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“To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming”: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, March 1865
History has relegated the Battle of Wise s (Wyse) Forks, March 7 11, to little more than an insignificant skirmish during the final days of the Civil War. Indeed, most histories mention it not at all. Mark A. Smith s and Wade Sokolosky s To Prepare for Sherman s Coming: The Battle of Wise s Forks, March 1865 erases this misconception and elevates this battle and its related operations to the historical status it deserves.By March 1865, the Confederacy was on its last legs. Its armies were depleted, food and resources were scarce, and morale was low. Gen. Robert E. Lee was barely holding on to his extended lines around Richmond and Petersburg, and Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman was operating with nearly complete freedom in North Carolina on his way north to form a junction with Union forces in Virginia. As the authors demonstrate, the fighting that is the subject of this book came about when Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant initiated a broad military operation to assist Sherman.The responsibility for ensuring a functioning railroad from New Bern to Goldsboro rested with Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox. On March 2, 1865, Cox ordered his hastily assembled Provisional Corps to march toward Goldsboro. In response to Cox s movement, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston executed a bold but risky plan to divert troops away from Sherman by turning back Cox s advance. Under the command of the aggressive but controversial Gen. Braxton Bragg, the Confederates stood for four days and successfully halted Cox at Wise s Forks. This delay provided Johnston with the precious time he needed to concentrate his forces and fight the large and important Battle of Bentonville. To Prepare for Sherman s Coming is the result of years of careful research in a wide variety of archival sources, and relies upon official reports, diaries, newspapers, and letter collections, all tied to a keen understanding of the terrain. Sokolosky and Smith, both career army officers, have used their expertise in military affairs to produce what is not only a valuable book on Wise s Forks, but what surely must be the definitive study of one of the Civil War s overlooked yet significant battles. Outstanding original maps by George Skoch coupled with period photographs reinforce the quality of this account and the authors commitment to excellence.REVIEWS The March 8-10, 1865 Battle of Wise s Forks has been neglected by Civil War historians for too long even though it was one of the largest battles in North Carolina s history. Fought near Kinston, it was the Confederates first major attempt to defeat General Sherman s forces in the Tar Heel State. Authors Wade Sokolosky and Mark A. Smith have crafted a deeply researched and engagingly written study that at last places the Wise s Forks in its proper strategic and operational context. To Prepare for Sherman s Coming will remain the definitive work on the battle for many years to come. Mark L. Bradley, author of Last Stand in the Carolinas: The Battle of Bentonville The March 8-10, 1865 combat at Wise s Forks was one of the major engagements of Sherman s Carolinas Campaign, and until now, has been completely ignored. A Confederate victory there would have cut Sherman s main line of supply and directly impacted his ability to march across North Carolina. To Prepare for Sherman s Coming rectifies this glaring oversight in a detailed tactical study by retired career Army officers Wade Sokolosky and Mark Smith. For the first time, this small but important battle gets the attention and treatment it has long deserved. The clear and crisp writing, supplemented with original maps, photos, and wonderful research, means this book deserves a place on the bookshelf of any student of the Carolinas Campaign. Eric J. Wittenberg, award-winning Civil War historian and author of The Battle of Monroe s Crossroads and the Civil War s Final Campaign Civil War battle study advocates in general, and enthusiasts of the Carolinas Campaign in particular, will be more than pleased with Sokolosky s and Smith s new book on the battle of Wise s Forks. It is everything readers of this genre enjoy: good research, good writing, helpful original maps, and plentiful photos and illustrations. Now, finally, this small but important battle during the war s final full month in North Carolina gets the due it rightfully deserves. Chris Mackowski, Emerging Civil War Series editor and author of Chancellorsville s Forgotten Front and Grant s Last Battle: The Story Behind the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant"
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 8, 2023
This is a relatively straightforward and short book covering The Battle of Wise’s Forks. This is a campaign and battle I was unfamiliar with and the book served its purpose by outlining the strategic objectives that led to the engagement and also providing enough detail from the tactical level to keep me interested. Solid maps, a nice appendix regarding arrivals, strengths, etc, and some final analysis is a great addition to this. For whatever reason, I didn’t find myself chomping at the bit to get back to reading it if I put it down for a few days and I might attribute that to the writing style and my general lack of knowledge regarding the content and commanders. Took me much too long to get thru it (I did reread multiple chapters and took my time absorbing the tactical elements). More small, unknown battles could use treatments like this.
