Battle of Bentonville 2003 - Morning Skirmish

Civil War Illustrated

Battle of Bentonville 2003 - Morning Skirmish

This Photo shows some of the thick vegetation that surrounded the rugged hills.

"Morning Skirmish in Woods Fizzels out into Waiting Game and Shouting Match"

Article and Photos By Ruben Gusman

Making my rounds during the late morning, I noticed a small company of Federals patrolling the woods. More units were busy constructing breastwork fortifications on the higher slopes.

Rebel companies were approaching the base of the hill initially in equally small numbers. I positioned myself behind a heavy,thick tree and prepared to cover the action soon to transpire. Sporadic firing began as individual rounds sounded amidst the jungle-like battleground.
It wasn't long before more Confederates joined in the fray. Suddenly the scene became more intense and urgent as the troops began to rapidly and desperately maneuver about. In a matter of a few short minutes I found my position compromised and I became nearly surrounded by troops from both sides. Rebels to my front and flanks and Yankees just feet away. Hiding behind the tree, I was often mistaken for an enemy combatant and fired upon!

"Sorry, I thought you was a Yankee!" cried out one disappointed Johnny Reb. Another professional photographer was also caught up in the middle of the melee. A general order soon rang out, "Watch out for the Photographers" and another "Don't Shoot the photographers!"

"Fresh Troops On the Way" BS03-01

The Confederates had now showed up in force and the Federals were hard-pressed. A company of Rebels were about to attack some of the Union engineers who were working on the barricades but were abruptly stopped short. The Union Commander rushed to the scene to inform the Arkansas Battalion that those boys were not to be part of the tactical scenario. The officers took a brief timeout to layout and redraw the battle boundaries before action resumed.

In addition, it was decided to withdraw some of the Confederate troops as their numbers were too overwhelming for the Union forces available for the engagement.

The skirmish continued in earnest and the Union troops put up a stubborn resistance which finally forced the Confederates to withdraw from the hill. Reinforcements from the Missouri Battalion however had arrived and were ready to continue the fight. Eager to see some action, they taunted the Federals to come down and attack them. The Union troops in turn, challenged the Confederates to climb over the brush and attack them on the hill. A steady barrage of insults and challenges were exchanged but no shots were fired and neither force moved from their positions. We waited for 15 minutes to see if any action would resume, but to our disappointment, no further combat ensued.

Eventually both sides retired and prepares for the two public battles that would occur later in the afternoon.