Image above: Wayside for the Battle of Averasboro outside Visitor Center, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.
Spotlight on Lesser Known History
Battle of Averasboro, North Carolina
America's Best History Spotlight
On this page we're going to Spotlight the lesser known historic sites and attractions that dot the history landscape across the USA and are worth a visit if you're in their area. And while they may be lesser known, some are very unique, and will be that rare find. You'll be, at times, on the ground floor, or maybe even know something others don't. It'll be fun. Visit them.
Battle of Averasboro, North Carolina
The Averasboro Battlefield in North Carolina has been saved by preservation groups such as the American Battlefield Trust, five hundred and sixty-five acres, and the State of North Carolina, among others. It is the precursor battle to the larger Battle of Bentonville soon after as General William T. Sherman chased Confederate General Joseph Johnston's troops north to join Lee and Grant in the sieges at Petersburg and Richmond. Averasboro is a battle that is not too hard to understand. It was fought in three phases, at first with Confederate success; in the center in lessening manner, and the third, in the area around the Visitor Center, pushed off the battlefield in retreat. Today there is that small Visitor Center, part of the North Carolina State Park system, as well as waysides, period houses, the Chicora Confederate Cemetery, and scenery so open and protected that you easily see in your mind what happened here in 1865.
Image above: One view of the open fields of the American Battlefield Trust land saved on the battlefield of the Battle of Averasboro, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.
Sponsor this page. Your banner or text ad can fill the space above.
Click here to Sponsor the page and how to reserve your ad.
Info, What's There Now, History Nearby
Battle of Averasboro, North Carolina
It was March 16, 1865, and the two armies that had battled from Atlanta to the sea, then through Georgia and South Carolina, had made it half way up the next state, North Carolina. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston sent General William J. Hardee, with five thousand four hundred troops, to delay the left wing of Sherman's Army, under General Henry W. Slocum. The Union cavalry under Fitzpatrick met the day before forty miles south of Raleigh across Raleigh Road where Hardee had deployed his troops between the Cape Fear River and the Black River swamps. This led to a seriously thin line, which Kilpatrick reconnoitered, then waited for his infantry to arrive during the night.
General Alpheus Williams and his XXth Corps arrived at dawn on the plantation of John C. Smith.
Image above: Historic Map of Averasboro Battle, 1904, Hartwell Osborn. Courtesy New York Public Library via Wikipedia Commons. Below: Oak Grove Mansion, part of the plantation where much of the battle took place. It was used as field hospital during the battle. Privately owned, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.
Where Is It
Averasboro Battlefield and Museum is located at 3300 Highway 82, Dunn, North Carolina 28334.
Minute Walk in History - Battle of Averasboro
General Sherman had done what Union General U.S. Grant wanted him to do, and now, after he had marched through Georgia to the sea, he was chasing the Confederates north, through the Carolinas in an effort to reach the Army of the Potomac around Petersburg and Richmond. Although many of these battles were small, the Battle of Averasboro being one of them, they would culminate in the Battle of Bentonville several days later. Follow the path of the three battle lines which the Confederates attempted to defend until additional Union troops demanded they leave the field.
What is There Now
Battle of Averasboro, North Carolina
A pristine battlefield on over five hundred acres, a driving tour with Waysides, a museum with exhibits, orientation, and facilities. There are walking trails. Sites include the Lebanon House (private), Visitor Center with Gift Store, Chicora Confederate Cemetery, Pull-offs for the Prelude markers, Confederate 1st Line, 2nd Line, and 3rd Line, which is approximately at the site of the Visitor Center. The William T. Smith House and the Oak Grove House are also privately owned, but were part of the battle landscape.
When Open and How Much
The battlefield itself is open dawn to dusk daily. The Museum is open 11 am to 3 pm Tuesday to Saturday. Their hours change from time to time. Donation suggested.
Fees and hours are subject to change.
Website
Averasboro Battlefield and Museum
History Nearby
The area directly around this mid-northern section of North Carolina is predominantly rural. Of course, throughout the state, there are the famous National Seashores like Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, Revolutionary War sites, other Civil War sites like Bentonville, Bennett's Place, Fort Fisher, and more.
Photos, History, and More Spotlights
History of the Battle of Averasboro
When the Union XXth Corps emerged onto the eight thousand acre Smith plantation at six a.m., rain was pouring. McLaws division attacked the Confederate left, driving back skirmishers, but were stopped by the main Confederate line and counterattack. Mid-morning, about 11 a.m., saw Williams order his men forward again, this time to the right against Taliaferro and his two lines of defense. Taliaferro pulled back to the third line. By late afternoon, the XIV Corps of Union General Jefferson C. Davis (yes, there was a Civil War Union soldier of the same name as the Confederate President) arrived with two divisions. They attempted to flank the Confederate right, took considerable casualties, but eventually, by 8:30 p.m., the combined forces of Union soldiers, twenty-five thousand strong, had forced Hardee to retreat toward Smithville.
Union casulaties were 682 killed, wounded, and missing. Confederates casualties were 865.
Photo above: Museum and Visitor Center at Averasboro Battlefield, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History. Below: Wayside map of Battlefield, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.
Buy Second Edition
America's Best History Timeline
Great book to keep middle school to college students up to date on their American history.
Sherman's March Through North Carolina
General Sherman had succeeded in his March to the sea by December 24, 1864, when he captured Savannah, Georgia. He would march through South Carolina, capturing Columbia on February 17, 1865. There had been very little resistence in the state by Confederate forces. His intent was to meet with the Army under General John M. Scofield in Goldsboro, North Carolina. However, Gonfederate forces under General Braxton Bragg attacked one of the two Union Corps at Wyse Fork on March 8. By March 10, the Union had gained control of the situation, forcing Bragg to move west toward General Johnston's position. On March 11, Sherman captured Fayetteville and destroyed the arsenal.
He would split his forces in half, sending a feint toward Raleigh, with the other forces under Slocum coming into contact with Hardee at Averasboro. After the Union Army had pushed the Confederates off that battlefield, they would meet several days later in the Battle of Bentonville.
Image above: Photo of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, 1861-5, Mathew Brady. Courtesy U.S. National Archives via Wikipedia Commons. Below: Exhibit panel outside the Visitor Center about General William Tecumseh Sherman, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.
Johnston's March Through North Carolina
General Lee was concerned about the fast movement of Sherman's forces north, and needed to stall the march. Although he was none too pleased with the option that presented itself, he appointed General Joseph Johnston on February 22, 1865 to command a Confederate Army that he would assemble in central North Carolina. The scattered men came together, including Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee and Cavalry General Wade Hampton. Hampton would surprise the Union cavalry under General Fitzpatrick at Monroe's Crossroads on March 10, thus opening the road to Fayetteville.
Johnston would gather his forces near Smithfield, midway between what the Confederate General had thought was Sherman's two objectives; Raleigh and Goldsboro. Once the Battle of Averasboro had been lost, Johnston, with information from his cavalry commander Wade Hampton, had been told to concentrate at Bentonville.
Photo above: Photo above: Confederate General Joseph Johnston, 1862, Unknown Author. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Below: Outside exhibit panel about General Johnston, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.
T-Shirts and Gifts from the official souvenirs of Americasbesthistory.com.
May Spotlight
Violet Bank Museum, Virginia
April Spotlight
Pullman National Historic Site, Illinois
