Part 7/11:
As Sherman made further advances, notably with the fall of Fayetteville, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston was appointed to lead the Army of Tennessee and concentrate available forces against Sherman. Yet, the Rebels were still disjoined, struggling to unify in the face of the advancing Union forces.
When the battle finally broke out at Bentonville, initial Confederate advantages soon ebbed as Union reinforcements turned the tide. Johnston’s scouts realized that Sherman was an ever-growing threat, leading to increased urgency in Confederate circles.