September 4, 2016
This is an excellent analysis of a little known battle. I have read a number of pieces regarding Bentonville or Averasboro. One of the references has been to an action to the east, trying to prevent Schofield from linking with Sherman. A few paragraphs is about as much in any volume that OI have seen about this conflict.
This book does a very good job of laying out the battle. One item of interest is the potential toxicity of the leaders. Braxton Bragg was in command (not always the best battlefield commander). One of his key commanders was D. H. Hill--with whom he had extensive conflict at Chickamauga and thereafter. The two despised one another. Then, Robert Hoke, whose forces were from the Army of Northern Virginia--but were now in North Carolina.
Ulysses Grant organized an expedition to North Carolina--bringing together a number of forces, who would be under the overall command of General Schofield. Some of his subordinates were more competent and some less so. There was a problem with logistics (getting food and ammunition etc. to the troops). Their task" link with Sherman's marauding forces, his two wings.
This book does a nice job is laying out the chess game between Bragg and the Union forces. Bragg made some errors (withdrawing Hill when that general was making real progress) but the Confederate forces fought well even though outnumbered.
In the end, the battle did little to slow Sherman's advance, but it was an example of the Confederate ability to still contest Union advances. A very fine book about a little known battle. . . .
This book does a very good job of laying out the battle. One item of interest is the potential toxicity of the leaders. Braxton Bragg was in command (not always the best battlefield commander). One of his key commanders was D. H. Hill--with whom he had extensive conflict at Chickamauga and thereafter. The two despised one another. Then, Robert Hoke, whose forces were from the Army of Northern Virginia--but were now in North Carolina.
Ulysses Grant organized an expedition to North Carolina--bringing together a number of forces, who would be under the overall command of General Schofield. Some of his subordinates were more competent and some less so. There was a problem with logistics (getting food and ammunition etc. to the troops). Their task" link with Sherman's marauding forces, his two wings.
This book does a nice job is laying out the chess game between Bragg and the Union forces. Bragg made some errors (withdrawing Hill when that general was making real progress) but the Confederate forces fought well even though outnumbered.
In the end, the battle did little to slow Sherman's advance, but it was an example of the Confederate ability to still contest Union advances. A very fine book about a little known battle. . . .
November 27, 2019
Now, I like to think I know a lot about the Civil War from the very first book I was given, Civil War, when I was maybe ten years old to the innumerable histories and biographies I have read since.
But when I saw two references to the Battle Of Wise's Forks in Last Stand in the Carolinas: The Battle of Bentonville, I said to myself, why have I never heard of this battle? So, on a recent trip to North Carolina, where I made a point at stopping by the actual battlefield, within the gift shop/visitor center was this book. So, I bought it.
Mark Smith writes in the style of other Civil War battle narratives so it is accessible to the non-specialist. The battle took place after Wilmington was captured by the Federals in 1865. Sherman had ordered Schofield to advance from the coast towards Goldsboro so as to establish a supply line (with railroad) for Sherman's army to be replenished after the long march through the Carolinas from Savannah.
As such, the Confederates wanted to forestall this linkup and a battle ensued. It featured no less than General Braxton Bragg (yes, of Chattanooga disgrace) versus Union General Jacob Cox. Forces were on the order of 10,000 or so.
If you're reading this, you may be like me and have no idea who won or what happened so I won't reveal anything here.
This book had good maps, clear writing, and is interspersed with first person accounts. What I found most interesting was the author's attention to the Union Army preparations - railroad repair, challenging attempts to find wheeled transport, and sea journeys between Fort Monroe and the port of New Bern. All the sorts of logistics detail that usually get scant mention in the battle/campaign histories of more well-known events. There are plenty of drawings and photos too to get a sense of place.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in Civil War history in North Carolina or to anyone who enjoys Stephen Sears/Peter Cozzens/etc -style writing about a specific conflict.
But when I saw two references to the Battle Of Wise's Forks in Last Stand in the Carolinas: The Battle of Bentonville, I said to myself, why have I never heard of this battle? So, on a recent trip to North Carolina, where I made a point at stopping by the actual battlefield, within the gift shop/visitor center was this book. So, I bought it.
