S H EP H ERDSTOW N ; S M IT H Fl ELD ; UPEQUO_NI LR'S H II.L ; CEDAR CREEK ; MILFORD; NINEyEH.
The first movement of the final,campawns of 1865 began 2 January. in .Tenriessee, when General Schofield with the Twenty-third ccirps left Columbia, Tenn., for,affton on the aver bound for the east. Thc corps left Alexandria on transports soon after 1 February, and landed at the mouth of Cape Fear River, 9 Februplry, where the Tenth corps was established, wh ch, under Gen. Alfred H. Terry, had captured ort Fisher (q.v.) that had been most sai6ornly and gallantly defended against the army and the fleet by Geu. W. H. C. Whiting. _ Fort Andkr son was attacked by array and fleet, and abandoned 19 February; the position of Town Creek was carried 20 February, and Wilming ton (q.v.) was taken 22 February. Operating next by way of Newbern, Gen. R. F. Hoke was defeated at Kinston (q.v.) 10 March. Golds boro (q.v.) was occupied by General Schofield on the 21st Sherman's army joined Schofield here on the 23d. On 26 January General Ttrry had been dispatched to co-operate with Admiral Porter in reducing Fort Fisher at the mouth df Cape Fear River. A previous expedition under General Butler, 13-16 Decesnber, had failed, but the fleet had remained, and Porter had appealed to Grant to send another force. Terry's troops effected a landing above the fort 13 January. The next morning he was entrenched across the peninsula. Early on the 15th the fleet opened a terrific bombardment, which was continued until a force of marines was landed in the afternoon to co-operate in the assault of the army. This was delivered at 3.30 in the after
noon, the flank of the work next the rives being carried. Then followed severe fighting for each succeeding traverse. It was not until 10 o'clock at night that the fort was finally ried. Sherman started northward from Savan nah 1 February (see SAVANNAH TO GOLDSBORO).
Marching through swamps, and crossing all streams at flood, he was before Columbia on the 16th. It was surrendered without fighting the next day. Charleston, being cut off from interior communications, was evacuated by Gen. W. J. Hardee 18 February. Fayetteville, N. C., was reached 11 March. The first opposition stronger than skirmishing was at Averasboro 16 March, where General Hardee made a brief stand. On 19 March Johnston's army, which had been collected on Sherman's front at Ben tonville (q.v.), checked his advance and nearly overwhelmed his left wing before the right wing, which was widely separated from the left, could reach it. On the 21st Johnston was de feated after sharp fighting, and Sherman marched for Goldsboro, which he reached 23 fighting; Columbus was carried by a night assault 16 April; Macon surrendered 20 April. Here Wilson received notice of the Sherman Johnston truce. An expedition, sent out 7 Mav by Wilson from Macon, under Colonel Pritchard, Fourth Michigan, captured Jefferson Davis, 10 May, at Irwinsville, Ga. On 6 February the Confederates made a heavy attack at Hatcher's Run on Grant's left, but were finally repulsed with a Union loss of about 1,500. (See