Documenting the American South

Monument Name

Texas Soldiers Monument, Bentonville Battlefield, Four Oaks

Type

Marker

Subjects

Civil War, 1861-1865

City

Four Oaks

County

Johnston

Description

This monument is a simple granite marker atop a granite base; it appears to rise six to seven feet above the ground. The marker has inscriptions on both sides with a stair-step design on the front leading up to the inscription. On both sides, above the inscriptions, a star surrounded by a wreath is set out from the stone on the monument. It was placed by the State of Texas in remembrance of the citizens of Texas who fought at the Battle of Bentonville.

Inscription

Front: TEXAS / REMEMBERS THE VALOR AND DEVOTION OF / HER SONS WHO SERVED AT BENTONVILLE / MARCH 19-21, 1865 / THE EIGHTH TEXAS CAVALRY WAS ENGAGED / WITH THE LEFT WING OF SHERMAN’S UNION / ARMY ON THE EVE OF THE BATTLE OF / BENTONVILLE. DURING THE BATTLE ON / MARCH 21, THE EIGHTH TEXAS AGAIN / PERFORMED VALUABLE SERVICE IN THE / CONFEDERATE ATTACK ON UNION GENERAL / JOSEPH MOWER’S DIVISION OF THE / SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS. LIEUTENANT- / GENERAL WILLIAM J. HARDEE, COMMANDING / A CORPS IN THE BATTLE, ORDERED ABOUT / 80 MEN OF THE EIGHTH TEXAS COMMANDED / BY CAPTAIN “DOC” MATHEWS, A MERE BOY, / TO OPPOSE MOWER’S ADVANCE THE TEXANS / ATTACKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER / CAVALRY COMMANDED BY GENERAL WHEELER / AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON / AND CUMMING’S GEORGIA BRIGADE. YOUNG / “WILLIE” HARDEE, GENERAL HARDEE’S ONLY / SON, CHARGED WITH THE EIGHTH TEXAS AND / WAS KILLED. UNDER HEAVY CONFEDERATE / PRESSURE, MOWER SOON WITHDREW HIS / DIVISION TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION / DURING THE CONFEDERATE RETREAT FROM / BENTONVILLE THE EIGHTH AND ELEVENTH / TEXAS CAVALRY PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE / (SEE OTHER SIDE)

Rear: IN OPPOSING THE UNION PURSUIT FROM / MILL CREEK BRIDGE UNTIL THE PURSUERS / WITHDREW AT HANNAH’S CREEK THE TEXANS / WERE SURRENDERED WITH THE REMNANTS / OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE AT GREENSBORO / NORTH CAROLINA IN MAY 1865 / TEXAS UNITS AT BENTONVILLE / 6TH 7TH AND 10TH AND 15TH TEXAS INFANTRY / 17TH 18TH AND 24TH AND 25TH DISMOUNTED / CALVARY 8TH AND 11TH TEXAS CAVALRY / A MEMORIAL TO TEXANS / WHO SERVED THE CONFEDERACY / ERECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS 1964

Custodian

North Carolina Historic Sites, A Division of North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

Dedication Date

March 21, 1965

Decade

1960s

Geographic Coordinates

35.302300 , -78.320900 View in Geobrowse

Series

Bentonville Battlefield

Supporting Sources

"Bentonville Battlefield," North Carolina Historic Sites, historicsites.nc.gov, (accessed October 27, 2019) Link

"Texas," The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org (accessed June 5, 2014) Link

Smith, Blanche Lucas. North Carolina's Confederate Monuments and Memorials, (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1941)

“Battle Conditions Found Realistic,” The Daily Times-News (Burlington, NC), March 22, 1965

“Tribute Paid at Bentonville,” Statesville Record and Landmark (Statesville, NC), March 22, 1965

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Granite

Sponsors

State of Texas

Monument Dedication and Unveiling

Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas along with Senators Sam J. Ervin and Everett B. Jordan of North Carolina participated in the unveiling ceremony which also marked the opening of a new visitor center and museum at the battlefield. During his comments, Senator Yarborough said, “We are not here to defend the actions of our ancestors. We are here to honor their valor.” John L. Fryberg, a Texas native and pastor of Smithfield Baptist Church, dedicated the memorial. Mrs. Chester Cameron, representing the Texas Civil War Centennial Commission and Mrs. Henry Stephens, representing the United Daughters of the Confederacy also participated in the ceremony. Civil War re-enactors from North Carolina and Texas also performed in front of a crowd estimated at 6,000 to 8,000 persons.

Subject Notes

The Battle of Bentonville was the last major battle fought in the Civil War and was the largest battle fought in North Carolina. It lasted from March 19 through March 21, 1865. It was the Confederate’s last-ditch effort to defeat Sherman’s army as he advanced north.

Location

The marker is on Harper House Road (County Route 1008), on the left when traveling east. The monument is near the Bentonville Battlefield Museum and Visitor’s Center.
Other memorials at Bentonville Battleground include Bentonville Battlefield Memorial, Union Monument, North Carolina Confederate Soldiers, General Joseph Johnston, Civil War horses, 123rd Regiment New York State Volunteers, and Confederate Monument.

Landscape

The marker stands in a grassy area, in close proximity to other memorials at Bentonville Battlefield.

Post Dedication Use

Bentonville Battlefield is still used for Civil War re-enactments that often take place close the anniversary of the battle. It is also open to the public, who can visit the visitor’s center or any of the monuments at the site.