Averasborough
Smiths Ferry, Black River
Civil War North Carolina

American Civil War
March 16, 1865

On the afternoon of March 15, Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry came up against Lieutenant General William Hardee's corps—consisting of Taliaferro's and McLaw's infantry divisions and Wheeler's dismounted cavalry deployed across the Raleigh Road near Smithville.

After feeling out the Confederate defenses, Kilpatrick withdrew and called for infantry support. During the night, four divisions of the XX Corps arrived to confront the Confederates.

At dawn, March 16, the Federals advanced on a division front, driving back skirmishers, but they were stopped by the main Confederate line and a counterattack.

Mid-morning, the Federals renewed their advance with strong reinforcements and drove the Confederates from two lines of works, but were repulsed at a third line.

Late afternoon, the Union XIV Corps began to arrive on the field but was unable to deploy before dark due to the swampy ground. Hardee retreated during the night after holding up the Union advance for nearly two days.

Result(s): Inconclusive

Other Names: Taylor's Hole Creek, Smithville, Smiths Ferry, Black River

Location: Harnett County and Cumberland County

Campaign: Campaign of the Carolinas (February-April 1865) next battle in campaign previous battle in campaign

Date(s): March 16, 1865

Principal Commanders: Major General Henry Slocum [US]; Lieutenant General William Hardee [CS]

Forces Engaged: XX Corps and XIV Corps (25,992) [US]; Hardee's Corps (5,400) [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 1,419 total


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Civil War History Book Club Selected Reading Titles

This book contains an examination of the army that General William Tecumseh Sherman led through Georgia and the Carolinas, in late 1864 and early 1865. Instead of being just another narrative of the March to the Sea and Carolina campaigns, however, Glatthaar's book is a look at the individuals that composed the army. In it, he examines the social and ideological backgrounds of the men in Sherman's army, and evaluates how they felt about various factors of the war--slavery, the union, and, most significantly, the campaign in which they were participating. The result is a fascinating look at Sherman's campaigns through the eyes of the everyday soldier. Glatthaar makes the army come alive, and shows the men not as heartless animals who delighted in wanton destruction, not as mechanized marching machines who could perform the most difficult marches without even flinching, but instead as real human beings, complete with sore feet, empty stomachs, and minds engaged in contemplation over the ethical ramifications of what they were doing to the people of the South.
Hess studies the use of fortifications by tracing the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia from April 1861 to April 1864. He considers the role of field fortifications in the defense of cities, river crossings, and railroads and in numerous battles. Blending technical aspects of construction with operational history, Hess demonstrates the crucial role these earthworks played in the success or failure of field armies. He also argues that the development of trench warfare in 1864 resulted from the shock of battle and the continued presence of the enemy within striking distance, not simply from the use of the rifle-musket, as historians have previously asserted.

Sources:
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Library of Congress.