Goldsboro to reinforce Sherman, who was then marching for North Carolina.
The shattered fragment of the Western army had again been placed under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, and the soldiers gave their old commander an enthusiastic welcome. General Hardee, commanding most of the forces in Sherman’s front from upper South Carolina to Averasboro, showed fight whenever circumstances allowed, but his force could do little more than harass Sherman’s march. General Johnston, as soon as he reached his command, determined to take the initiative, and if possible deliver battle before the Federals could unite. All the force under Bragg at Wilmington was ordered to join Hardee, and Johnston hoped, with a united army, small but entirely pugnacious, to fight his foes in detail.
With this general plan in mind, it is necessary to notice the troops with which he purposed to carry it out. Coming from the South under Generals Hardee, Cheatham and S. D. Lee, were the veteran fragments of Cleburne’s, Cheatham’s, Loring’s, Taliaferro’s, D. H. Hill’s, Walthall’s and Stevenson’s divisions of infantry, and Hampton’s consolidated cavalry. Hoke s division consisted of four very small but veteran brigades. Major Manly’s and Major Rhett s artillery battalions accompanied Hardee’s corps. In addition, the following troops were found in North Carolina; four regiments of Junior reserves under Cols. C. W. Broadfoot, J. H. Anderson, J. W. Hinsdale and Charles M. Hall all under General Baker. At Fort Caswell, the First North Carolina battalion, Col. T. M. Jones; the Third North Carolina battalion, Capt. J. G. Moore, and the Sampson artillery were stationed. At Fort Campbell there were three companies of North Carolina troops under Lieut. J. D. Taylor. Fort Holmes was garrisoned by eight companies of the Fortieth regiment and one company of the Third battalion; that post was commanded by Col. J. J. Hedrick. At Smithville, a post of which Maj. James Reilly had been
