The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Kilpatrick's Shirttail Skedaddle, the Battle of Monroe's Crossroads Part 2

From Wikipedia. I decided to find out some more about this battle.

It is also known as the Battle of Fayetteville Road, and in the north, sometimes Kilpatrick's Shirttail Skedaddle. You have to like a battle with a name like that.

It resulted in a minor Confederate victory, one of the last in the war. It pitted mounted Confederates against dismounted Union cavalry.

Confederate cavalry, numbering 5,800, under Wade Hampton and Joseph Wheeler surprised the 4,438 man Union encampment. One of the goals was the capture of much-hated Union General Judson Kilpatrick and they almost did. The good Union general was in the embrace of his mistress in a small cabin near Charles Monroe's farmhouse when the Confeds came a-calling. He managed to escape out the back door in his nightshirt and hid in the woods until he recovered and rallied his troops. They drove the Confederates off.

Losses were 400-500 Union and 100 Confederate. The graves of some of the unidentified Union soldiers can still be seen on the grounds of Fort Bragg.

The battle enabled retreating Confederate forces to cross the Cape Fear River and burn the bridge behind them.

Get a Move On, General. --B-Runner

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