Mark Smith writes in the style of other Civil War battle narratives so it is accessible to the non-specialist. The battle took place after Wilmington was captured by the Federals in 1865. Sherman had ordered Schofield to advance from the coast towards Goldsboro so as to establish a supply line (with railroad) for Sherman's army to be replenished after the long march through the Carolinas from Savannah.
As such, the Confederates wanted to forestall this linkup and a battle ensued. It featured no less than General Braxton Bragg (yes, of Chattanooga disgrace) versus Union General Jacob Cox. Forces were on the order of 10,000 or so.
If you're reading this, you may be like me and have no idea who won or what happened so I won't reveal anything here.
This book had good maps, clear writing, and is interspersed with first person accounts. What I found most interesting was the author's attention to the Union Army preparations - railroad repair, challenging attempts to find wheeled transport, and sea journeys between Fort Monroe and the port of New Bern. All the sorts of logistics detail that usually get scant mention in the battle/campaign histories of more well-known events. There are plenty of drawings and photos too to get a sense of place.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in Civil War history in North Carolina or to anyone who enjoys Stephen Sears/Peter Cozzens/etc -style writing about a specific conflict.
October 5, 2021
As I strive to learn more about my adopted home state and the role it played in the War of Northern Aggression, this was a good and informative read about combat operations in NC just before the Battle of Bentonville. I often pass through Kinston, New Bern, & Wayne Counties in my professional travels, so now I have a deeper appreciation of what happened in those locations in March 1865. I highly recommend it.
October 29, 2017
Clearly written report of a virtually unknown civil war battle in the waning months of the war. Excellent analysis of the battle's importance and its impact on the strategic situation between Sherman and Johnston.
June 8, 2019
A first rate book on a forgotten battle in the 1865 Carolinas Campaign. The authors did a great job of research, writing and analysis of the battle.
November 10, 2015
As the Civil War Sesquicentennial comes to a close, the publication of many battles of 1865 have come forth. Some of these battles are generally unknown to the masses and publications such as “To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming”: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, is a welcome addition to any library. Both Wade Sokolosky and Mark A. Smith bring to life this crucial battle during the Carolina Campaign of General Sherman. Once again, Sherman gets quite a bit of attention when it comes to his famous March to the Sea, but it was his Carolina Campaign which brought forward a surrender. Now, with this book in publication, there is more clarification on this battle and the Carolina Campaign as a whole.
Wade Sokolosky is a retired Colonel of the United States Army of twenty-five years and is a graduate of East Carolina University. He is a popular speaker on the Civil War circuit and is the co-author of Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro and Final Roll Call: Confederate Losses during the Carolinas Campaign. He also leads tours on Civil War battlefields. Mark A. Smith is a retired Major of the United States Army of twenty-one years and holds a Masters in Military Studies. He served in various positions including Scout Platoon Leader, Battalion Executive Officer, and was the Army ROTC Instructor at Virginia Tech. He is the co-author of “No Such Army Since the Day of Julius Caesar: Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro which he authored with Wade Sokolosky.
One of the biggest questions which I ask myself when reviewing a book is “what new thought does this book bring to the table?” Overall, I think the existence of this book brings something new to the table. Overall, outside of primary sources and one volume histories of the war, this is one of the few works which handles the subject of The Battle of Wise’s Forks. As the narrative went on through the book, they handle this subject masterfully with excellent explanations to the situation at hand. This battle was a crucial Union victory in the Carolinas Campaign and both Wokolosky and Smith have given it due diligence in their research. One of the more important things to me going into this book was the portrayal of Braxton Bragg. Recently, I had some experiences with books on Bragg as painting him as a whining commander. But here, in “To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming,” I felt as though Bragg was being treated with the full respect he commanded and deserved. Also, while most of this campaign surrounds itself with General Sherman, it was nice to see attention paid to both John Schofield and Jacob Cox who were instrumental in the victory here. The book is filled with portraits and excellent maps which I have come to expect from this publisher.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the last year of the Civil War, or anyone interested in the Carolinas Campaign. Both Sokolosky and Smith have written other works, and some on the way, dealing with this mostly ignored campaign and their work is excellent. The research is second to none and their narrative flows gracefully across the pages. Highly recommended.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
Wade Sokolosky is a retired Colonel of the United States Army of twenty-five years and is a graduate of East Carolina University. He is a popular speaker on the Civil War circuit and is the co-author of Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro and Final Roll Call: Confederate Losses during the Carolinas Campaign. He also leads tours on Civil War battlefields. Mark A. Smith is a retired Major of the United States Army of twenty-one years and holds a Masters in Military Studies. He served in various positions including Scout Platoon Leader, Battalion Executive Officer, and was the Army ROTC Instructor at Virginia Tech. He is the co-author of “No Such Army Since the Day of Julius Caesar: Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro which he authored with Wade Sokolosky.
