Alamance in Burlington in Alamance County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Johnston Moves West
Holt's Mill
— Carolinas Campaign —
(Preface):
The Carolinas Campaign began of 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.
Confederate Gen. William J. Hardee led Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's southern column of the Army of Tennessee here to Holt's Mill on the rainy morning of April 15, 1865, on the march west away from Union Gen. William T. Sherman's army. Gen. Robert F. Hoke discovered a more suitable crossing here than at the Belmont ford earlier that morning, although flooding had raised the usually placid creek up to the level of a cartridge box - three feet deep. The men and boys had already made perilous crossings to get here; they also feared a Federal cavalry attack. Col. John W. Hinsdale, 3rd North Carolina Junior Reserves (72nd North Carolina State Troops), wrote, "In the midst of the peril of the crossing of the river, Lieutenant-Colonel [W. Foster] French, realizing the danger to which the smaller boys were exposed, jumped from his horse, and stationing himself in mid-stream just below the line of march, rescued several brave lads from inevitable death. Standing there, watching his chance to save life, he was every inch the faithful officer and brave soldier, and no wonder the boys loved him."
The column bivouacked along both sides of this road between here and the old Alamance Regulator Battlefield of 1771, two miles southwest, and learned that Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of the Northern Virginia had surrendered six days before at Appomattox Court House. The main body of the Federal army was more than sixty miles away from Hardee's column on this day, so there was little threat of an engagement; however, some of his men had died simply crossing flooded rivers and creeks.
(sidebar):
The textile industry came to Alamance county early in the 19th century with the Quakers of Cane Creek. Edwin M. Holt's mill here produced Alamance Plaid and marked a technological innovation: weaving dyed fibers together rather than dyeing the finished cloth. His mill kept North Carolina soldiers well clad. Contrary to the myth of the Confederate soldier in rags, North Carolina governor Zebulon Vance reported 92,000 sets of uniforms in warehouses when the government evacuated Raleigh.
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. 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 date for this entry is April 15, 1865.
Location. 36° 2.366′ N, 79° 29.226′ W. Marker is in Burlington, North Carolina, in Alamance County. It is in Alamance. Marker is on North Carolina 62 (State Highway 62), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3926 NC-62, Alamance NC 27201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Alamance Cotton Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Tryon’s Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); Alamance Mill Village (within shouting distance of this marker); Trading Path (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Paul's Lutheran Church (approx. 1.3 miles away); Oak Grove Plantation (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Oak Grove Plantation (approx. 1.4 miles away); Battle of Alamance (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burlington.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2011, by Dave Simpson of Durham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,250 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on May 9, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos: 1. submitted on July 31, 2011, by Dave Simpson of Durham, North Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 31, 2011, by Dave Simpson of Durham, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.