Texas

At Bentonville on March 19-21, 1865, Texans served with distinction in Confederate operations. On the eve of the battle, the Eighth Texas Cavalry engaged the left wing of Sherman’s Union army. During the battle on March 21, the Eighth Texas again took part in the Confederate attack on Union General Mower’s division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. Lieutenant-General William J. Hardee, commanding a corps in the battle, ordered about 80 men of the Eighth Texas under Captain “Doc” Matthews to oppose Mower’s advance. The Texans attacked in conjunction with other cavalry commanded by General Wheeler and Lieutenant-General Wade Hampton and with Cumming’s Georgia Brigade. Young “Willie” Hardee, General Hardee’s only son, charged with the Eighth Texas and was killed. Under heavy Confederate pressure, Mower soon withdrew his division to its original position. During the Confederate retreat from Bentonville, the Eighth and Eleventh Texas Cavalry played a prominent role. In opposing the Union pursuit from Mill Creek Bridge until the pursuers withdrew at Hannah’s Creek, the Texans were surrendered with the remnants of the Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, North Carolina, in May 1865. Texas units at Bentonville were the 6th, 7th, 10th, and 15th Texas Infantry, the 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th Dismounted Cavalry, and the 8th and 11th Texas Cavalry.

North Carolina · United States