One of the biggest questions which I ask myself when reviewing a book is “what new thought does this book bring to the table?” Overall, I think the existence of this book brings something new to the table. Overall, outside of primary sources and one volume histories of the war, this is one of the few works which handles the subject of The Battle of Wise’s Forks. As the narrative went on through the book, they handle this subject masterfully with excellent explanations to the situation at hand. This battle was a crucial Union victory in the Carolinas Campaign and both Wokolosky and Smith have given it due diligence in their research. One of the more important things to me going into this book was the portrayal of Braxton Bragg. Recently, I had some experiences with books on Bragg as painting him as a whining commander. But here, in “To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming,” I felt as though Bragg was being treated with the full respect he commanded and deserved. Also, while most of this campaign surrounds itself with General Sherman, it was nice to see attention paid to both John Schofield and Jacob Cox who were instrumental in the victory here. The book is filled with portraits and excellent maps which I have come to expect from this publisher.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the last year of the Civil War, or anyone interested in the Carolinas Campaign. Both Sokolosky and Smith have written other works, and some on the way, dealing with this mostly ignored campaign and their work is excellent. The research is second to none and their narrative flows gracefully across the pages. Highly recommended.
Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
July 7, 2016
The New Bern beachhead established in 1862 in North Carolina is a subject rarely visited by Civil War historians, even though the fighting in this colorful “war within a war” saw all sorts of curious incidents and raids. The team that brought you No Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar studies the culmination of the war in Eastern North Carolina, when a reinforced Union Army finally staged a breakout from the coast. This resulted in the Battle of Wise's Forks, one of the last battles of the Civil War, a vicious fight, a close-run thing… and an event largely forgotten today.
Sokolosky and Smith set the stage for the reader, informing you about the strategic situation in North Carolina by March 1865. Sherman was already marching northward, having devastated Georgia and South Carolina along the way. General Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, had only the remnants of Confederate armies defeated on various fronts including the Army of Tennessee, whose epic journey from Mississippi to North Carolina is a story in itself. The Union also performed a miracle of logistics, moving the XXIII Corps from Tennessee to the Union bridgehead at New Bern by way of railroad and steamship.
The two sides met each other at Wise's Forks when the Union forces attempted a breakout at Kinston in order to meet with Sherman's army. Johnston grasped at the only straw he could, the possibility of defeating XXIII Corps first and then turning to defeat Sherman before the two armies could unite.
The decimated legions of the Army of Tennessee were all hardened veterans of western fighting, augmented by soldiers from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and by the North Carolina Junior Reserves. The Union Army’s XXIII Corps was filled with veteran soldiers too, and in larger numbers, but lack of transportation would limit their ability to bring up reinforcements and supplies.
This book is well illustrated with photos and maps and tells the story through vignettes of the various soldiers involved, whether they be ordinary privates or generals. A great book and a terrific addition to anyone's Civil War library.
Sokolosky and Smith set the stage for the reader, informing you about the strategic situation in North Carolina by March 1865. Sherman was already marching northward, having devastated Georgia and South Carolina along the way. General Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, had only the remnants of Confederate armies defeated on various fronts including the Army of Tennessee, whose epic journey from Mississippi to North Carolina is a story in itself. The Union also performed a miracle of logistics, moving the XXIII Corps from Tennessee to the Union bridgehead at New Bern by way of railroad and steamship.
The two sides met each other at Wise's Forks when the Union forces attempted a breakout at Kinston in order to meet with Sherman's army. Johnston grasped at the only straw he could, the possibility of defeating XXIII Corps first and then turning to defeat Sherman before the two armies could unite.
The decimated legions of the Army of Tennessee were all hardened veterans of western fighting, augmented by soldiers from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and by the North Carolina Junior Reserves. The Union Army’s XXIII Corps was filled with veteran soldiers too, and in larger numbers, but lack of transportation would limit their ability to bring up reinforcements and supplies.
This book is well illustrated with photos and maps and tells the story through vignettes of the various soldiers involved, whether they be ordinary privates or generals. A great book and a terrific addition to anyone's Civil War library.
