194

THE MARCH TO THE SEA.

Falling Creek Church, where the roads the two wings wereupon crossed, about three miles from Cox’s bridge. Thesewere directed to march at break of day, and Blair’s corps,which had gone further on the Wilmington road, was re-called.

Hazen reached Slocum at dawn, and found that the wholeof the left wing was up, and a good defensive line had beenmade to connect the position so stubbornly held by Morganwith that which Carlin reformed upon before night. Bynoon Sherman himself had come with the head of Logan’scolumn, and the rest of the day was fully occupied with de-ployments in the woods and swamps, and a sharp skirmish-ing fight, while communication was made with Slocum andthe lines adjusted. Hazen had been placed by Slocum onthe right of Morgan, so that he was in line with his owncorps when Logan approached. The whole of Johnston’sleft flank was covered by a brook running through a verydifficult swamp, and, under his skilful direction, his menhad built intrenchments covered by abatis of the formid-able sort with which he had made us familiar in Georgia.His position was in the nature of a bridge-head coveringBentonville and the bridge over Mill Creek, which he onlyintended to hold till he could carry off his wounded andprepare a safe retreat to Smithfield.

Sherman found that Slocum’s wounded men were numer-ous enough to fill his ambulance train, and that Johnston’sline was one to manoeuvre against rather than to attack infront. He contented himself, therefore, with pushing hislines close to his adversary’s, especially on the right, whereBlair’s corps extended Logan’s deployment. Orders weresent by courier to Schofield to march at once from Kinstonupon Goldsboro. Terry was directed to move from Faison’sDepot to Cox’s bridge, and make a strong effort to secure a