Historical Markers and War Memorials in Four Oaks, North Carolina
Smithfield is the county seat for Johnston County
Four Oaks is in Johnston County
Johnston County(79) ► ADJACENT TO JOHNSTON COUNTY Franklin County(7) ► Harnett County(32) ► Nash County(25) ► Sampson County(8) ► Wake County(121) ► Wayne County(32) ► Wilson County(19) ►
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You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out.
— Gen. William T. Sherman, . . . — — Map (db m101048) HM
(Tablet 1)
Army of Tennessee
Lt. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart
Cheatham's Corps
Maj. Gen. William B. Bate
Bate's Division
Col. Daniel L. Kenan
Finley's Brigade
Lt. Col. Eli Washburn
1st Florida • 3rd . . . — — Map (db m101219) HM WM
In 1865, a local market center for naval stores (tar, pitch & turpentine). Bentonville gives name to the battle fought nearby, March 19-21, 1865. Confederates concentrated here the day before the battle. As they retreated on March 22, they burned . . . — — Map (db m34667) HM
In the forests and fields around the North Carolina village of Bentonville, the armies of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Union Gen. William T. Sherman fought their last major engagement of the Civil War on March 19-21, 1865. Sherman was . . . — — Map (db m160709) HM
In memory
of
Union Soldiers of the
14th, 15th, 17th and 20th Corps who
served during the Battle of Bentonville
March 19 - 21, 1865
XIV Corps • XV Corps • XVII Corps • XX Corps
Representing the States of
Alabama, Connecticut, . . . — — Map (db m101150) HM WM
Across the fields behind this marker the Confederate Right Wing made five attacks on Union positions to the left, March 19, 1865. They were thrown back by the XX Federal Corps. — — Map (db m34638) HM
The remains of 360 Confederates who fell in the Battle of Bentonville lie here. They were moved to this plot from other parts of the battlefield in 1893. The monument was erected at that time. — — Map (db m34632) HM
In memory of the Confederate dead Erected under the auspices of Goldsboro Rifles October 10, 1894. ♦♦♦ [ Left of Monument: ] On this spot and in this vicinity was fought the Battle of Bentonville March 19, 1865. . . . — — Map (db m34675) HM
General Johnston's Military Career
Named after Captain Joseph Eggleston, under whom his father Peter Johnston served in Lighthorse Harry Lee's Legion during the Revolutionary War, General Joseph Eggleston Johnston was born February 3, 1807 . . . — — Map (db m101024) HM
Following the battle, 45 Confederate wounded were hospitalized in the Harper House.
Nineteen of these men died here. Surgeons moved others to regular Confederate hospitals. — — Map (db m34627) HM
(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 . . . — — Map (db m162084) HM
After overrunning two Union lines above this road, the Confederates crossed here in the main assault of March 19, 1865.
Union reinforcements halted their advance in the woods below the road. — — Map (db m34642) HM
Union batteries (26 guns) formed a line here, March 19. These guns covered retreating Federals during the Confederate charges and finally halted the advance of the Confederate Right Wing. — — Map (db m34636) HM
“Defender of the Southland to the end” In memory and honor of Confederate soldiers who fought at Bentonville Battlefield, North Carolina during March 19-21, 1865 Erected by Sons of Confederate Veterans Dedicated March 20, 2010 . . . — — Map (db m34181) HM
(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 . . . — — Map (db m14714) HM
Near this point Gen. William J. Hardee led the charge of the 8th Texas Cavalry and other Confederates, repulsing the advance of Mower’s Division, March 21, 1865. — — Map (db m34661) HM
“Time may teach us to forgive, but it can never make us forget.” - Confederate Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton, memorial address at Bentonville, March 20, 1895. By the evening of March 22, 1865 both the Union and Confederate armies . . . — — Map (db m34407) HM
On the eve of the battle, Confederate General Joseph Johnston established his headquarters in the field in front of you on property belonging to John Benton, Bentonville's namesake. Summoned from retirement by Gen. Robert E. Lee only a month before, . . . — — Map (db m101196) HM
The Confederate Left Wing, part of a long hook-shaped line designed to trap the Union forces, extended across the road here on March 19. This sector, occupied by Maj. Gen. R. F. Hoke’s Division, was evacuated on March 20. A new line parallel to the . . . — — Map (db m34647) HM
Crossed the road at this point, March 20-21. Gen. R. F. Hoke’s Division occupied this sector. Scene of much skirmishing but no heavy fighting. Earthworks remain. — — Map (db m34657) HM
Advanced to this point during the afternoon of March 21. The XV Corps established a line of works across the road here. Earthworks remain. — — Map (db m34656) HM
One-quarter mile to your front stood the center of the Confederate line on the afternoon of March 20. Shaped like a horseshoe, the center faced south towards the Goldsboro Road. Johnston's decision to remain on the battlefield after his failure the . . . — — Map (db m101166) HM
The flooded state of this creek upstream prevented an attack by Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry on the rear of Sherman’s Army, March 19, 1865. A bridge here was the Confederates’ sole line of retreat after the battle. — — Map (db m34668) HM
Advancing toward Mill Creek Bridge, Johnston’s only line of retreat, Maj. Gen. J. A. Mower’s Union Division broke the Confederate line near this point, March 21. Mower’s Division reached a point 200 yards from Johnston’s headquarters before it was . . . — — Map (db m34662) HM
Held the line along this road and repulsed the assault of Hobart’s Union Brigade, March 19, 1865. This line was evacuated, March 20. — — Map (db m34652) HM
You are facing east towards Green Flower's farm, where lead elements of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Right Wing clashed with Confederate cavalry late in the morning on March 20.
The previous evening, the Right Wing, comprised of Maj. Gen. . . . — — Map (db m101183) HM
You are looking west, toward Sam Howell Branch, where on the morning of March 21, Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard's XV and XVII Corps opposed the Confederate divisions of Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke and Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws. The dawn began with a heavy . . . — — Map (db m101081) HM WM
Sherman’s headquarters were located in the field 400 yards to the rear of this marker, March 20-21, 1865. Headquarters of the XVII Corps, which included Mower’s Division, were 250 yards to the left rear. — — Map (db m34660) HM
Maj. Gen. A. S. Williams, commanding the XX Corps, established his headquarters here on March 19. In the woods to the north, the XX Corps erected breastworks which remain. — — Map (db m34630) HM
Field hospital of the XX Corps during the Battle of Bentonville was located here. Four hundred Union soldiers, wounded in the Battle of Averasboro (16 miles west) on March 16, were brought here for treatment. — — Map (db m34633) HM
Trenches in the woods behind this marker formed the extreme right of the Union line on March 20. This sector was occupied by the XVII Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair. — — Map (db m34666) HM
After withdrawing from the advance against Mill Creek Bridge, Mower’s Federals re-formed here and threw up works. This was the extreme right of the Union line on March 21. Earthworks remain. — — Map (db m34664) HM