The Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads (also known as the Battle of Fayetteville Road, and colloquially in the North as Kilpatrick's Shirttail Skedaddle) was a battle during the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War in Cumberland County, North Carolina, on the grounds of the present day Fort Bragg Military Reservation. Involving about 4,000 men, it pitted mounted Confederate cavalry against dismounted Union cavalry. It was one of the last all-cavalry battles of the Civil War. The fighting lasted for several hours early on the morning of March 10, 1865, and resulted in a minor Union victory, although the Confederate attack delayed the Federal cavalry’s movement toward Fayetteville, denying Brevet Maj. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick the honor of entering the town first. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Lincoln, President Ulysses S. Grant, General Jefferson Davis, President Robert E. Lee, General Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Cumberland County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until 29 May 1861) Richmond, Virginia (29 May 1861–2 April 1865) Danville, Virginia (from 3 April 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Government Republic... Wade Hampton III during the Civil War Wade Hampton III (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterwards a politician from South Carolina, representing it as governor and U.S. Senator. ... Joseph Wheeler Joseph Wheeler (September 10, 1836 – January 25, 1906) was an American military commander and politician who fought during the Civil War and Spanish-American War and served as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. ... Sherman in South Carolina: The burning of McPhersonville. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Frank Blair Lafayette McLaws Strength 5,000 1,200 Casualties 92 170 The Battle of Rivers Bridge was a Union victory during the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Jacob D. Cox Braxton Bragg Strength 12,000 8,500 Casualties 1,101 1,500 The Battle of Wyse Fork was a battle fought in the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War that resulted in a victory for the... Battle of Averasborough Conflict American Civil War Date March 16, 1865 Place Harnett County and Cumberland County, North Carolina Result Inconclusive The Battle of Averasborough was a prelude to the Battle of Bentonville three days later. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders William T. Sherman Henry Warner Slocum Joseph E. Johnston Strength 60,000 21,000 Casualties 1,517 2,606 The Battle of Bentonville was fought March 19–21, 1865, in Bentonville, North Carolina, near the current town of Four Oaks... Sherman in South Carolina: The burning of McPhersonville. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Lincoln, President Ulysses S. Grant, General Jefferson Davis, President Robert E. Lee, General Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action... Cumberland County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. ... Fort Bragg is a census-designated place and a major United States Army fort, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, USA, near Fayetteville. ... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February 1861 to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven Southern states seceded from the United States (four more states soon followed). ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. ... Hugh Judson Kilpatrick (1836-1881) Hugh Judson Kilpatrick (14 January 1836 near Deckertown, New Jersey – 4 December 1881 in Santiago, Chile) was a officer in the Union army during the American Civil War achieving the rank of Brevet Major General, the United States Minister to Chile, and a failed...

The main Confederate dawn assault, under famed generals Wade Hampton and Joseph Wheeler who were operating together for the first time, was against a poorly guarded and sleeping Union camp. One of the goals (not fulfilled) was the capture of General Kilpatrick himself, using a small elite squadron of hand-picked troopers. Kilpatrick, ensconced with his mistress in a small log cabin near the farmhouse of Charles Monroe, managed to flee the chaotic scene in his nightshirt, hiding for a period in a nearby swamp before regaining his composure and reorganizing his troops. While initially routed, the Federal cavalry soon recovered and counterattacked, eventually pressuring the Confederates to relinquish the camp. Anticipating the approach of Union infantry, the Confederate commanders ordered their troops to disengage from the action in the mid-morning. Hampton’s cavalry finally withdrew in good order toward Fayetteville. Wade Hampton III during the Civil War Wade Hampton III (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterwards a politician from South Carolina, representing it as governor and U.S. Senator. ... Joseph Wheeler Joseph Wheeler (September 10, 1836 – January 25, 1906) was an American military commander and politician who fought during the Civil War and Spanish-American War and served as a U.S. Representative from Alabama. ...

The Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads gained the additional time needed for the Confederate infantry to conduct an organized crossing of the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville unmolested by the advancing Federals. With their troops and equipment east of the Cape Fear, the Confederates burned the bridges as Union forces entered the city. The Cape Fear River, shown highlighted, with its tributaries The Cape Fear River is a 202 mi (325 km) long river in east central North Carolina in the United States. ...

References

• National Park Service battle study