July 7, 2016
The New Bern beachhead established in 1862 in North Carolina is a subject rarely visited by Civil War historians, even though the fighting in this colorful “war within a war” saw all sorts of curious incidents and raids. The team that brought you No Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar studies the culmination of the war in Eastern North Carolina, when a reinforced Union Army finally staged a breakout from the coast. This resulted in the Battle of Wise's Forks, one of the last battles of the Civil War, a vicious fight, a close-run thing… and an event largely forgotten today.
Sokolosky and Smith set the stage for the reader, informing you about the strategic situation in North Carolina by March 1865. Sherman was already marching northward, having devastated Georgia and South Carolina along the way. General Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, had only the remnants of Confederate armies defeated on various fronts including the Army of Tennessee, whose epic journey from Mississippi to North Carolina is a story in itself. The Union also performed a miracle of logistics, moving the XXIII Corps from Tennessee to the Union bridgehead at New Bern by way of railroad and steamship.
The two sides met each other at Wise's Forks when the Union forces attempted a breakout at Kinston in order to meet with Sherman's army. Johnston grasped at the only straw he could, the possibility of defeating XXIII Corps first and then turning to defeat Sherman before the two armies could unite.
The decimated legions of the Army of Tennessee were all hardened veterans of western fighting, augmented by soldiers from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and by the North Carolina Junior Reserves. The Union Army’s XXIII Corps was filled with veteran soldiers too, and in larger numbers, but lack of transportation would limit their ability to bring up reinforcements and supplies.
This book is well illustrated with photos and maps and tells the story through vignettes of the various soldiers involved, whether they be ordinary privates or generals. A great book and a terrific addition to anyone's Civil War library.
Sokolosky and Smith set the stage for the reader, informing you about the strategic situation in North Carolina by March 1865. Sherman was already marching northward, having devastated Georgia and South Carolina along the way. General Joseph E. Johnston, CSA, had only the remnants of Confederate armies defeated on various fronts including the Army of Tennessee, whose epic journey from Mississippi to North Carolina is a story in itself. The Union also performed a miracle of logistics, moving the XXIII Corps from Tennessee to the Union bridgehead at New Bern by way of railroad and steamship.
The two sides met each other at Wise's Forks when the Union forces attempted a breakout at Kinston in order to meet with Sherman's army. Johnston grasped at the only straw he could, the possibility of defeating XXIII Corps first and then turning to defeat Sherman before the two armies could unite.
The decimated legions of the Army of Tennessee were all hardened veterans of western fighting, augmented by soldiers from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and by the North Carolina Junior Reserves. The Union Army’s XXIII Corps was filled with veteran soldiers too, and in larger numbers, but lack of transportation would limit their ability to bring up reinforcements and supplies.
This book is well illustrated with photos and maps and tells the story through vignettes of the various soldiers involved, whether they be ordinary privates or generals. A great book and a terrific addition to anyone's Civil War library.
December 13, 2016
“To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, March 1865” walks the reader step by step through one of the most important, yet little known battles in North Carolina. Beginning March 8, 1865, Union General Jacob Cox squared off with the forces commanded by Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The fighting dragged on until March 10. Wise’s Forks was one of the largest battles fought on North Carolina soil, but has been relegated to little more than a footnote in the history of the Carolina’s Campaign.
In the end, Wise’s Forks was largely a delaying action. Meticulously researched, the pages of this book carefully reconstruct the events of those days. Sokolosky and Smith provide such detail that the reader will want to read all the footnotes to avoid missing any of the great material within. This book provides an intense study of Wise’s Forks impossible to find elsewhere. Any serious student of this war should read this.
In the end, Wise’s Forks was largely a delaying action. Meticulously researched, the pages of this book carefully reconstruct the events of those days. Sokolosky and Smith provide such detail that the reader will want to read all the footnotes to avoid missing any of the great material within. This book provides an intense study of Wise’s Forks impossible to find elsewhere. Any serious student of this war should read this.
May 27, 2016
Important book, topic hadn't been full researched before. Setting the stage for Bentonville, and the end of the Civil War. Very in-depth and well researched. North Carolina and Civil War buffs should have this book.
April 13, 2017
Fantastic book. Well researched, written, and laid out. The maps are great, the photos really add to it, and the pacing is superb. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews