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BATTLE // January 1, 1865

Battle of Bentonville

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Overview

The Battle of Bentonville was fought in Johnston County, North Carolina, near the village of Bentonville, as part of the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was the last battle between the western field armies of William T. Sherman and Joseph E. Johnston.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Bentonville, fought in Johnston County, North Carolina, was the final engagement between Sherman's western field armies and Johnston's Confederate forces. With Union strength at roughly 60,000 against a Confederate force of approximately 21,900, the disparity underscored the deteriorating Confederate position in the Western Theater. Confederate casualties of 2,606 against Union losses of 1,527 further reflected the imbalance of resources available to Johnston by this stage of the war. As the last major clash between these two commands, Bentonville effectively ended organized Confederate resistance in the Carolinas, leaving Johnston without the combat power to seriously contest Sherman's advance and setting the conditions for Johnston's subsequent surrender.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • United States60,000
    medium
  • Confederate States21,900
    medium

United States fielded a 2.7 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • United States1,527
    medium3% loss rate
  • Confederate States2,606
    medium12% loss rate

Commanders (3)

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Related

6 sibling battles · 2 factions

Last verified June 2026
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