifeline, where Sherman defeated Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s last-ditch attack at Bentonville. After Sherman was reinforced at Goldsboro late in March, Johnston saw the futility of further resistance and surrendered at Bennett Place near Durham on April 26, ending the Civil War in the East.
Here, on the rainy morning of April 15, 1865, the southern column of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee approached the crossroads on your right along the road to your left as it marched west away from Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s army. The column, under Gen. William J. Hardee, had bivouacked in Chapel Hill on the campus of the University of North Carolina. Supposed to move out at 4:30 A.M. toward Greensboro, it did not depart until after 6:00.
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Its destination also was changed to Swepsonville and the Haw River ford there, along present-day N.C. Route 119.
Hardee’s column included the 3rd North Carolina Junior Reserves (72nd North Carolina State Troops) under Col. John W. Hinsdale. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-old Alamance and Forsyth County boys comprised Co. C. Hinsdale later wrote that “our line of march was on the Salisbury and Hillsboro road, over which 200 years before the Catawba Indians passed in their visits to the Tuscaroras in the East. Governor [William] Tryon and later Lord Cornwallis had led their troops over this historic way in the vain endeavor to subdue the men whose sons now trod footsore and weary over the same red hills, engaged in a like struggle for local self government.” The column departed from that path here and headed to Ruffin Mills.
The winter of 1864-65 had been very wet, and early in April a flood destroyed all of the bridges across the Haw River except the railroad bridge at Granite Mills. The choice of crossing had potentially fatal consequences because of high water.
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series.
Photographed by Dave Twamley, July 4, 2011
2. Johnston Moves West Marker
This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1862.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 36° 2.524′ N, 79° 19.898′ W. Marker was in Mebane, North Carolina, in Alamance County. It was at the intersection of State Highway 119 and Jim Minor Road, on the right when traveling south on State Highway 119. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 3176 NC 119, Mebane NC 27302, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in North Carolina’s Piedmont and specifically in Piedmont Triad. It was also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5
4. Army marching in the rain – Courtesy Library of Congress
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2011, by Dave Simpson of Durham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,049 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on November 24, 2022, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 12, 2011, by Dave Simpson of Durham, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
