Battle of Bentonville

Battle context

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.